‘Shrinking’ Review: Apple TV+’s Therapy Comedy Is Another Winner for the ‘Ted Lasso’ Team

If I told you one of 2023’s funniest shows is about a group of people navigating loss, health issues, divorce, war trauma, estranged relationships, and haunting regrets, would you believe me? I’m well aware that sounds deeply unfunny, but feel-good series like Ted Lasso — which exudes heartwarming humor without shying away from serious topics like divorce, mental health, and suicide — remind us that comedy can be a comforting coping mechanism for characters and viewers alike. Capturing the confusing truth that grief and humor often coexist is no easy feat, but Apple TV+‘s new half-hour comedy, Shrinking, successfully rises to the challenge.

Created by Bill Lawrence, Brett Goldstein (two of Ted Lasso‘s finest), and Jason Segel, the series follows Jimmy (Segel), a therapist who’s grieving the death of his wife, falling short as a father and friend, and increasingly losing his patience with clients. Sick of feeling stuck, Jimmy casts aside his professional training and ethics to assume the role of “psychological vigilante.” But once he starts embracing unconventional treatment methods and dishing out blunt advice in sessions, he’s forced to reckon with unforeseen repercussions.

While it’s not uncommon to find Jimmy by his pool at 3 a.m. playing air piano to Billy Joel beside a bowl of painkillers, he’s not the only therapist on the show who’s going through it. His co-workers, Gabby (Jessica Williams) and Paul (Harrison Ford), each have their own emotional baggage, with Gabby’s marriage crumbling, and Paul — who was recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease — struggling to reconnect with a daughter who thinks he’s “a selfish prick.”

If you overthink Shrinking‘s basic premise — a show about therapists with messy lives who seem incapable of using their expert knowledge and skills to help themselves — it may feel a bit too contradictory to work. But just as The Office gave glimpses of Michael Scott making massive sales to remind viewers how someone so seemingly incompetent landed himself a manager title, Shrinking repeatedly assures us its three leads are qualified for their jobs by allowing them to be vulnerable, share compelling nuggets of wisdom, and possess a conspicuous care for others. In the words of Paul, “Grief’s a crafty little fucker. It sneaks up on you.” And at the end of the day, therapists are only human.

If the show does start to lose you, it won’t be for long. (Unless, perhaps, you’re a real therapist.) Breezy episodes and clever writing ripe with undeniable jokes and razor-sharp relatability help anchor Shrinking‘s effective execution. But its greatest strength lies in a charming cast with excellent chemistry and characters you can’t help but root for. Lukita Maxwell gracefully carries grief as Jimmy’s teenage daughter, Alice. Luke Tennie digs deep as Sean, a young veteran sent for therapy after being busted for assault. Christa Miller invigorates as Jimmy’s nosy neighbor, Liz. And Michael Urie oozes charisma as Brian, Jimmy’s best friend who graciously re-enters his life after getting ghosted for a year.

The stacked supporting lineup is only enhanced by Shrinking‘s superb leads, who appear to effortlessly embody some of the most endearing roles of their careers. Whether she’s serving spicy comebacks in the break room or shamelessly belting “Absolutely (Story of a Girl)” in the car, Williams epitomizes effervescence. Segel — a master of physical comedy — nails the delicate duality of a guy who cracks dad jokes one minute and has resting dead wife face the next. In less capable hands, Jimmy’s personality could be much less palatable, but the How I Met Your Mother star makes it easy to sympathize with a goofy, grieving guy just trying to get his spark back. The fact that Segel writes for his character also shows a critical understanding of the role.

But the biggest, and most rewarding, surprise for viewers will likely be Ford, who brings immense heart, humor, and humanity to Paul. The 80-year-old on-screen legend — who currently stars in Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone prequel, 1923 — portrays this fiercely intelligent, complex character at a major crossroads in life. And whether Paul is housing Fun Dip, flirting with his doctor, or surrendering to poignant moments of quiet introspection and weighty emotion, Harrison delivers equally engrossing acting worthy of an Emmy nomination.

There’s a certain catharsis in witnessing familiar forms of grief play out on screen. You may see yourself in certain characters’ journeys and find hope in watching them put in the work, perform the daunting emotional labor, and rise from their rock bottoms. It’s part of the reason why a show like Ted Lasso found such a fervent fandom, and if you’re one of many who loves that particular Apple TV+ show, you’ll want to give this one a try. Aside from the obvious fact that Shrinking is created and written by Ted Lasso co-creator Bill Lawrence (Scrubs, Cougar Town) and Ted Lasso star and writer Brett Goldstein, the shows feature several overlapping writers, producers, and directors (hello, Zach Braff!), as well as songs that slap, thanks in part to composer Tom Howe. Both Ted Lasso and Shrinking build and explore unique character dynamics by mixing and matching unlikely scene partners. And Shrinking scripts also adopt Roy Kent’s love of liberally swearing, which I greatly appreciated (based on the nine episodes provided for review). Though Shrinking stands alone from Ted Lasso story-wise, the shows share the same heartening vibes, keep us laughing, aim to destigmatize grief, and celebrate the small steps people take to live with and overcome it.

The first two episodes of Shrinking premiere on Apple TV+ January 27, 2023. New episodes drop weekly on Fridays.