Shrinking Season 3 Review: Honest, Heartfelt, and Still One of Apple TV’s Best
- The Real Perspectives
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Reel Perspectives
February 2, 2026
The highly anticipated third season of Apple TV's highly acclaimed comedy-drama series premiered on January 28 and will release weekly episodes every Wednesday through its season finale on April 8. The new season carries 11 episodes filled with brutal honesty and genuine humor, showcasing why it remains one of the strongest series available for streaming, anchored by its stellar cast led by Harrison Ford and Jason Segel.
Ahead of its premiere, the series was renewed for a fourth season, and while we hope it will continue to infinity because it's that good, the new season set our characters on a path to their happy endings.
Created by Emmy winners Bill Lawrence, Brett Goldstein, and Jason Segel, our favorite highly paid therapists are back as the series continues to follow Jimmy Laird (played by Segel), who, in Season 1, after the loss of his wife, decides to be brutally honest with his patients, creating chaos around him. After two seasons, Jimmy continues to struggle with grief and loss, especially with his daughter Alice (Lukita Maxwell) preparing to graduate high school. The third season placed more emphasis on the other individuals in Jimmy's life, with the same gut-wrenching emotion.
In addition to Segal and Ford, the series stars Christa Miller, Emmy Award nominee Jessica Williams, Luke Tennie, Emmy nominee Michael Urie, Lukita Maxwell, and Ted McGinley, with returning guest stars Brett Goldstein, Damon Wayans Jr., Wendie Malick, and Cobie Smulders, along with new additions Jeff Daniels and multi-award-winning activist Michael J. Fox.
One of the best aspects of the series remains its diversity, which addresses race with humor. Whether it's one character pointing out that a couple is biracial, or another character saying Black people don't like to be labelled, Shrinking does a fantastic job showing diversity in a way that feels natural. The minority characters come from different backgrounds, and none of them feel forced or like the series is trying to make a big statement about them. They're messy, funny, hurting, and growing—just people being people. The series allows each character to have depth and flaws, with different perspectives connected with honesty and humor. It makes the world of Shrinking feel authentic.
Jessica Williams' Gaby has a meaningful arc this season and continues to be a wonderful standout with her quirky eccentricities on full display with her relationship with Derrick#2 and Ford's Paul, whose Parkinson's disease is getting worse (F*ck Parkinson's) as he comes to terms with what the end may look like. Ford is absolutely fantastic this season, tapping into a character that is introspective, blunt, grumpy, and compassionate. His scenes with the legendary Michael J. Fox, who in real life is also battling the disease, elevate the emotional weight and make them even more powerful and impactful.
The supporting characters are always a delight. Sean (Luke Tennie) has come into his own as a well developed character and faces an important career choice. The ever hilarious Brian (Michael Urie) and Devin Kawaoka prepare for parenthood, while Liz (Christa Miller) and Derek (Ted McGinley) provide their own unique humor, especially in scenes with Candace Bergen. A medical complication brings personal reflection, and McGinley more than meets the moment. Wendie Malick and Damon Wayans Jr. would have benefited from being given more screen time, but with episodes averaging around 35 minutes, it would be impossible to showcase all characters evenly. Daniels plays Jimmy's emotionally unavailable dad, and we see the dynamics between father and son, which leads to a pivotal scene between Jimmy and Paul in the latter end of the season.
The new season of Shrinking continues to be heartfelt and emotional. It will make you laugh, cry, and even evoke feelings you didn't know were there as you connect with characters who might remind you of people in your own life. The series beautifully celebrates our flaws and reminds us that no one is perfect, and it's those imperfections that make us human.
Shrinking Season 3 is now streaming on Apple TV.
Comments