“SHRINKING” IS ONE OF THE BEST SHOWS ON TV. PERIOD.

Apple TV’s arguably best series is back for another season of friendship hijinks and violating HIPAA laws. Bill Lawrence’s “Shrinking” has been my one-and-only comfort show since his own “Ted Lasso” and Netflix’s “Grace and Frankie” concluded. There’s something about this series that tugs on the heartstrings and provides plenty of belly laughs. But, its depiction of people finding fulfillment, joy, and purpose through their community of “chosen family” is truly what makes “Shrinking” so special.

WHAT IS SEASON 3 ALL ABOUT?

Season 3 finds Jason Segel’s Jimmy grappling with his daughter moving away for college. Liz and Derek are trying to get their lazy son to get off the couch and live a life with meaning. Gaby is trying to move forward in her career by helping patients with more serious traumatic issues. Paul is taking on new patients with Parkinson’s, which helps him deal with the struggles of the disease on a daily basis. Sean rekindles a relationship with an old flame. Brian and his husband welcome their new adoptive daughter, Sutton, into the world, trying to navigate the new world of parenthood.

Add to that a slew of new and returning supporting characters played by Candice Bergen, Sherry Cola, Damon Wayans Jr., Wendie Malick, Jeff Daniels, Cobie Smulders, Brett Goldstein, Lily Rabe, and none other than Michael J. Fox himself. If that sounds like a whole lot of characters and subplots for one series to handle… it is. But, no show has been able to juggle such an expansive cast of characters, quite like “Shrinking” is able to. The fact that nearly every character gets their time to shine, crack some jokes, and have a meaningful storyline is a miracle in and out of itself.

Segel continues to headline “Shrinking” with such an awkward charisma; it feels like he was born to play this role. Jessica Williams, who has always shined, gets much more to do in this season than she ever has before. Her work with Maya (an against-type, understated Sherry Cola) and MMA vets with PTSD, as well as her burgeoning relationship with Wayans Jr., are easily her best storylines yet. And Christa Miller (who plays the sassy, neurotic, but lovable Liz) continues to be the MVP of the show. She also gets to show real range this season, with some heavy life events that are thrown her way. It’s Luke Tennie’s Sean that continues to be the one character that the writers have a tough time integrating. Tennie is as charming as ever, but his place in the friend group always seems inauthentically forced.

IS THIS THE BEST SEASON OF “SHRINKING” YET? (Light Spoilers of Seasons 1 & 2 Ahead…)

I do think Season 3 lacks the sort of heavy-hitting subject matter of the first’s with Jimmy battling the death of his wife and then especially in the second, when both Jimmy and Alice confront Tia’s killer. With all of that out of the way, I did feel this season kind of floundering in trying to find the direction in which it wants to go from here. I wish that the writers were able to find a more impactful overarching storyline to really bring this season together.

IS “SHRINKING” SEASON 3 WORTH WATCHING?

Despite a few qualms, I absolutely adored this new season of “Shrinking”. It really is one of the finest shows on television right now, and I hope Apple TV allows it to continue for years to come. This is one of those shows that you turn on and binge every season, at least once a year. Getting to spend time with these characters is like visiting old friends with whom you have a special bond. Even if it’s not the best time you’ve experienced with them, it still feels damn good to get to make new memories with them.

Shrinking Season 3 premieres on Apple TV on Wednesday, January 28th, 2026.

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