The sixth episode of Season 2 of "Shrinking" kicks off with Alice being consumed by anxiety over her strained bond with Summer. Meanwhile, a bombshell drops on everyone: Sean has been hospitalized, and under the anesthesia's influence, he hilariously and unfilteredly spills everyone's deepest secrets. Jimmy persuades Paul to locate Sean's father, who, shattered by the news, has retreated into a solitary life of fishing. Together, they convince him to confront his son.
Simultaneously, Alice gets her wallet back through Brian, who also hands her a note from Louis, filled with sincere apologies. As Brian confesses that he's been in communication with Louis and reveals the latter's chaotic life, Alice feels compelled to visit him. Louis takes full responsibility for his actions, devoid of excuses, and they share a heartfelt conversation about Tia. Moved by his honesty and remembering her mother's teachings of forgiveness, Alice decides to grant Louis her pardon.
Elsewhere, Paul and Jimmy converse with Sean's father, urging him to reconcile with his son. He eventually heeds their advice and meets with Sean, acknowledging that his defensive reaction to Sean's accusation of failure stemmed from the truth of the matter. Sean forgives his father, and the two mend their broken relationship.
Connor, meanwhile, is in disarray following his bitter breakup with Summer. Liz urges him to return to school, which he's been neglecting to stay home. In another twist, Liz's dog photography is rejected by the shelter, dealing her a blow. Gaby, on the other hand, finds peace with her sister, encouraging her to live her life freely while requesting three months to devise a care plan for their mother.
As the episode progresses, Liz realizes that Connor left for school without saying goodbye after their heated argument, triggering her empty nest syndrome. She feels increasingly lonely and hurt. The episode concludes with Liz encountering Mac, who inspires her to capture photos of his dog, offering a glimmer of hope and a new creative outlet.
