Over the years, I've said some hyperbolic things about Shrinking. Fair warning: That's not going to change in Season 3, as this premiere is arguably the best the show has ever been. It's a one-hour spectacle that feels like a finale, tying up a multitude of character-driven subplots, expertly calling back to every gag and beat that seemed like a throwaway, delivering major laughs and more than a few tears, all with a last-minute gut-punch for good measure. And it's only Episode 1!
I think I have a good idea of where this season is headed, and I'm already dreading it. Things are mostly pretty happy in "My Bad," but the signs are all there that there's some tremendous emotional trauma to follow. We'll get through it together, hopefully. But there's so much to cover in the meantime, so let's dive in.
In case it wasn't obvious, what I was hinting at above was Paul's worsening Parkinson's disease. It has now gotten so bad that he can't even brush his teeth. But there's always someone worse off, which he's reminded of at the neurology clinic by another sufferer named Gerry, who is further down the road but hasn't lost his sense of humor. He warns about the severe hallucinations that are coming, but he also imparts a new philosophy on Paul: "Fuck Parkinson's." Simple, but catchy.
It takes Paul the entire episode to grasp what this means. It might be mistaken for driving a Porsche very dangerously around a track with Jimmy wailing in the front seat, but it's deeper than that. It's about allowing himself to truly live for whatever time he has left. And it's about finding someone to live with, which means committing to Julie.
Paul has already committed to Julie, technically. He's even amending his will through Brian, so that she's a beneficiary. But that turns out to be a more complicated process than anyone realized. At first, Jimmy's throwaway idea that they just get married to alleviate the bulk of the paperwork is a joke. But everyone quickly latches onto it because it's clearly what they both want. And that gives this premiere its general shape.
If Season 2's finale was a celebration of fresh beginnings, then Season 3's premiere is a testament to the fruition of those whimsical dreams. For Alice, this translates into her college aspirations. She's vying for a soccer scholarship in Connecticut, but achieving it means excelling in a crucial game. Fortunately, she's surrounded by a sea of support. Everyone turns up for the match, and Alice delivers a stunning performance. It's impressive enough to captivate the coach, who, despite being slightly unnerved by her extensive support system, is keen to recruit Alice. She even pays her a visit at home with a tempting offer. But Alice unexpectedly declines the offer.
Fortunately, Sean knows the truth, so when Alice tries to disingenuously claim she's been "rejected," he exposes her, forcing her to tell Jimmy the truth. And when Jimmy tries to unperturbedly accept Alice's decision to stay at home, despite it being the best option for both of them, Sean intervenes, reminding him that he's making a mistake. It's time for Alice to leave the nest. Jimmy and Sean even let her use the "dead mom card" as a final ploy to convince the coach.
As Ava's pregnancy reaches its final stages, parenthood becomes a tangible reality for Brian, Charlie, and even Liz, who's laser-focused on transforming her role as a controlling nanny into a full-fledged third parent, despite her own son, Matthew, returning home after losing his job. However, Brian and Charlie have also, as always, glossed over some crucial details. No, it's not the color scheme of the nursery they're neglecting to decide upon. It's Ava's level of involvement in the child's life.
Stuart, who is hilarious and should be in every episode, suggests annual or monthly visits. Liz, on the other hand, thinks they should have no visits at all. Brian, unusually, agrees with Liz, which means telling Ava that they want her to have no involvement in the child she's about to give birth to. And they can't do that.
Ava is lonely and vulnerable, and despite the inevitable clashes, Brian and Charlie are more inclined to welcome her into their eccentric little family than to keep her at arm's length. In a rare moment of tenderness, Liz toasts Brian for his good decision-making. She would have done the same thing.
Naturally, Gabby goes way overboard with planning the non-wedding wedding. She runs the whole thing like a military operation, forces everyone to be involved, and transforms Liz's yard into one of the most idyllic and well-lit venues imaginable. Eventually, even Julie, despite Gabby's questionable and constant sexual overtures, gets into it, which makes it a little upsetting that Paul doesn't.
Not immediately, anyway. But when his sourpuss attitude genuinely upsets Julie, Paul apologizes - on one knee. And in doing so, he allows himself to follow Gerry's advice to say "Fuck Parkinson's" and embrace the rest of his life, challenges and all. He dances at the wedding. He almost sheds a tear at Jimmy's surprisingly sincere speech. He even gives Jimmy the most sage advice he can - to not be like him, to not wait as long as he did to restart his life.
It's a truly lovely sequence. Once again, Shrinking Season 3 Episode 1 feels like a finale. But it isn't, as we're reminded right at the very end. When Paul sneaks into the kitchen, he's surprised to see Gerry there. Only, Gerry isn't there. He's one of those hallucinations he was warning about. However much Paul might be learning to enjoy his life, he can't escape the fact that he doesn't have much of it left.
