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One thing we must never forget about the ritualistic act of watching TV is that sometimes it has to be about escaping from the world in which you perform on a daily basis. Of course, some shows are more effective at this than others, but for some of us, just the practice of picking our favorite comfort show and watching a few episodes is enough to change our day. When sitcoms were created, the only rule they had to follow was to resolve the situation in every episode that was presented. To this day, some of them still operate that way, and even if the format changes drastically, we still revert to sitcoms to watch, forget, and get comfortable. But have you ever thought if they meet your needs and make you feel good?
+ Apple TV Went to extend Joke a few years ago and produced Ted Lasso, the heartwarming show about a soccer coach who had to go abroad and coach a soccer team. After two seasons, it’s the perfect show to let you escape from your day with a refreshing style of screenwriting that constantly brings a smile to your face. How will they follow up? Well, the answer lies in the year 2023 shrank.
After experiencing a useless pilot, you’ll enter the idyllic world of Jimmy Laird, a sad therapist who doesn’t know how to “advice,” but decides enough is enough. He must make a change, or he will lose his daughter, his practice, and his sanity. This big season of the show is broken down into ten episodes of comedic bliss shrank Apple’s safe bet for 2023.
It’s all about writing
The premise of the show is very simple. It tells the story of Jimmy, a healer who seems to have lost his magic. He is grieving his wife who died so tragically, his daughter Alice will not speak to him, and he has no contact with his friends. Jimmy relies solely on Gabe, a young and energetic fellow therapist, and Paul, another therapist nearing retirement who has a gruff demeanor all the time. Oh yeah, and Liz, his neighbor is one of the few people who speaks her mind about Jimmy’s inability to get along with Alice and be a father to her.
One day Jimmy realizes that change is necessary. If he wanted his life to go on, he had to do something. Jimmy begins to involve himself in the lives of his patients. He even starts spending time with them. Sean, a patient with anger issues and PTSD, is invited to live at Jimmy’s pool house because his family is not supporting him and he is still having a blowout. When Paul and Gabe find out, they question everything, but also become entangled with Jimmy’s infectious perspective on life which also includes reconnecting with his best friend Brian.
Exactly, very simple. and after, shrank It becomes a multi-level study on grief, resilience, and individuality, which is cleverly revealed if you look beyond its screen of infectious comedy and rhetoric. How does this work? Well, it’s the work of the writers and directors, who mesh perfectly with showrunners Bill Lawrence, Jason Segel, and Brett Goldstein (yes, Roy Kent himself).
Each situation, as absurd as it is, is another piece of the puzzle for understanding the basis of the show. This isn’t a show about therapists jumping ridiculously because it’s a comedy. It’s about an idealized Californian universe where human energy is necessary for trauma to disappear if you surround yourself with the right people. The dynamics of their relationships are only possible because of the pace of the comedic element of the show: the dialogues are so funny, but you don’t even have time to analyze each of them because the wheel is constantly spinning. If you stay in one place, you’ll miss the next joke, and it’s not worth missing out on anything.
The importance of a great cast
shrank Also proof that Apple TV+ will work safely when casting in their shows. Jason Segel plays the asshole as usual, but this is the actor’s best role yet as he properly blends what he does best with a dose of drama that perfectly matches Jimmy’s inconsistent behavior. Jessica Williams is Gabby, and the young actor seems tailor-made for the role of a self-confident therapist who has no boundaries when making the decision to divorce and move on with her life. This is the best written character in the show.
The supporting characters Liz and Derek are played by Krista Miller and Ted McGinley respectively, and they’re the marriage we all wish for as we enter the latter part of our lives. Lukita Maxwell and Luke Tennie are Alice and Sean, and their chemistry works well to make the audience understand that Jimmy can’t be in control of his entire world: this story needs to be developed.
However, the best performances of the show are the performances of Harrison Ford who plays Paul and Michael Urey who plays Brian. Paul is the eccentric old man with many secrets. Ford delivers each line the same way he has in the past, only this time his character demands it. Urie’s Brian is a force of nature that could be mistakenly taken as a “gay character who would make gay jokes,” which is quite the opposite. His energy balances the show in every scene he appears in, and thus, steals the hell out of them all.
When was the last time you felt truly happy at a show?
You will laugh. You will cry. shrank It goes full circle in recounting Jimmy’s adventures, but also explodes into nuances that will occasionally steal the show’s main thunder. And it’s okay. The shows need to get around the bush for a while because it’s the only way to keep it all interesting. And this is one of those shows where every second of the footage is worth a look and review after a while. The renewal for a second season was almost instantaneous.
Few TV shows can be as emotionally intelligent as this show. shrank He will lead you in two situations, and he will always leave you in the same place: letting go is just unforgettable. It is the honor and the praise by doing your best to be happy, even if it is only possible in this version of Heaven. Achieving this without being overly optimistic (and ultimately silly and foolish), is very difficult in today’s television. This freshness is very characteristic of shrankHopefully, Season 2 will continue in the same way. Yes, you will cry but who said tears can’t be from laughter?
you can stream shrank on Apple TV+.
