A period of change causes the characters to reflect on what they want in Shrinking Season 3, Episode 9, “Daddy Issues.” The episode, written by Rachna Fruchbom and directed by Anu Valia, is a real testament to how far they’ve come and how much longer they still have to go. One of the best and most realistic things about Shrinking is that it knows life ebbs and flows.
Development never moves in one direction all of the time. So, it’s reassuring to watch these characters make great strides but also stumble and figure out how to get back up. “Daddy Issues” demonstrates just that while propelling Shrinking into the final two episodes of the season’s “moving forward” theme.
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Sean and Learning to Be Selfish
Sean’s storyline has been frustratingly inconsistent this season. The arc itself progresses, but it lacks on-screen development that extends beyond exposition or vignettes. Shrinking Season 3, Episode 4, “The Field,” is the strongest exploration of Sean’s story so far. Even so, the history that the show has with the character makes it easy to celebrate his win of the job offer. That built-in connection to Sean does the heavy lifting, but it also makes Jorge’s reaction feel all the more unsupported by Shrinking. He’s been on the show since Season 2, and still, any depictions of their storied friendship are all too brief and rare.
Therefore, Sean’s apprehension to tell Jorge about the new job falls more on the significance of the food truck, rather than their dynamic, which Jorge spells out. It doesn’t help that Jorge pulls on being there for Sean when Marisol broke up with him. This season hasn’t done the best job at exploring Sean and Marisol’s relationship, either. Essentially, Sean’s nerves and Jorge’s reaction would play out better if there were more time spent between those two characters.
Instead, the most rewarding part is Sean using his tools to breathe. Then, Shrinking depicts how far Sean has come since Season 1. Because there’s always something to work on, “Daddy Issues” also gives Sean a lesson – literally, thanks to Brian’s TED Talk – in being selfish. It’s refreshing that Shrinking articulates that selfishness isn’t always a bad thing; it can even be necessary. Brian is the perfect person to convey that message; he is on both sides of the coin. He even delivers the line that becomes a great thesis for the episode: “How can I be any good for anyone in my life if I’m not happy myself?”
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Gaby Is Paul’s Legacy
I appreciate that Shrinking realizes happiness can come from, but doesn’t need to depend on professional fulfillment. Finding that, though, can make it difficult to know if one should stay where they excel or move on to something different. “Daddy Issues” explores that as Gaby tries to decide if she wants a future in CBT or trauma work. After all, there’s no doubt that Gaby could do great work in CBT and learn a lot from Paul’s extensive mentorship. It’s compelling that Shrinking unpacks how Gaby’s hesitation to bet on herself in trauma work and her desire to make Paul happy weave together. Logically, Liz notices as much and brings it to Paul’s attention by holding the “Covenant of the Rock” above him.
Of course, Paul passing on his life’s work is important, but that can’t come at the expense of Gaby’s goals. Cleverly, Shrinking uses Paul’s persistence as an avoidance tactic because he has his own history with trauma work that he’s less than enthusiastic about discussing. “Daddy Issues” unpacks how seeing Gaby go through this reminds Paul of his own experiences. It’s such a natural narrative path through exposition, and it holds so much purpose for both characters.
It’s really relavatory to hear Paul tell Gaby that she helped him open up after his trauma closed him off. Paul’s certainty lends itself to his preexisting confidence in Gaby’s capability to do the same for others. It’s satisfying for all that to come together in Paul’s practice becoming Gaby’s trauma center.
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Jimmy and Finding (and Losing) Joy
Despite the season’s momentum, Jimmy’s father returns to bring Jimmy’s progress to a painful pause. Jason Segel does a great job of subtly showing Jimmy trying not to give himself too much hope about his dad’s ability to change. There’s a lot of sticky conflict in Jimmy not wanting to diminish Alice’s optimism, but bracing for when his dad disappoints her like he has Jimmy.
“Daddy Issues” finds a perfect case study in the negative effects of selfishness in Jimmy’s dad. It collides with the positive effect – Jimmy choosing to move forward with Sofi – in a way that practically sucks the air out of multiple scenes. Sofi getting along with his father becomes a reminder that Tia’s not there to agree with Jimmy about his dad. She is the only person who sees the other side of his father, and it doesn’t help that Jimmy’s dad practically enthusiastically tells his son that Sofi is a better match than Tia. From the car consolation prize for Alice to the shameless digs at Tia, it’s tough to watch.
Even so, it’s a relief that Shrinking provides Sofi’s point of view during the break-up. She’s right to say that it’s not fair to constantly compare her to Tia. It’s also understandable that she’s hurt that she let Jimmy in, but he won’t try to engage in the same way. Ultimately, this break-up is not her fault, and it’s anything but simple. As Jimmy says, he’s not ready. It’s exciting to imagine how Shrinking will chronicle Jimmy doing the work to get to that point – to get to the joy.
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