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Editor’s Note: The following contains spoilers for ‘Shrinking’ Season 2 Episode 9.
This week’s episode of Apple TV+‘s Shrinking had some great story points, including a sweet, new love interest for Alice (Lukita Maxwell) and Brian (Michael Urie) experiencing disappointment over not being chosen to adopt a baby. There is one major plot point, however, that was mostly ignored in Season 2, Episode 9, that still needs to be resolved before the Season 2 finale. A major subplot this season has been the appearance of Louis (Brett Goldstein), the drunk driver involved in the car accident that killed Tia (Lilan Bodwen).
Louis’ presence has complicated things between Jimmy (Jason Segel) and Alice, who have been navigating the loss and trauma of Tia’s death in their own ways. While Jimmy has been fervently avoiding him, Alice has truly forgiven Louis and is spending more time with him. Before Alice could tell her Dad that she had been seeing Louis, Jimmy saw them having dinner, which eventually led to a scene between Jimmy and Louis in Season 2, Episode 8, “The Last Drink.” Before that, though, audiences got a taste of what life was like for these men before the accident changed everything.
Season 2, Episode 8 “The Last Drink” Showed a Very Different Louis
Through a series of flashbacks, Episode 8 opens in much happier times for both Jimmy and Louis. Audiences got to spend more time with Tia, seeing how she was loved by Jimmy and their friends. We also got to meet Sarah (Meredith Hagner), Louis’s fiancé, who was briefly mentioned in Episode 6. Seeing Louis before the accident is a complete departure from the dour character we’ve seen this season. He’s able to laugh and make jokes about his favorite movie (shout out to the Sandra Bullock romantic comedy Miss Congeniality).
Both men seem over the moon happy, until tragedy strikes, which, interestingly, is not shown on screen. The aftermath of the accident is shown though, as Jimmy spirals out of control. He’s not there, physically or emotionally for Alice, which is why she starts spending more time at Liz (Christa Miller) and Derek’s (Ted McGinley) house. For Louis, he’s so overwhelmed by the guilt and shame of what he’s done that he pushes Sarah away, ending their relationship. If anything, these flashbacks show how much Louis and Jimmy actually have in common, and how each of them needs closure in this tragedy to move on.
Jimmy and Louis Meet Again in Season 2, Episode 8 of ‘Shrinking’
After Jimmy learns that Louis and Alice have been in touch and spending time together, he agrees to meet Louis himself. Shrinking, especially in Season 2, has always leaned into the themes of redemption and forgiveness. However, in their brief encounter, Jimmy says the words but clearly is not ready to say them. His “I forgive you” is quickly followed up by a request for Louis to disappear and not contact him, Alice, or his friends ever again.
Both Goldstein and Segel do a beautiful job in the scene, showing the rollercoaster of emotions that these men are feeling. The look in Jimmy’s eyes tries to bury the anger he clearly still feels, and the way Goldstein’s face shifts after hearing Jimmy’s request is truly heartbreaking. Seeing Louis before the accident and then getting a glimpse of the happier “old Louis” when he was with Alice and Brian, shows how much spending time with them meant to him. In the end, Jimmy admits to Paul (Harrison Ford) that he’s not really able to forgive himself for what happened after the accident, signaling that there’s more to come on his path to forgiveness.
Jimmy’s Daughter Alice May Be the Key to True Forgiveness in ‘Shrinking’
The only mention of Louis in Season 2, Episode 9 was Alice texting him, wondering why he hadn’t been in touch. Louis responds that he’s been busy, but it’s clear that Alice doesn’t buy it. Jimmy tells her that he forgave Louis, but it’s only a matter of time until Alice learns the truth about their encounter. It’s clear that Alice is still hoping to spend time with Louis and will probably be pretty pissed at her Dad once she learns how Jimmy treated him.
The biggest difference is that Alice sees forgiving Louis as a way of honoring her mother. She didn’t believe that her mom would want her carrying that anger with her. Jimmy’s feelings are more conflicted because his grief is coupled with his guilt for not showing up in the right way for Alice after Tia’s death. He is unable to see that truly forgiving Louis — and himself — would be what Tia would’ve wanted.
With only 3 episodes to go in the season, it’s unclear when Jimmy and Louis will meet again. It seems like the show is building to Alice being the one to convince Jimmy to work through his complex emotions and unresolved trauma to truly move forward. From what audiences have seen so far in scenes between Goldstein and Segel, it’s likely to be an emotional and moving scene, maybe even written by Goldstein himself.
Shrinking is available to stream on Apple TV+ in the U.S.
Shrinking
A grieving therapist starts to tell his clients exactly what he thinks. Ignoring his training and ethics, he finds himself making huge changes to people’s lives – including his own.
- Release Date
- January 26, 2023
- Cast
- Jason Segel , Luke Tennie , Michael Urie , Lukita Maxwell , Harrison Ford , Jessica Williams , Christa Miller , Ted McGinley , Heidi Gardner , Devin Kawaoka , Lilan Bowden , Kimberly Condict , Lily Rabe , Tilky Jones , Rachel Stubington , Wendie Malick , Sawyer Jones , Mike C. Nelson , Matt Knudsen , Kenajuan Bentley , Adam Foster Ballard
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