Shrinkingreturns to Apple TV+ this month, continuing the story of therapist Jimmy Laird, who - following the death of his wife - decided to take the unconventional approach of telling his patients precisely what he thinks. Fans have had to wait for over a year to see the after-effects ofShrinking’sseason 1 cliffhanger, wherein a patient pushed her abusive husband off a cliff, emboldened by Laird. The show starsHow I Met Your Mother’s Jason Segel as Jimmy alongsideThe Daily Show’s Jessica Williams and Harrison Ford as fellow therapists at the practice.
Jessica Williams’ character Gaby has had a tough time over the course of the first season, going through a divorce and then gaining increasingly complicated feelings for Jimmy, with whom she’s supposed to have a relaxed friends-with-benefits relationship. This came to a head in the last episode, when a passionate speech Jimmy gave at a wedding made her realize she may want more than that. Though all ofShrinkinghas garnered critical praise, Williams’ performance has earned special attention, landing her an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.
Shrinking Season 2: Release Date, Cast, Story, Trailer & Everything We Know
The Jason Segel and Harrison Ford-starring Shrinking was another huge hit for AppleTV+, and here’s everything we know about Shrinking season 2.
Screen Rantinterviewed Jessica Williams to discuss Gaby and Jimmy’s relationship, working with Damon Wayans Jr., and how forgiveness ties intoShrinkingseason 2.
Jessica Williams Considers Gaby A “Hot Mess” In Shrinking Season 2
Her Character Will Have A Lot Of Growth Slated For This New Season
Screen Rant: Gaby’s taken on an extra workload as a professor this season. How is she managing the balance of her professional and personal life?
Jessica Williams: Yeah, I think she’s kind of a mess, actually, with that. I think she’s a little overwhelmed this season. Gaby’s overwhelmed - she bit off quite a bit. I think you see in the beginning of the season she has a new house, she has her divorce house, house isn’t really unpacked. I think she uses an area rug as a towel in these first couple episodes. I think she’s kind of a hot mess express, but she’s ambitious, and she’s on her own journey, and hopefully she’ll get it together, but she’s a little overwhelmed for sure.
Jimmy and Gaby’s relationship takes an unexpected turn this season. How does Gaby cope with her feelings for Jimmy, and how does this impact her for the rest of the season?
Jessica Williams: I think Gaby gets a little twisted up in the game, as indicated by theend of season 1. I think she’s a little confused, and unsure, and there’s just no way that Jimmy is even capable of that or feeling that way about her. I think it’s one of those things that can happen when you have somebody that’s like an F-buddy, is that you get a little confused.
But I also think that Gaby needs to go away and lick her wounds and then maybe she meets somebody new, which I think does totally happen, so I’m excited for her. She dates Damon Wayans Jr. this season, which is super fun; his name’s Derek too, and he’s awesome. He works with Derek, played by Ted McGinley, and so there’s a lot of joy in those two characters together as well.
Jessica Williams Sees Similarities Between Shrinking & Friday Night Lights
Both Shows Feature An Overarching Theme Of Forgiveness
I was just going to say, I didn’t know how much I needed the Gaby and Derek dynamic, but we got it this season and I’m here for it. Now that Derek is retired, he has a little free time on his hands. Talk to me about Derek and Gaby’s relationship this season.
Jessica Williams: Well, Gaby and Liz I think are best friends, and I think Derek is like bonus best friend. He is like the ice cream on top. Just personally, working with Ted McGinley, he has one of those really great traits; not only is he funny and just kind of like a comedy assassin - everyone’s funny in a different way, but he’s someone that he can just get in and deliver that line and he makes me laugh from my stomach - but also he always has a wink in his eye. He’s bad, but not bad, but he has just a little bit of that, so it feels like you’re kids in the back of the class giggling. That’s what it feels like to work with Ted, and I think it comes through with Gaby and D-train’s relationship as well, as she calls him.
Forgiveness is such a significant theme this season. How does that theme resonate with Gaby?
Jessica Williams: I think Gaby has a lot of issues, and I think she needs to forgive quite a bit this season. We see her figuring out stuff with her mom and her sister, and there’s some baggage there about needing to forgive in order to move on. I think she has that with Jimmy, too, about how things get a little complicated and messed up between them. I think she needs to come around to forgiving him.
It’s why I really liked Friday Night Lights a lot when it was on, was because it was a really great show about apologies. It was about people and even couples in marriages, even with coach and his wife kind of having arguments and then forgiving each other and then coming out stronger. That show is such a good example of that.
So what I love about Shrinking is that it is a show about apologies, and forgiveness, and not needing to be perfect, and knowing that sometimes you’re the person that has the red flag or you’re the person that does this little kind of toxic thing. You make mistakes and it’s about what you do afterwards - that’s more important.
More About Shrinking Season 2
Shrinking follows a grieving therapist who starts to break the rules and tell his clients exactly what he thinks. Ignoring his training and ethics, he finds himself making huge, tumultuous changes to people’s lives…including his own.
Check out our otherShrinkinginterviews here:
Shrinkingseason 2 begins on Apple TV+ on October 16 with a two-episode premiere, followed by new episodes weekly.
