Jimmy is jimmying again, and in this week’s episode, he is going all out. He dedicates an entire day to helping his patient Daniel conquer his social anxiety just in time for his best friend’s wedding, which is the very next day. Jimmy is convinced that with some intense exposure therapy, his patient might just manage to survive the big event.
But, as always, Jimmy’s life gets in the way. He’s called to Alice’s school, where things have spiraled out of control: Summer recorded a TikTok calling Alice a “cheater bitch” (complete with a song and everything), which led to a cafeteria brawl between the two girls. Things got physical, and now both are suspended. Ever dedicated to solving everyone’s problems simultaneously, Jimmy brings patient Daniel along to the school – an unexpected twist in the therapy session. For the patient, it’s like reliving high school trauma, a setting he dreads. To top it off, he’s terrified of Alice, adding an extra layer to Jimmy’s unorthodox approach to exposure therapy.
At home (patient Daniel tagged along of course), Jimmy talks to Alice, who struggles to understand why Summer hasn’t forgiven her yet. She insists that her repeated apologies should be enough and argues that her grief over losing her mom should excuse her for making poor choices. For a long time, Jimmy shared that perspective, but he has recently come to a realization: “Just because mom died doesn’t mean we get to go around thinking nobody else is dealing with stuff.”
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| "Get in the Sea" - SHRINKING, Pictured: Lukita Maxwell and Jason Segel. AppleTV+ ©2024 AppleTV+. All Rights Reserved. |
This strikes a chord with Alice, prompting her to reflect on what Summer has been going through. Summer had confided in her that Connor was one of the best things to happen to her in a long time, and Alice had jeopardized that one relationship that brought her some happiness. With a new sense of clarity, Alice knows what she needs to do and heads to Summer’s house.
The two young women finally have an honest conversation. Alice apologizes, admitting she was completely selfish and acknowledging that Summer, who stood by her through her mom’s death when other friends didn’t, deserved better. Summer forgives her, explaining that all she really wanted was honesty and a heartfelt apology. It’s a touching scene as the two girls reconcile and express their love for one another.
But can their friendship truly recover as easily as this moment suggests? With Summer planning to eventually get back together with Connor, the three of them are inevitably going to spend time together – an awkward dynamic waiting to happen. Can Summer genuinely trust Alice and Connor again? Only time will tell.
Meanwhile, Liz is spending time with her old boyfriend Mac, whose attention and interest in her life make her feel seen and appreciated – something she’s currently sorely lacking elsewhere. Just as they hug goodbye, Paul happens to walk by. Naturally, Liz feels the need to explain herself. She later interrupts Paul’s coffee date with Roy, his ex-patient-turned-friend (though Paul stubbornly refuses to label the relationship), to inform him that Mac is just a friend. She asks Paul not to mention the encounter to her husband, repeatedly insisting it was an entirely innocent meeting.
Paul isn’t buying it. Liz’s insistence on secrecy only fuels his suspicion that Mac’s intentions aren’t entirely platonic. Frustrated, Liz loudly proclaims for everyone nearby to hear that sex with her isn’t what Mac wants – though she’s quick to add that most people, of course, would want to sleep with her. Just not Mac.
She storms out, leaving Roy, who is still clueless about who Liz actually is, turning to Paul and asking how he knows someone like her. Without missing a beat, Paul deadpans, “She almost shit in my desk once,” before casually stealing half of Roy’s muffin. The line delivery was absolute perfection! I literally had to pause the episode as I couldn’t hear over my own laughter.
Liz soon realizes Paul was absolutely right about Mac wanting more than friendship, though, deep down, she probably knew it long before Mr. Grumpy spelled it out. At their next meetup, Mac makes his move and initiates a kiss. Liz participates briefly before pulling back, horrified. He had lulled her into a false sense of security with flattering remarks about her talent as a photographer and promises of support. Despite knowing she’s married and in a vulnerable place, Mac still crossed the line. Shitty move, pal.
Filled with regret over the kiss, Liz turns to Paul for advice – a moment I’ve been waiting for ever since she nearly shit in his desk. Paul isn’t exactly eager to get involved, but, as always, he can’t bring himself to refuse. Beneath all his grumpiness, he’s a good guy who truly cares, even if he works overtime pretending not to. His advice is blunt yet profound, drawn from his own experience with secrets: “There is not a secret that I ever kept that I didn’t wish I had told the fucking person.”
Taking his advice, Liz goes straight home and confesses everything to Derek. He’s hurt and angry. He reminds her that he had voiced his concerns about Mac’s intentions several times, but she ignored him and met with the guy anyway. He is not just hurt actually; Derek is genuinely surprised. He believed their marriage to be completely solid up until now. And honestly, I agree, they were solid, at least until Liz’s downward spiral began and Derek failed to notice it.
Liz is visibly terrified that she’s ruined everything, that he will walk out on her, and their marriage will fall apart. And while Derek has every right to be upset, I cannot imagine he will actually leave. The couple will find a way through this, their therapist friends will make sure of that.
While all of this unfolds, Gaby tries to go on her first proper date with Derek 2 (Liz’s Derek’s best friend). However, Brian interrupts their plans with a crisis: He and his husband have unexpectedly been chosen as adoptive parents for a baby that’s about to be born. This happened much sooner than they anticipated. Brian is completely overwhelmed. Tasked with buying baby supplies, he panics and ends up with just a pack of diapers and a baby chicken costume. It’s painfully clear he’s not ready for this, leaving him spiraling with one question: What on earth is he supposed to do now? Surprisingly, it’s Derek 2, not Gaby, who steps up with the advice Brian desperately needs: “Call Charlie and everyone you trust. We’ll get in the sea about it, and we’ll figure it out together.”
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| "Get in the Sea" - SHRINKING, Pictured: Damon Wayans Jr. and Jessica Williams. AppleTV+ ©2024 AppleTV+. All Rights Reserved. |
Derek 2 wasn’t kidding when he said they’d “get in the sea about it.” Together with Jimmy, Charlie, and Daniel (referred to only as “Jimmy’s other patient”), they literally head to the ocean for a swim, hoping to help Brian find clarity about what he truly wants. Unexpectedly, it’s socially anxious Daniel who voices the most insightful question: Has anyone actually asked Brian’s husband, Charlie, how he feels about the sudden adoption?
Charlie admits that he’s just as scared and unprepared as Brian. They were supposed to have nine months to get ready, but now they have only a day to set up everything. The couple decides they’re not ready to take this step yet.
Last but not least, Sean finds himself questioning whether he’s ready to meet his old Army buddy. Once a pillar of mental strength, his friend has now lost his way a little and needs help. But how can Sean possibly help someone else when he’s struggling so much himself? Paul’s response is simple yet profound: “Fucked-up people are good at helping fucked-up people.”
The episode wraps up with Jimmy dropping patient Daniel off at his car after a long day together. Despite the chaos and the fact that nothing went as Jimmy had planned, things turned out surprisingly well. Daniel spent the day surrounded by strangers, navigating uncomfortable social situations, and even offering advice. He handled it all far better than expected which, in Jimmy’s book, is a definite win.
As Jimmy heads back to his car, he catches sight of Alice, Brian, and Louis – the drunk driver responsible for Tia’s death – sitting together at a restaurant, having dinner. Ironically, just moments earlier, Alice had mentioned they needed to tell Jimmy about meeting up to avoid precisely this kind of situation. And yet, here it is. Jimmy stands frozen, overwhelmed by shock, hurt, and betrayal.
This episode once again masterfully balanced humor, heartfelt moments, and emotional gut-punches. The characters continue to navigate grief, growth, and the messy realities of human connection in a way that feels raw and deeply relatable. With Jimmy’s world teetering on the edge of chaos once again, the fallout from that final scene sets the stage for an intense and emotional next episode.
On a scale of 1 to "she almost shit in my desk," how much are you loving this show? Let us know in the comments!
