And so we come to our final episode of shrinkageis the solid second season. I worried heading into this second season that the show’s creators had opted for levity rather than embracing the darker undertones of its central premise (especially since last season’s cliffhanger revealed that Jimmy’s unorthodox therapeutic strategies bordered on the clinically dangerous). ). There’s no denying it shrinkage often represents the sunnier side of what it means to do therapy (often even disregarding the ethical boundaries upon which good work in this field depends). But season two, especially with the addition of Louis (Brett Goldstein), aka the guy whose drunk driving killed Jimmy’s wife, was an intriguing gamble that certainly paid off given the final moments of “The Last Thanksgiving.” have seems stately.

But before I talk about Jimmy (Jason Segel) and Louis sitting on a train station bench, I need to go around and follow the episode’s example (namely Gabby’s mother’s Thanksgiving tradition) and say thank you for everything shrinkage offered us this finale.

I’m grateful that Paul thawed out.

Listen, I love watching Harrison Ford get all grumpy as Jimmy’s reluctant mentor. But watching him slowly open up (with Julie moving in with him, finding a friend in his former patient Raymond, and just becoming more aware of how much help and support he will need as his Parkinson’s disease continues to get worse ), was a success joy this season. And this is where the episode begins, as he helps Jimmy figure out how to win back Alice’s favor – and not flirt with his old drinking habits, as he had planned.

Of course, Paul has the right thing to say to Jimmy: He needs to be honest with Alice about why he asked Louis to stay out of both their lives. “It is the act of revelation that heals,” says Paul, a phrase that many of us should have at hand every day.

That’s not at all what Jimmy wants to hear, but it’s all he needs to hear. And it is this honesty that finally makes him talk to Alice again, after which she proves to be quite ready for anything. (In this shrinkage is unmatched in our current TV landscape: sitcom plots often require unnecessary and endless misunderstandings that depend on people not wanting to be the bigger person… but that’s never the case here, where everyone wants to be the bigger and better person . Hearing Jimmy say, “I’m sorry I’m not feeling better” was both touching and inspiring – especially because we then learned how Jimmy actually showed up for Alice. He could be better, but he was actually pretty good. And that’s why Alice finally tells her father that she understands why what she asked of him (to be kind to Louis, to treat him with the same openness with which he treats his patients and everyone he meets) , maybe it was too much.

I’m grateful that Sean is doing so well.

Most of the first season revolved around Jimmy “Jimmying” Sean, his vet patient, who was struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder, not to mention anger issues and unresolved issues with his family. And even though he was sidelined for most of this season (after his and Liz’s food truck took off and became a family business), it was nice to see him settle in so well. In the end, he is the one who gives Alice the pep talks she needs to finally overcome her father’s betrayal (in not wanting to become a best friend or at least try to help the man who killed his wife) from Jimmy eyes to see. Their heart-to-heart (“true love is when you accept someone, their boundaries and all”) at the truck as they prepare is touching and a testament to how far he’s come.

I mean, he’s taking care of Gabby’s Thanksgiving dinner (which her mom still refuses to attend because she was so hurt by the whole “I don’t want you living with me, Mom” ​​moment) and enjoying a nice dinner with his parents, that’s completely normal and uneventful as they come. Progress!

I’m grateful for…Brian and Charlie’s parenthood journey…

… and especially for the Chappell Roan-voiced babysitter montage, in which Liz was able to help the two would-be fathers find the help they need. It’s as fun a sequence as we’ve had this entire season. Of course, even if you’ve found the right solution, there’s a catch: your perfect nanny won’t be able to work Mondays or Fridays.

Enter Liz. Or rather, Derek walks in as he speaks to the boys separately and offers them a brilliant idea: why don’t they get Liz to help out on these days? It will be a win-win situation. The boys get the help they need, and the performance helps Liz come out of her panic (although she can now polish stones in peace and have tender conversations with Jimmy, to whom she finally gives a stone!). Of course, they both screw up the plan (don’t let Liz know this was all planned!), but still get the mother of the heart to agree (even if she can’t stand her grown-up boys that much).

I am grateful for…Gabby’s growth.

Or their commitment to growth. Clearly she’s still nursing her wounds from the relationship that could have led to Derek. And even when she tries to make things right by inviting him to Thanksgiving again, he – again, the mature person – sets boundaries: If she knows she needs to work on herself, let her do it and then let her call him. It’s completely understandable, albeit heartbreaking. And to her credit, she takes it all in her stride. Sure, she won’t go on a date or a mother at her Thanksgiving dinner, but in the end she is surrounded by her new family – all of whom share beautiful things that they are grateful for. (Paul’s is special, of course, because even when he’s kidnapped and “forcibly” taken to Gabby’s, he still manages to bring everyone to tears with the insight into his own limitations.)

But of course that couldn’t be the end! At some point, Derek shows up, with Gabby’s mother in tow! It’s a Thanksgiving miracle. And it would have made this season finale so sour if the show hadn’t fallen into a pretty dark place at the same time.

I’m grateful for… sweet endings that feel earned.

Because yes, there was a moment when I was afraid shrinkage wanted to top the first season finale (Grace throws her abusive partner off a cliff while hiking) with the unimaginable (Louis throws himself in front of a train).

And the fascinating thing is that it wouldn’t have felt like it was in vain. Finally, Louis was able to see in real time how solid progress can disappear (in this case, as soon as his colleague/friend finds out about his drunk driving accident and invites him to Thanksgiving dinner) and how the demons you’ve been keeping at bay in Chess could crawl back up in an instant. His texts to Alice had gone unanswered (thanks to Gabby’s no phone policy) and so… until the moment Jimmy showed up for Louis, I was worried shrinkage had really become too dark even for me.

This is what healing looks like. Just two guys doing their best, sitting next to each other and knowing they can be better. That they could do better. And more importantly, knowing how difficult it is – especially given the circumstances. But it’s good that they do it step by step and imagine other people’s lives while they wait for the train.

Was it too serious? Too sweet? Perhaps. But also very in tune with shrinkageThis is a raison d’être. This is a show about the difficulties that come with coming to terms with one’s own trauma: Wouldn’t we be so lucky to have a Jimm… or an Alice… or a Gabby… or a Paul… or a Liz or a Derek or a Brian or a … to have? Charlie in our lives. If television needs to be ambitious, then don’t be shrinkage Show us the way.

Crazy observations

• • Given how much real estate Paul’s book (Go forward), I’m prepared for his theories on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT for short) to be more widely accepted by the various characters in the series.
• • Pickleball is back!
• • Why have we never talked about Charlie’s Ascots?
• • I need more Jessica Williams vs. Ashley Nicole Black on my screens. (Also, with Gabby’s new black BFF and Derek, it seems like the show made a concerted effort not to leave Gabby out in a sea of ​​white people this season, right?)
• • Sean’s impression of Paul (solid!) makes me think that the writers are slowly trying to get every actor to do their best Harrison Ford impression, which I’m not mad about.
• • “Soya estoy berenjena”; Normally I would be annoyed by such poor use of Spanish (it’s not just “I’m eggplant,” it’s “I’m eggplant,” where “soy” and “estoy” are two versions of “am”), but I have to do admit that it is a sweet sentence in its absurdity.
• • Au pair vs. babysitter? Where do we end up on this?
• • Need Derek’s “FUCKBOY” hat.