Really enjoyed these two episodes. I like the tone so far - it's a bit silly but also manages to feel quite grounded. The scenes with Paul and Alice in ep 2 were particular faves
This show has swept me off my feet. I am so damn charmed by it and can't wait for more—and I am very grateful to Apple's modern take on the weekly-release model for keeping me grounded and able to appreciate a series all the better.
With dramedies arguably making up the bulk of what I watch, I have started to distinguish them as 'comedy-forward dramedies' or 'drama-forward dramedies'. A series can change its designation season to season (and the best ones do). Ted Lasso started comedy-forward, and season two became drama-forward. Similarly, I'd say You're the Worst started as comedy-forward but by it's marvellous end was more drama-forward. Better Things too.
Definitely agree with what you've said about the subject matter being critical here because I think the best dramedies of the last decade have been drama-forward. I'm thinking here of Transparent, Kidding, maybe even Barry, and now, I think we can add in Shrinking. All of which are not dealing with funny-ha-ha circumstances, but which mix wit with emotional realism to counterbalance the uncomfortableness that comes with certain subject matter.
sidenote. The Discovery and Windfall are both view-worthy drama performances from Segel
Totally agree with the love for Apple’s solid commitment to week to week programming; it makes recaps like these even better, so we can have time to digest what we’ve seen and speculate about where we might be going.
All the shows of the last year or so (Severance, Ted Lasso, Mythic Quest) have had me actively excited for new episodes and it’s smart to release 2 or 3 and then settle into week to week.
Also love your take on dramedies, something I had not considered, so thank you!
I came here to see if anyone else hated this show as much as I did (apparently not). I found the plot insipid and Jimmy is nothing more than an animated feel-good-movie-charming-bad-guy trope. We are supposed to like him and root for him immediately, even as he is introduced to us as drug addled alcoholic swimming with hookers. Rascal that he is, Jimmy is told to settle down! by his neighbor who also happens to be raising his daughter. The next morning off he goes to a seemingly prestigious psychological office on his daughter's bike and pink helmet. Whoops, he's the therapist! Midway through the episode, he is has created a new breakthrough therapy method that "breaks all the rules!" and he and his new patient, a troubled young man with PTSD, go to a a fighting studio and he's cured! Then they bond and help each other!
By the time I reached the point where he rushes against time and all odds (along with his PTSD patient during their second therapy session ) to see his daughter's soccer game, I decided I had enough and turned the show off. It is almost like Tim Apple said, "Let's do another show like Ted Lasso that has goofy characters that learn and grow," and Shrinking was born.
Came for Harrison Ford, and he did not disappoint, but not enough of a draw for me.
I got busy watching other shows and am finally returning to Shrinking. I am not completely sold after two episodes. Some aspects I really love but other storylines need to settle down. I really want it to be the workplace/hangout comedy you speculate about. I think it will get there so I am trying to be patient.
I was skeptical of this show at first, but I 100% gelled with the Scrubs-like sarcasm and Lasso heartfeltness in these first two episodes and am excited to see how it evolves.
Really enjoyed these two episodes. I like the tone so far - it's a bit silly but also manages to feel quite grounded. The scenes with Paul and Alice in ep 2 were particular faves
This show has swept me off my feet. I am so damn charmed by it and can't wait for more—and I am very grateful to Apple's modern take on the weekly-release model for keeping me grounded and able to appreciate a series all the better.
With dramedies arguably making up the bulk of what I watch, I have started to distinguish them as 'comedy-forward dramedies' or 'drama-forward dramedies'. A series can change its designation season to season (and the best ones do). Ted Lasso started comedy-forward, and season two became drama-forward. Similarly, I'd say You're the Worst started as comedy-forward but by it's marvellous end was more drama-forward. Better Things too.
Definitely agree with what you've said about the subject matter being critical here because I think the best dramedies of the last decade have been drama-forward. I'm thinking here of Transparent, Kidding, maybe even Barry, and now, I think we can add in Shrinking. All of which are not dealing with funny-ha-ha circumstances, but which mix wit with emotional realism to counterbalance the uncomfortableness that comes with certain subject matter.
sidenote. The Discovery and Windfall are both view-worthy drama performances from Segel
Totally agree with the love for Apple’s solid commitment to week to week programming; it makes recaps like these even better, so we can have time to digest what we’ve seen and speculate about where we might be going.
All the shows of the last year or so (Severance, Ted Lasso, Mythic Quest) have had me actively excited for new episodes and it’s smart to release 2 or 3 and then settle into week to week.
Also love your take on dramedies, something I had not considered, so thank you!
I came here to see if anyone else hated this show as much as I did (apparently not). I found the plot insipid and Jimmy is nothing more than an animated feel-good-movie-charming-bad-guy trope. We are supposed to like him and root for him immediately, even as he is introduced to us as drug addled alcoholic swimming with hookers. Rascal that he is, Jimmy is told to settle down! by his neighbor who also happens to be raising his daughter. The next morning off he goes to a seemingly prestigious psychological office on his daughter's bike and pink helmet. Whoops, he's the therapist! Midway through the episode, he is has created a new breakthrough therapy method that "breaks all the rules!" and he and his new patient, a troubled young man with PTSD, go to a a fighting studio and he's cured! Then they bond and help each other!
By the time I reached the point where he rushes against time and all odds (along with his PTSD patient during their second therapy session ) to see his daughter's soccer game, I decided I had enough and turned the show off. It is almost like Tim Apple said, "Let's do another show like Ted Lasso that has goofy characters that learn and grow," and Shrinking was born.
Came for Harrison Ford, and he did not disappoint, but not enough of a draw for me.
I will watch the first episode, but all the ads for the show make me think I will feel like you.
"It’s interesting to watch Jason Segel in his first television role since How I Met Your Mother. "
I know the last episode of DISPATCHES FROM ELSEWHERE made me want to forget its existence too, but we can't ignore it completely.
Peak TV means we get a pass on forgetting any show existed, we don’t even need a specific reason.
(But thank you.)
I got busy watching other shows and am finally returning to Shrinking. I am not completely sold after two episodes. Some aspects I really love but other storylines need to settle down. I really want it to be the workplace/hangout comedy you speculate about. I think it will get there so I am trying to be patient.
I was skeptical of this show at first, but I 100% gelled with the Scrubs-like sarcasm and Lasso heartfeltness in these first two episodes and am excited to see how it evolves.