‘Shrinking’ Recap: ‘Boop’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Eight of ‘Shrinking’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
​
Over the course of the past few weeks, the Apple TV+ series, Shrinking, has focused heavily on the various pratfalls and mistakes that can and will be made when we are grieving and dealing with the power of loss and trauma, and rightfully so. Because healing is a long and arduous and sometimes frustrating process. One where mistakes are constantly made because there is no playbook or guide out there on how to heal from devastating moments in our lives and each of us heal differently, and of course… we can learn nothing without screwing things up along the way. It just happens to sting worse when your soul is wailing in agony.
​
But while that has made for some powerful and relatable storytelling, this grand exploration has left all of us wondering… are there ever any signs of progress when we hurt deeply? Is there a say… a genesis point where we begin to start to move to the light? And if so, what does that look like? Because grief isn’t forever and when you put in the work, you do emerge from it stronger and wiser than before and well… the next episode in this saga did indeed answer all of those questions with a resounding yes, and offered a look at the positive side of the process. A feat that ‘Boop’ accomplished by way of two key storylines that were handled by Gaby and Jimmy. Whose journeys informed us of two possible methods to finding our way back from the sorrow.

Gaby’s story informed us that sometimes… in order to begin to properly heal, we need to tackle our trauma head on, and understand everything we can about it. Only then can we see that it shouldn’t have the grip that it does upon us, and we can start to move on. An epiphany that Gaby came to, by dropping by Nico’s art show, with Liz and Sean for support. Simply because she didn’t know what to expect on this night, but seeing Nico’s friends mock her for choosing her mental health over anything else, reminded her of the toxicity of the company he kept. And Nico’s aloof nature toward her and desire to try and wipe her away from a memory standpoint, reaffirmed the toxic nature of their love, and that did the trick. And while there will still be hurt because emotions don’t just go away, what mattered more is that Gaby took an important first step, one she can build upon.

As for Jimmy, well he came to learn… that sometimes… taking control of a corner of our lives that we have no control over… can be a great first step in healing. Since it reminds us, we aren’t lost and swirling about. We can handle life and we can find our way back, and he learned this courtesy of an ugly act on Alice’s part. Because she was so angry over Jimmy and Gaby’s night together and so mad in general that she acted out on her anger and decided to steal the car and party and hang out with a guy she met ages ago to feel something. But Jimmy tracked her down with Brian and Paul’s help and eventually, put her in her place. Not to be cruel, but to be a dad again, and to gain agency and find boundaries and control where there was none… and he accomplished that, and also took an important first step toward a better and brighter tomorrow.

All of which made this, another brilliant episode of this series. For now… we are going to start to see what the way back to the light looks like, and how that is a slow and winding, and meticulous process. Not to draw things out. But to teach. Because that is the process in a nutshell and this show is here to do more than entertain, but also guide us by the hand through the grieving process, and it was just wonderful to see those first steps on display and know that some of these wondrous and good people are making important strides in their lives and this does indeed, leave us eager for more. Because no other show out there has ever chronicled the healing process in this manner and well… we want to see everyone find their day in the sun again, and the only way to make that happen… is to continue this powerful journey. Until next time.  

---

Powered by JustWatch