‘Shrinking’ Recap: ‘Closure’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the Season One Finale of ‘Shrinking’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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When we last settled in to enjoy the incredible Apple TV+ series, Shrinking, we were left with joyous feelings in our hearts. Simply because, at long last, Jimmy and his friends/extended family were starting to see the benefits that came about from putting in the work to heal. Since Sean realized he was worth more than he thought he was and opted to start his own business, and Gaby found strength through confrontation and though a side piece in Jimmy. Plus, Paul finally started to make efforts to put aside his ego and his fears about his condition to spend time with his family and heal years of pain. Leaving all of us so happy to see this group start to move forward and that of course left us wondering, what else was to come for these folks from a healing perspective.
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Well, the season one finale of this show wasted little time in informing us… that the healing process at this point in recovery, is far smoother than one might expect. Because we build momentum with the positive acts, we are taking part in and just… hit cruise control if you will. Where the good days begin to outnumber the dark days and we start to find a groove again and live again. Which is what everyone experienced in ‘Closure’. Since Sean began to buckle down and build his business, and he even invited Liz to come in and help him put it together, so she too found purpose and direction at a time when she needed it. And Gaby started to work to grow in her career field and Paul did such fine work with dropping the barriers he put up, that he was able to help with that. 

As for Jimmy, well… he just stuck with the joy in his heart and made an effort to spread it around the house. Which is why he helped Alice cope by letting her have her mother’s old clothes. So that she could heal at her own pace and move forward when ready, and he of course… kept working with his patients and expressing his pride for them and he did a great job officiating Brian and Charlie’s wedding. Making it seem more so… that this journey was complete. That Jimmy and everyone had followed the steps and the work to a tee and that all that lie ahead, were better days and joy and no more hardships. But that is… a lie we tell ourselves during the healing process. Because grief can still sneak back into our hearts when it so chooses and also… life doesn’t stop surprising us or teaching us powerful lessons just because we rose to the occasion during a dark time.

A reality hammered home by the shocking closing moments of this tale. Wherein we saw Grace make a devastating decision. For when pressed and abused yet again by her idiot husband, she took Jimmy’s beginning advice, and his most recent advice to crack him like an egg, to heart, by shoving him off of a cliff. Making it clear that life will find a way to surprise and test us at inopportune times, since this will come back to haunt Jimmy. Since he gave her the advice in question, and regardless of whether or not he was joking, she was inspired by it and, interestingly enough, the core of that advice more or less came forth at a time… when Jimmy was cutting corners and not putting in the work. Bringing that lesson around full circle as well, all while setting the stage for a tough second season of the show. One that will absolutely explore the fallout of this particular decision. 

Wherein Jimmy could lose his license, and perhaps be set back emotionally out of the understanding of what occurred here. But while we wait to see what comes out of that twist, we can still celebrate one uplifting tale. One that really did close the chapter on a dark time for a lot of people. A feat made possible through progress and growth and a desire to enjoy all that life has to offer once again. And that part of the journey cannot be overshadowed by that dark moment. Because that is what so many of us seek when we suffer from grief, that chance to feel the wonder of the world again, and now that the hard healing is done, the next chapter and the work to follow begins. Because there will be more challenges ahead beyond the one that Jimmy is facing, the kind that will test these fine people and hurt them and anger them. For that is life. A series of highs and lows that test us and shape us and mold us, and it will be fascinating to see how everyone handles what lies ahead when season two of this show gets underway. Until next time.     

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