‘Shrinking’ Recap: ‘Moving Forward’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Nine of ‘Shrinking’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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Over the course of the past nine weeks, we’ve learned a lot about trauma and loss, and how it grabs hold us of and how difficult it is to heal from, courtesy of the brilliant Apple TV+ series, Shrinking. For this series has chronicled every tough day that comes from grief, and the mistakes we make in trying to heal and how much work actually goes into healing. But while that has indeed made for a fascinating story, one that has engaged us and taught us so much… there is one particular aspect of the process we have been eager to see play out on this series. Specifically, how healing actually begins. Because this kind of pain isn’t forever and there does come a day when we will feel better and begin to move on from the darkness.
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As it turns out, the next episode of this incredible show, opted to explore just that and rightfully so. Because everyone has been putting in the work and making strides and well, what ‘Moving Forward’ taught us… is that the moment we start healing and finding our way back… is far less profound than the day the darkness arrives. Simply because… there’s no certificate or epiphany that informs us, we did the thing, we got over our grief. There’s just… days where the sadness isn’t so heavy, and some days… it isn’t there at all, and on those days, we feel ready to handle the tough stuff that follows loss that we’ve been putting off, and handle life and its challenges once again. And those days become more common until… we just move on. But we get there in such a subtle manner… because we do the work. We take those baby steps until they become full strides that inspire us, and well, all of that was put on display by the positive behaviors present here. 

For instance, Jimmy… was in better spirits here and finally ready to tackle that tough stuff… such as cleaning out his wife’s clothes and effects. Because the work taught him how to reconcile his pain and slowly begin to let go, and while it was tough and emotional at times… he did it, and he found himself able to start moving forward. And making strides and finding those nuggets of peace, inspired Alice to look toward better days and they weren’t alone in finding that peace. Since Gaby confronted the toxic nature of her relationship at last, with an assist from Jimmy and his uh… safe harbor. But more so because the work helped her heal and find her value. Not to mention, the work helped Sean find stability and purpose and it inspired him to move beyond his anger and embrace that he could be more in this life when he chose to be, and that prompted him to ask Liz for an assist in starting his own business. 

But where this analysis truly wowed us, was via Paul’s journey in this tale. Because he was up for a lifetime achievement award and saw that award as an opportunity to try and mend fences with his family. So, he asked them to join him in Vegas. But Meg was hesitant, especially since the whole matter was once again work related and would require an upending of a school play to cater to grandpa, and well… by doing the work and recognizing that his daughter needed more than just attempts at reconciliation, she needed a leap of faith from her father, the kind that proved he cared… he did something quite bold. In that, he asked his doctor, Julie, whom he finally opened up to romantically… to join him for the weekend. Not in Vegas mind you, but to where Meg and his family resided. To see his family and take in that play and prove… that she mattered more to him than work.

All of which made, for one beautiful and powerful episode, one that really did inform us of how those bad days fade just enough to let the light back in, and how we quickly embrace that light and let it fuel us. But of course, since this series is grounded firmly in reality, it also informed us… that bad days and sorrow from the loss… never leave. Since Alice, had a moment, and will have more when those moments of sorrow find her. But that aside, healing has begun regarding this series, and while that makes it seem as though nothing, but good times are ahead… there will always be challenges, and everyone still has more work to do. And it will be interesting to see how everyone responds to the tough days that pop up and those unpleasant surprises life sends our way, as this grand story continues along. Until next time.

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