‘Shrinking’ Recap: ‘The Drugs Don’t Work’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Jason Segel as Jimmy in Episode 211 of ‘Shrinking’ – ‘The Drugs Don’t Work’. (Photo Courtesy of Apple.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 211 of ‘Shrinking’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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There is a point in the healing process, that is rarely discussed amongst those working to get better and is rarely showcased in popular media. Specifically, there comes a point, where those working to heal, realize that they’ve been doing the work, that life has been better because of it… but they’re not going anywhere. They just seem to be stuck in a rut, one that while not unhealthy, is unhelpful in the ultimate goal. Which is to feel better, to feel as though the next chapter awaits and well, it’s shocking we don’t discuss it. Because there are very real reasons this exists, and they could be conquered with a little chat regarding such matters. But thankfully, this is being discussed and explored in popular media now, and for proof, just look at this week’s episode of Shrinking on Apple TV+.

For ‘The Drugs Don’t Work’ looked squarely at two key characters who are in fact, in the midst of this problem, one of whom… happened to be Sean. For we learned here, he was dating Paul’s neurologist, and the truck was making bank and Sean was feeling great. For he was once again, putting in the work, heading toward a better tomorrow… but he felt… stuck. In fact, a chance to get upgraded digs to further build on his relationship and future, scared the hell out of him. Which he cited related to not being ready, not feeling as though he could move forward. Which of course, he received support over because that’s what you do when a friend feels stuck. You let them take those steps, but he embodied the central theme and he wasn’t the only one who encountered this.

Because Jimmy… was struggling in this tale. Because for so long now, things seemed to be on track, and he was helping patients and making progress with his daughter. But now, the chickens had come home to roost and Alice wanted nothing to do with him while she reconciled his desire to control her life to control his grief and well… that prompted Jimmy to resort to old haunts and bad habits to try and find peace and he no longer could, with those elements. Which helped him realize, he had plateaued really and was stuck in a cycle of quick fixes that brought about no change. There was merely the constant, and that put Jimmy in a tough place as he tried to understand why he was stuck, why he wasn’t moving forward and well, Paul said some profound things there, as did Derek, that brought about several truths to the theme at hand.

In that, if we don’t confront our past, and resolve/remove the pain that is lingering… we don’t move forward. WE just hit that holding pattern and stand put and that’s not useful in the slightest for anyone. But it’s true. Because we cannot move forward until we let go of that which chains our very soul, and that was an important lesson to learn here… as was what Derek basically informed Sean of. In that, while we can do the work and while we can feel better about ourselves… we forget that we sometimes hold onto what made us strong during our time of strife and we are unwilling to let it go. Simply because, it helped us survive, it helped us see tomorrow and make it to this point. So, letting it go makes us feel vulnerable and scared, and curious as to how we will thrive without that which gave us so much.

But we must let that go too, and embrace change and that does take time, and it is scary, and all of this made for a stunning episode. Since it finally put on display the answers to that problem, one that frustrates anyone ready to move into a new chapter after spending ages healing and of course, this episode had more to offer. Since Brian and Charlie are getting their baby, and Gaby learned some hard lessons about the games she plays and Paul… is now staring down the end of the calm he’s enjoyed, and that sets the stage for a stunning season two finale. Where Sean and Jimmy must confront and resolve and where everyone else stands on the edge of something new, and it will be fascinating to see what everyone does with new knowledge in hand during next week’s season two finale. Until next time.

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