in the latest episode shrinkGaby “kidnapped” Paul—or, as she likes to say, “borrowed him against his will.” Not long ago, she had invited him to give a guest lecture to her undergraduate students. As expected, Paul’s response was firm and resounding “No.” But in true Gaby style, she ignored his flat refusal and arranged the lecture. Now they were heading to campus, Paul sitting in the passenger seat questioning every life choice that had led him to this moment.
To everyone’s surprise, Mr. Grumpy didn’t seem to hate lectures as much as expected. The students respected him – though he didn’t exactly reciprocate it, he said bluntly: “The world is already full of therapists and you’re all wasting your time.” However, even Paul can’t resist a glimmer of hope when a student breaks free… and conveniently, that student calls him a genius.
Lectures aren’t the only help Gabby needs from Paul in this episode. She also turned to him for advice about her sister Courtney and her mother. Her sister is currently looking for a job, and while Gabby pretends to be supportive, she’s secretly hoping that Courtney won’t find a job anytime soon. She knew that if she found a job, she would have to care for her mother herself—a responsibility Gabby was unwilling to take on.
As someone who has always been close to my own mother, I find Gabby’s fears a bit difficult to understand. I know she doesn’t want her mother to move in with her, especially since they aren’t particularly close. What’s harder to understand, however, is why the sisters act as if their mother is completely incapable of managing on her own. They insisted she needed ongoing care, but every time we saw her she seemed fine – stable, sharp, and not at all helpless. It’s difficult to reconcile their claims with what’s shown on the screen.
When Gabby’s sister announces she’s joining the Army and leaving soon, Gabby hatches a seemingly smart plan: hire a live-in nanny so their mother can live in her own home. The only problem? Naturally her mother thought she would move in with Gabby. To her, this was the most logical outcome. And, just as Paul predicted, Gaby couldn’t muster the courage to tell her mother that this arrangement was definitely not what she wanted.
The episode also focuses on Brian and Charlie, who are about to meet the biological mother of the baby they hope to adopt. It’s up to them and a straight couple, and Brian is spiraling. He knew he didn’t make the best first impression and desperately wanted to seem more likeable and worthy of parenthood. In true Brian fashion, he walks into the therapy session Jimmy is currently undergoing and demands immediate help from his friends. As usual, Brian gets what he wants, in this case, it’s Jimmy’s attention.
 |
| Zoom out, pictured: Michael Urie. AppleTV+ ©2024 AppleTV+. all rights reserved. |
Brian asks Jimmy to help him “become less like himself,” which is pretty heartbreaking when you think about it. Thankfully, Jimmy assures him there’s nothing wrong with his identity. Growing up in a conservative gay family in Texas, Brian developed a defense mechanism: lashing out or coming across as arrogant when meeting new people, for fear they would reject him first. While it wasn’t a problem that could be solved overnight, Jimmy knew Brian needed practical help, too. So he sent him to Liz, trusting her to have solid answers to all the tough parenting questions.
Brian and Charlie are very nervous when they meet a young pregnant woman who may choose them as adoptive parents for their child. Despite some awkward moments at first, the couple and the mother-to-be eventually hit it off. Brian even manages to connect with her through their shared love of musicals, showing a more authentic and vulnerable side of himself.
After such a positive meeting, both Brian and Charlie became hopeful, almost thinking she would choose them as the child’s adoptive parents. But heartbreakingly, she decided to go with the straight couple. For the first time we see Brian seeming to really want this. It’s not just about making Charlie happy, he also sincerely wants to be a father. The rejection was therefore more serious than expected, revealing a desire he never knew he had.
The episode’s third storyline revolves around Alice, who has a new man in her life. It’s only her second date with Dylan, but Jimmy is already in full protective dad mode, ready to lay down some ground rules. When Dylan arrives to pick up Alice, Jimmy awkwardly switches between trying to intimidate him and impressing him. His protective paternal instincts clash comically with his need to appear cool, resulting in an embarrassing but entertaining performance. However, things took a humiliating turn when Jimmy choked on a grape while trying to demonstrate his mouth-catching skills.
At first, Jimmy stubbornly insists he’s fine and refuses Dylan’s help. But when he realizes his airway is about to become completely blocked, he has no choice but to accept Dylan’s help. After several forceful Heimlich maneuvers, Jimmy was breathing again—saved by the boy whose current goal in life was probably to sleep with his daughter. It wasn’t quite the energy Jimmy was hoping for.
Later that night, Alice called Jimmy and asked him to pick her up early for a date. Jimmy sensed something was wrong and jumped into the car without hesitation. When he found Alice, she recounted what happened: She thought hanging out with Dylan’s friends would be a safe space where no one would know she was “the girl with her dead mother.” But now everyone around her is walking on eggshells after the news broke. It was a feeling she absolutely hated.
After Tia passed away, Jimmy faced a similar dilemma and shared some advice based on his own experience. He tells Alice how he started calling himself “dead wife face,” using humor to break the tension and show people they don’t need to be careful around him. It was his way of regaining control of a bad situation. Encouraged by his words, Alice decides to return to the party, this time following her father’s advice. To her relief, the humor approach worked.
 |
| Shrink, as shown in the figure: Lukita Maxwell. AppleTV+ ©2024 AppleTV+. all rights reserved. |
It’s a very beautiful and touching scene between father and daughter, a moment of growth and connection that feels truly earned. Recalling a flashback from last episode in which Jimmy pushed Alice away instead of supporting her through her mother’s death, this heartfelt exchange feels like a meaningful step toward healing. Jimmy finally shows up for Alice in a way he couldn’t before, displaying real personal growth and newfound emotional openness.
However, this important milestone in their relationship may be at risk due to one of Jimmy’s latest missteps. In the previous episode, he told Louis to stay away from Alice and all their friends. Alice, unaware of Jimmy’s ultimatum, keeps texting Louis, only to receive vague excuses from him for not replying. This unresolved tension is a ticking time bomb that threatens to cause another rift as father and daughter begin to rebuild their relationship.
What did you think of this episode? Any favorite moments? Let us know in the comments!
