Jimmy’s up to no good again, and on this week’s episode, he’s going all out. He spends an entire day helping his patient Daniel overcome social anxiety, just in time for his best friend’s wedding, which is the next day. Jimmy was convinced that with some intense exposure therapy, his patient might survive the event.
But, as always, Jimmy’s life hit a roadblock. He’s called to Alice’s school, where things have gotten out of hand: Summer records a TikTok calling Alice a “liar bitch” (with a song and all), which leads to an argument between the two girls in the cafeteria . Things got physical and now both are on hold. Jimmy, ever intent on solving everyone’s problems at once, brings patient Daniel to school – an unexpected twist in the therapy process. For the patient, it was like reliving a trauma from high school, an environment he feared. On top of that, he’s afraid of Alice, which adds an extra layer to Jimmy’s unorthodox exposure therapy.
At home (with patient Daniel tagging along, of course), Jimmy talks to Alice, who has a hard time understanding why Summer hasn’t forgiven her yet. She insists her repeated apologies were enough and believes her grief over the loss of her mother should forgive her for the poor choices she made. Jimmy has held this view for a long time, but he recently realized: “Just because mom passed away doesn’t mean we can assume there’s not someone else dealing with these things.”
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| “Into the Sea” – Shrink, pictured: Lukita Maxwell and Jason Segel. AppleTV+ ©2024 AppleTV+. all rights reserved. |
This resonates with Alice, prompting her to reflect on what she experienced during the summer. Summer confides in her that Connor is one of the best things that’s ever happened to her in a long time, while Alice jeopardizes the relationship that brings her joy. With a new sense of clarity, Alice knows what she needs to do and heads to Summer’s home.
The two young women finally had a frank conversation. Alice apologizes, admitting that she was completely selfish, and admits that Summer, who supported her mother when she died when other friends did not, deserves better. Summer forgave her, explaining that all she really wanted was an honest and heartfelt apology. It’s a touching scene as the two girls reconcile and express their love for each other.
But can their friendship really be restored as easily as this moment suggests? As Summer plans to eventually get back together with Connor, it’s inevitable that the three of them will spend time together – an awkward dynamic waiting to happen. Can Summer truly trust Alice and Connor again? Only time will tell.
Meanwhile, Liz is spending time with her ex-boyfriend Mike, whose attention and interest in her life makes her feel seen and appreciated – something she’s currently sorely lacking elsewhere. As they were hugging each other goodbye, Paul happened to pass by. Liz naturally felt the need to explain herself. Later, she interrupts Paul’s coffee date with Roy, his former patient and now friend (although Paul stubbornly refuses to make the relationship public), and tells him that Mac is just a friend. She asked Paul not to mention the meeting to her husband and repeatedly insisted it was a completely innocent encounter.
Paul wasn’t footing the bill. Liz’s insistence on keeping it secret only makes him more suspicious that Mac’s intentions aren’t entirely platonic. Liz is frustrated and loudly declares to everyone nearby that having sex with her is not what Mike wants – although she quickly adds that, of course, most people want to sleep with her. Just not Mike.
She storms out, leaving Roy, who still doesn’t know who Lizzie really is, to turn to Paul and ask him how he knew someone like her. Paul said expressionlessly: “One time she almost pooped on my desk. Then casually stole half of Roy’s waffles. Line delivery was absolutely perfect! I literally had to pause the episode because I couldn’t hear myself laughing.
Liz quickly realizes that Paul is absolutely right about Mac wanting more than friendship, although deep down, she probably knew this long before Mr. Grumpy said it. At their next meeting, Mike made a move and started a kiss. Lizzie participated briefly, then stepped back in horror. His flattery and promised support for her talents as a photographer lulled her into a false sense of security. Despite knowing he was married and in a vulnerable position, Mike still crossed a line. Bad move, friend.
Full of regret over the kiss, Liz turns to Paul for advice—a moment I’ve been waiting for since she almost shit on his desk. Paul was in no rush to get involved, but as always, he couldn’t say no. Behind his bad temper, he’s a good guy who genuinely cares about others, even if he works overtime pretending not to. His advice is forthright and profound, drawn from his own secret experiences: “There’s not a secret I keep that I wouldn’t tell that damn person.”
Liz took his advice and went straight home and confessed everything to Derek. He was hurt and angry. He reminded her that he had expressed concerns about Mike’s intentions multiple times, but she ignored him and met with the man anyway. Not only was he actually hurt; Derek was really surprised. So far, he believes their marriage is completely solid. Honestly, I agree, they were reliable, at least until Liz’s downward spiral started and Derek didn’t notice.
Liz was clearly terrified that she was ruining everything, that he would abandon her and their marriage would fall apart. While Derek has every right to be upset, I can’t imagine him actually leaving. The couple will find a solution, and their therapist friend will make sure of it.
As all this unfolds, Gabby tries to go on her first official date with Derek 2 (Liz’s Derek best friend). However, Brian’s plans are disrupted by a crisis: he and his husband are unexpectedly chosen to be the adoptive parents of their upcoming baby. It happened much sooner than they expected. Brian was completely overwhelmed. Responsible for buying baby supplies, he panicked and ended up with a pack of diapers and a chick costume. Painfully, he’s clearly not ready for this, which leaves him with the question: What on earth is he supposed to do now? Surprisingly, it was Derek 2, not Gaby, who provided Brian with much-needed advice: “Call Charlie and everyone you trust. We’re going to figure this out together.
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| “Into the Sea” – SHRINKING, pictured: Damon Wayans Jr. and Jessica Williams. AppleTV+ ©2024 AppleTV+. all rights reserved. |
When Derek Two said they “would go to sea for this,” he wasn’t kidding. Together with Jimmy, Charlie, and Daniel (known only as “Jimmy’s other patient”), they head to the ocean for a swim in hopes of helping Brian figure out what he really wants. Unexpectedly, it was socially anxious Daniel who asked the most insightful question: Has anyone actually asked Brian’s husband, Charlie, how he felt about the sudden adoption?
Charlie admitted that he was just as scared and unprepared as Brian. They were supposed to have nine months to prepare, but now they only have one day to arrange everything. The couple decided they weren’t ready to take that step.
Last but not least, Sean finds himself wondering if he’s ready to meet his old army buddies. His friend, once a pillar of spiritual strength, was now a little lost and in need of help. But how could Sean possibly help others when he was struggling so much himself? Paul’s answer is simple yet profound: “Assholes are great at helping assholes.”
The episode ends with Jimmy delivering patient Daniel to his car after a long day. Despite the chaos and the fact that nothing went according to Jimmy’s plan, things turned out surprisingly well. Daniel spends his day surrounded by strangers, navigating uncomfortable social situations and even offering advice. The way he handled it all was much better than expected, which is definitely a win in Jimmy’s book.
As Jimmy walks back to his car, he sees Alice, Brian and Louis – the drunk driver who caused Tia’s death – sitting in a restaurant having dinner together. Ironically, just a while ago, Alice mentioned that they needed to tell Jimmy to meet up to avoid this happening. Yet, here it is. Jimmy stood frozen, overwhelmed by shock, hurt, and betrayal.
This episode once again masterfully balances humor, heartfelt moments, and emotional punch. These characters continue to grapple with the messy realities of grief, growing up, and relationships in a raw and profound way. Jimmy’s world once again teeters on the edge of chaos, and the aftermath of the final scene sets the stage for the tension and emotion of the next episode.
On a scale of 1 to “She almost pooped on my desk,” how much do you like this show? Let us know in the comments!
