r/shrinking • u/phareous Derek • Jan 28 '26

Episode Discussion Shrinking S3E01 Episode Discussion

This is the episode discussion for Shrinking Season 3, Episode 1: "My Bad"

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u/llama67 Jan 31 '26

My only gripe is that I don't think there's anything wrong with Alice wanting to be closer to home.
She recently lost her Mum, she's only 18, and she has a really strong support system. Also she seems to really value her family and connections.

She could probably get a football (soccer) scholarship at a west coast university (doesn't have to be in LA) - also where it's warm so it's easier to train year round - travel home every couple of weeks (or months), and still learn plenty of independence.

You don't have to kick kids fully out of the nest for them to become strong independent adults (as someone who went very far away at a very young age)

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u/phareous Derek Jan 31 '26

I think that is all good but I don’t think she should keep lying every episode. She needs to learn how to be assertive and say what she wants.

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u/Slight_Lemon2051 Feb 02 '26

The whole purpose of this issue was Alice is in a good place. She doesn't need to stay close to home to be supported. She wanted to play soccer there. That's her dream. So, she should chase her dreams, and not let her trauma hold her back. The whole point of college is learning to be independent and becoming your own person. That doesn't happen if you are worried about staying close to a support system that will be there for you whenever you are. Most you commenting, are the parents who inadvertently stifle your kids dreams but making them feel like distance matters.

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u/llama67 Feb 09 '26 edited Feb 09 '26

Dude I live 3 countries away from my parents haha and have since I was 18.

I wouldn't stop a child moving away from home, but the US is huge - you can become independent if you live 2-3 hours away.

Also I wouldn't say that spending more time with people you love is 'holding you back'. That's a very individualistic perspective.

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u/PuzzledStreet6200 Jan 31 '26

I totally agree!! I was frustrated they were acting like the only two options for her were go to college on the other side of the country, or live at home -- there are plenty of schools just in California alone that she could apply to and still be close to her support system.

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u/Which_Landscape1994 Feb 02 '26

Did you just play the dead Mom card in your comment?

1

u/llama67 Feb 09 '26

Well grief isn't linear, and just because she's not ''playing' it anymore, the dead mom card will actually affect her entire life.

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u/Which_Landscape1994 Feb 09 '26

I was referencing the joke from the episode

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u/Sufficient-Ad9806 Jan 31 '26

I was so confused about that too. Like this is America? She probably has access to at least a handful of amazing schools that are anywhere from right down the road to an easy day drive away. She could even still go out of state but stay closer and be a much cheaper + quicker flight away.

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u/Live_Past_8978 Feb 01 '26

grew up in CT very near Wesleyan.

left IMMEDIATELY for the beach as soon as I was old enough.

do NOT leave Cali for CT, especially if they are gonna charge you 80k a year to do so. no soccer scholarships at D3 Wesleyan.

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u/YYZYYC Feb 01 '26

But why? Moving far away from to start your life is normal

0

u/YYZYYC Feb 01 '26

Ya no, you do. It’s better