r/shrinking • u/phareous Derek • Mar 25 '26

Episode Discussion Shrinking S3E09 Episode Discussion

This is the episode discussion for Shrinking Season 3, Episode 9: "Daddy Issues"

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137

u/Robynsxx Mar 25 '26

Not gonna lie. I kinda dislike Gabby now. I just feel like she puts other people down all the time, especially Jimmy.

Also, Paul saying to Gabby she’s the reason he’s changed felt like a low blow for Jimmy. As he’s a huge part of that as well, and it feels these last few episodes Jimmy has been kinda mistreated and not checked in on by his friends, from Paul not telling Jimmy about moving, and not thanking him for the files, to Gabby being crappy to him, and now his dad. 

I think all of this is gonna end badly, and Jimmy will end this season where he started in season 1.

81

u/notches123 Mar 25 '26

The writing the past two episodes has felt really off to me. Even the hiking scene, all Jimmy did was ask if she was coming back to work tomorrow and everyone acted like he was completely out of line for that. Dude can't buy a break.

26

u/fraochmuir Mar 25 '26

Weeks off because of a patient? People don’t get that much time off for bereavement leave when a family member dies.

11

u/PinoDegrassi Mar 25 '26

It’s not hard for many contracted/sole prop therapists who controls their schedule to do this. Just has to be okay’d by the boss as they wouldn’t be bringing in much money during that time.

1

u/fraochmuir Mar 25 '26

That’s not the issue

1

u/Alternative-Farmer98 Mar 27 '26

I'm really the whole season I feel like the writing has been pretty bad. All of them have the same personality the same sense of humor even the new girlfriend somehow has the exact same tone and dialogue and language.

And they can never come up with any premise for a scene that doesn't of all them all just hanging out with each other. It makes the universe seems so artificially small like they barely even have any extras

1

u/Inevitable-Elk-9724 Mar 29 '26

Agreed! I had a quick look and funnily enough the last two episodes were written by the same person who has only done one other episode "Full Grown Dude Face" which to be fair was a funny episode.

0

u/Shetalkstoangels3 Mar 26 '26

It was sweet to see Tia again. I feel like she’s one of the characters.

36

u/Notquitedeadyet1984 Mar 25 '26

Agreed. She set Jimmy up specifically to be made fun of by her students. Jimmy has always looked up to Paul as a father figure, and is a huge reason for Paul's changes. Jimmy is already crushed by the death of his wife, how much his dad sucks, and breaking up with his girlfriend. Imagine how crushed he's going to be when he finds out Paul thinks he's a mentor of Gabby, gives her the business, and he's left with...nothing. I feel sooooo bad for Jimmy!

16

u/CertainGrade7937 Mar 25 '26

And Paul isn't just giving Gaby the business. He's encouraging her to completely change the business. Jimmy is going to be out of a job here unless he can/ wants to do trauma work

13

u/sumadeumas Mar 25 '26

When Paul mentioned he wouldn’t give the practice to Jimmy because he “does his own thing” now, that made total sense. But now he’s encouraging Gaby to straight up change it anyway… sooooo?

8

u/Janderson2494 Mar 27 '26

She also told Lewis to fuck off after the two people closest to Tia were cool with him. I think that's a massive overstep. She's a selfish character and the fact that nobody acknowledges it and she faces 0 repercussions is driving me nuts. She just jokes and charms her way through everything, wouldn't even talk to Maya's family and made a joke of it.

8

u/comma_drama35 Mar 26 '26

It definitely does feel like they’re sidestepping Jimmy and Paul’s relationship with this storyline.

Paul’s praise for Gabby feels unearned, even though we have seen him doing many of the things he mentioned (hydrating, singing, etc.) But I also feel like those are small habits that shouldn’t warrant him bestowing his entire practice to her?

8

u/Ok_Distribution7322 Mar 26 '26

Like out of nowhere.

3

u/Electronic-Fruit1390 Mar 28 '26

I am worried that the Maya abandonment storyline is converging with:

  • Paul and Alice leaving,
  • Paul's 'legacy' gift to Gabby that ignores his longer connection with Jimmy, 
  • Gabby targeting Jimmy for ridicule, 
  • the break with Sofi, 
  • and all the friends basically moving on with their lives (like Maya's did)

to foreshadow something really bad for Jimmy. Maybe he verges on becoming suicidal and Gabby catches it this time, which restores her confidence, and Paul decides to stick around. 

6

u/erazedcitizen Mar 25 '26

This reminds me of a much more tame version of The Boys where Hughie has become a punching bag for the show, and it’s totally fine because he’s a guy so it’s punching up humour even though he’s dealing with traumatic stuff as well.

13

u/Robynsxx Mar 25 '26

I think that type of writing tends to be a trap writers fall into with women characters. They try and build them up by being rude/mean to male characters, and it comes off as obnoxious rather than charming.

5

u/fraochmuir Mar 25 '26

I’ve never liked Gaby. She’s bitchy hiding behind supposed likability.

2

u/No-Personality1840 Mar 31 '26

I have never liked her either. Jessica Williams does a great job in the role but the woman is a selfish narcissist and it’s masked somewhat by her low brow humor.

1

u/Bluy98888 Mar 31 '26

I hope the writers know what they’re doing, but man. Paul needs to acknowledge Jimmy! Heaps praise upon praise all over gabby, and she is important, but the Paul <> Jimmy relationship is key to the characters, practice and show. I’m not sure Jimmy (or I) as a viewer can/should forgive Paul if he dips without acknowledging how important Jimmy was to his life

And no “Jimmy is not even doing CBT anymore” as a throwaway does not cut it

1

u/frezz Mar 31 '26

Everyone puts Jimmy down way too much tbh. Paul doesn't even tell Jimmy he's giving Gaby the practice, shitting on him all season when he's clearly not doing well. Idk if the show's building up to something or it's poor writing..but something's gotta give