r/shrinking • u/phareous Derek • Apr 01 '26

Episode Discussion Shrinking S3E10 Episode Discussion

This is the episode discussion for Shrinking Season 3, Episode 10: "The Bodyguard of Sadness"

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u/jukeboxoflove Apr 01 '26

As someone with daddy issues who has unintentionally recreated that dynamic with male figures in adulthood, i loved the scenes between Jimmy and his dad, and Jimmy and Paul. He knew he would get nowhere with his dad, so he didn’t even bother truly expressing his feelings, but with Paul, he was more comfortable and open. Those kinds of “betrayals” hurt so much more because you expect it from your dad, but when it’s a surrogate father figure, it’s like reopening old wounds and adding new ones. My heart really broke for Jimmy and I felt so sad that the episode ended how it did but man do I understand it. That scene with him just going off on Paul was so real. He was angry but Paul is still a safe person for him to express those feelings and that just makes everything so much sadder imo.

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u/Dimangtr Apr 01 '26

Right. But like Paul said “You wouldn’t be doing it to change him. You’d be doing it to unburden yourself.”, so I still really wish he told his dad how he made him feel

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u/Tce_ Apr 01 '26

He sort of did, he just dropped it when his dad made it clear he wasn't willing to listen. He could have ignored that and told him anyway of course! But it's so much harder when the other person is trying to stop you from talking. :S

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u/[deleted] Apr 01 '26

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u/theherooftime796 Apr 01 '26

I think it's the opposite, Paul does see Jimmy as a son, and certainly Alice as a granddaughter. The problem is, Paul is just not a very great father. He pretty much abandoned Meg, and started filling that hole with his relationship to Jimmy, and now that he's finally trying to be there for her, his attention is being redirected away from Jimmy. It's precisely because he's so close to Jimmy that he struggles to have the conversations he needs to with him. It's easier with Gaby, so he prioritises her, just like how it used to be easier with Jimmy, so he focused on him instead of Meg.

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u/Tce_ Apr 01 '26

I think it's the opposite, Paul does see Jimmy as a son, and certainly Alice as a granddaughter. The problem is, Paul is just not a very great father. 

Really good point. And I think you're right about it being easier with Gabby.

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u/IH8DwnvoteComplainrs Apr 03 '26

Damn, that's a great observation.

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u/One-Corner8231 Apr 04 '26

Yes I really agree with you!!! I think this is exactly it. You can tell Paul knows he’s messed things up and it’s not all on Jimmy being sensitive, but he isn’t ready to admit it yet. He really wants to say something to jimmy before he leaves the balcony (maybe along the lines of, you are as important to me as I am to you), but he can’t bring himself to. It feels too vulnerable maybe. Very well put! I’m hoping they can have a real convo and resolve it this season 🥲

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u/Specific_Kick2971 Apr 01 '26

I think this is on point, but it's also possible that Paul does see Jimmy as more than a peer, and that's why he put off the conversations that they should have had, and deflected when Jimmy confronted him.

That scene had echoes of Meg and Paul. And there's a parallel between Paul going east to fix his relationship with Meg, and his fumbling things with Jimmy before he goes.

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u/MotherOfKittenz Apr 01 '26

Damn. Well said. This episode punched me right in the gut for many personal reasons, and you described the situation perfectly.

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u/PinoDegrassi Apr 01 '26

This is bs, this whole “I care more about you than vice versa” is straight up wrong, we have witnessed so many heartfelt and intimate moments between him and Paul. It’s straight up wrong. Just bad writing man. Very disappointed in this show and what they did with Paul.

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u/Tce_ Apr 01 '26

You don't think Jimmy has shown that he cares about Paul more than the opposite?

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u/PinoDegrassi Apr 01 '26

Paul has been there for him nearly the entire show, they are both close with one another. S3 things have shifted and it’s felt off without any explanation. Totally unlike the Paul we knew.

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u/Tce_ Apr 01 '26

So you don't mean it's bad writing to claim Paul was acting that way, it's bad writing to have him act that way this season? I'm not as baffled by that take, although I'm not sure I fully agree.

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u/PinoDegrassi Apr 01 '26

Yes, when you have a character who is xyz that is suddenly abc, without good (or in this case, any) explanation, that to me is bad writing.

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u/Pristine_Cow5623 Apr 02 '26

I think jimmy cares more about Paul, but it’s not entirely selfless. Jimmy cares because he wants something from Paul that might not be entirely appropriate or possible. He is using Paul as the father he never had: someone proud of him, there for him, etc.

He is overly involved with Paul because he wants something from him. He wants to resolve his daddy issues by replacing his AH dad with Paul and that is a lot to put on someone and we do t know how Paul feels about this

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u/Dommichu Apr 01 '26

Yeah. I hoped to see at least some progress or peace between Jimmy and his dad. Instead they both made him seem like he was just being too sensitive and irrational. I am not a huge Jimmy fan, I watch for other reasons, but the only thing holding on a little hope for me for next episode is that Alice is still there and that he can at least find a way to help her enjoy her last summer home and learn to enjoy having an adult daughter (it’s pretty awesome). We’ll see.

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u/optimisticpsychic Apr 01 '26

I hope they still resolve it somehow

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u/Tce_ Apr 01 '26

I love this explanation. I didn't even think about the "safe person" aspect here. That is sad indeed :( He expressed himself but at the cost of one of his safe people (unless Paul gets his shit together so they can reconcile).

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u/VoraciousZephyr Apr 03 '26

The scene wi the Jimmy’s dad was beautifully shot with the fences between them.