As Jason Segel and Harrison Ford return for another season of Apple TV Plus’ acclaimed show, Shrinking, the lead star reflects on the poignant nature of the new episodes.
The comedy-drama follows therapist Jimmy (Jason), whose life is turned upside down after the sudden death of his wife, Tia. Wracked by grief, he must navigate this unexpected era of his life with the help of friends, family and inner strength.
A pillar in his life is his dry-witted but ultimately soft-hearted colleague, Dr Paul Rhoades (Harrison), who becomes a father-figure for the spiralling therapist and a shoulder to lean on as he re-emerges from his despair.
Infused with heartfelt humour that will have you laughing out loud and a stark reflection of the messiness of life (and what makes it worth living), the new season is all about moving forward.
The season two finale left our characters with some huge revelations, including Paul revealing to his found family that he has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease – a storyline that is front and centre in season three.
When filming the powerful finale and new episodes opposite the 83-year-old screen legend, however, the How I Met Your Mother star tells Metro that several of the scenes hit close to home.
‘There’s something so meta about the dialogue that Paul delivers,’ the 45-year-old TV star explained.
He continues: ‘It was especially true in the finale of season two, when Paul is saying: “I don’t know how much longer I’m going to be doing this job, but it’s an honour to be doing it with you all”, and “you’re my family right now”.’
‘We’re sitting there weeping disproportionate to the scene because who knows if Harrison Ford does another TV show? You know what I mean? He’s talking to us [in real life] as well.’
Jason adds that the way the cast (also featuring Jessica Williams, Christa Miller, Luke Tennie and Lukita Maxwell), ‘view all of these scenes is like: “I don’t know how many [more] scenes I get to do with Harrison Ford. I don’t know how many seasons this show goes on”.
‘So every scene where we’re talking about what an honour it is to have worked with Paul, I could just sub in the word Harrison.’
The parallels between their onscreen and real-life relationship don’t end there. Just like Jimmy and Paul on the show, Jason has soaked in profound wisdom from his well-seasoned co-star.
After traversing the globe as the man, the myth, the legend himself, Indiana Jones, and forging a legacy as one of the most iconic characters in cinematic history, Han Solo – Harrison has more than earned his place in Hollywood history.
Now, with first-hand experience seeing the industry titan at work, Jason shares with a sense of awe: ‘The lesson that you learn is: Harrison Ford knows how to do it. Harrison Ford could show up every day and do the old number 23 and then the old number 15, all the Harrison Ford hits, and I’m sure people would love it.
‘He refuses to. He shows up fresh and prepared, and each scene is new. [He’s like:] ‘I’m going to figure out how to be honest during this scene, as opposed to doing the thing that I know I could get away with”.’
What he’s learned is that ‘the goal is’ to be as honest as possible between takes and ‘everything else is a little bit of a cheat.’
‘The more you can be honest out there, the better it’s going to be,’ he concludes.
Nowhere does this honesty shine more than during the emotionally intimate scenes between Jimmy and Brett Goldstein’s character Louis, the latter of whom feels responsible for Tia’s death after crashing while drunk driving.
In the season two finale, Louis attempts suicide and is saved at the last moment by Jimmy, with the pair sitting down on a bench to have a frank conversation about the dark and light of life that has moved viewers to tears.
Discussing what it was like filming this impactful scene with Brett, Jason has nothing but praise for his co-star.
‘Brett and I are both very gentle, soft boys. I’ll text Brett: “Hey, just wanted to let you know I love you,’ and he’ll text back: “I love you back, my hero.” That’s our relationship.
‘Brett and I were built to sit next to each other on a bench at night and emote,’ he says.
Calling the conversation ‘very real’, he gently admits the pair have ‘had talks about [how] life is hard in real life.’
In fact, for the Forgetting Sarah Marshall star, that scene crystallises what the show is all about.
Later, reflecting on balancing the heart with the humour in this series, he adds: ‘That is the tone of life.
‘Within one moment, within one exchange, within one issue, there are absurdities and heartbreaks, and it’s what [creator Bill Lawrence] does really well.
‘I like to think it’s what I’ve been doing since the beginning of my writing, like the naked breakup in Forgetting Sarah Marshall. That’s every version of vulnerability, and you’re laughing, and it’s absurd, but the guy’s heart is clearly breaking out there.
‘The magic of really good comedy is that it’s not just dumb laughs. It’s using the comedy as a Trojan horse to explore something hard.’
The unique nature of this show, even compared to what the rest of the TV landscape has to offer, is resonating with fans as well.
As Harrison once told Jason, ‘this is the only project he’s done where people come up to talk about it with him [and] they don’t ask him for a selfie, they just say something nice.’
The beloved actor echoes that the on-the-street reception to the show reminds him of the pre-iPhone era, before fans started prioritising taking photos to show ‘proof’ of their interaction.
‘Shrinking has looped it back to people coming up be like: “Hey, I lost my partner. Thanks for making that show.” It brings out vulnerability in people, which I think is one of the goals of making stuff,’ he explains.
This role has transformed Jason’s life in more ways than one, and, much like the viewers, even he has been empowered by his character.
‘[He’s] a little bit freer than I am about expressing his displeasure, and I’m getting a little bit better at that because of playing Jimmy.
‘It’s okay to have a little bit of Michael Keaton energy, you know what I mean. I’m very Big Bird in real life, so having a little bit more bite is something I’m learning.’
Shrinking season one and two are streaming on Apple TV Plus. Season three premieres on January 28, 2026.
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