Shrinking Season 2 Episode 10 Review: Changing Patterns

Shrinking Season 2 Episode 10, “Changing Patterns,” sees Jimmy attempting to throw Alice the best 18th birthday party ever, complete with a firing-on-all-cylinders Harrison Ford and a delightful How I Met Your Mother reunion. It propels the narrative in an intriguing direction, building on the seeds planted on last week’s episode.  

“A” Is for Amazing 

“Changing Patterns” is about just that — changing patterns. So far, this series has cleverly, if a bit overtly, tackled crucial facets of mental health, whether it’s finding healthy coping mechanisms to navigate grief or learning to establish boundaries. This outing is the perfect springboard for growth for Gaby and Paul as both take significant steps toward breaking patterns. Their scene together in Paul’s office is hilarious, too, with Jessica Williams and Harrison Ford going toe-to-toe as comedic giants in their own right. 

For Gaby, it’s pushing herself to put her foot down with her mother, who has an understandably emotional reaction to her daughter’s boundary-setting. It’s a profoundly relatable scene for anyone who’s had to do that, especially with parental figures. 

As for Paul, he opens his “Fortress of Solitude” to Julie in a tender, heartwarming scene. Ford is a bona fide standout in “Changing Patterns.” Calling a baby a “bald f*ck”? Interrogating Damon Wayans Jr.? Making out with Wendie Malick? He has some of the best material to work with on Shrinking, and the creatives behind it just let him run wild (as they should). 

How I Met the Former Owner of Your Car 

Cobie Smulders appears as Sofi, the woman from whom Jimmy purchases Alice’s car. I half-expected to only see Smulders and Jason Segel as Robin and Marshall, respectively, but I was pleasantly surprised it was the contrary. Of course, it helps that both actors excel at comedy and boast enough versatility to play characters that differ from Robin and Marshall. 

All this to say, guest appearances like these can sometimes be super distracting, but this one really works in “Changing Patterns.” Segel and Smulders have great chemistry. Sofi’s awkward word-vomiting is also painfully relatable. The series clearly sets her up as Jimmy’s love interest, and I’m here for it. 

Shrinking has this tendency to move at a brisk pace, especially for a sitcom. It can feel like plot points are hastily resolved and then equally hastily forgotten. However, the show knows what it’s doing. It revisits previous storylines to dig deeper into them, just like certain events or feelings can intermittently resurface in real life. 

For example, in “Changing Patterns,” the Liz and Derek arc gets new colors and layers. We see Liz in a more subservient role, which is out of character for her. She admits to Sean and Brian she’s in a shame spiral, and it’s clear that she’s struggling to forgive herself. The episode beautifully resolves this plot, culminating in Liz characteristically yelling at Derek for being too loud. Derek’s reaction is so heartfelt, making one realize that no one but Ted McGinley could be in this role.

The Aftermath

“Changing Patterns” ends on a significant cliffhanger, as Alice learns that Jimmy told Louis to stay away from her. It’s laying the groundwork for Jimmy to genuinely forgive Louis. This is a massive step for Jimmy, one that the series will undoubtedly address with grace and humor in equal measure, as only it can. 

Stray Observations: 

• “You’ve got nipples; whip out a titty,” cracked me up. Jessica Williams always knocks her line deliveries out of the park. 
• If you’ll allow me to be superficial for a moment — young Harrison Ford is a thing of beauty. Older Harrison Ford? Also hot. And let’s be honest, Damon Wayans Jr. is very attractive. 
• I need me a Derek or a Derrick (or both). 
• I, too, missed shrimp b*tch. 
• You can’t tell me Jason Segel kept a straight face while Ted McGinley made that gesture during the lotion line. I won’t believe it. 
• I really hope nothing happens to Louis in the season finale. That line about wanting to walk into oncoming trains made me nervous. 
• Paul putting his hat on Alice’s head feels like a nod to Indiana Jones, but I could be reading into things.

What did you think of this episode of Shrinking? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Shrinking drops new episodes every Wednesday on Apple TV+. 

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