Shrinking boasts the best ensemble cast currently on television, which includes a never-better Harrison Ford.
Shrinking is a hangout comedy that follows a tight-knit group of friends — many of whom work together at a psychiatry practice — who lean on each other as they navigate life’s challenges. At the heart of the show is the relationship between father and daughter, Jimmy (Jason Segel) and Alice (Lukita Maxwell), as they grieve the loss of their wife and mother. However, what truly elevated the series in its second season was the addition of co-creator Brett Goldstein to the cast. His character, Louis, had an unexpected introduction and impactful arc, and I sincerely hope he returns for the next season.
Brett Goldstein's Role On Shrinking Was Kept A Secret
Apple TV+ Announced The Co-Creator Was ing The Cast But Didn't' Reveal Who He Was Playing
Fans of Brett Goldstein were thrilled when it was announced that the actor would be ing the cast of Shrinking season 2. While Goldstein was heavily involved in season 1 as a writer and co-creator, he didn’t appear onscreen. His role was shrouded in secrecy, and it wasn’t until the closing moments of the season premiere that viewers finally learned who Goldstein's Shrinking character was. Jimmy spots Goldstein’s Louis sitting in the waiting area and immediately has an angry outburst, eventually kicking him out. A flashback then reveals that Louis was the drunk driver responsible for killing Jimmy’s wife, Tia.
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Louis’ arc in season 2 took many unexpected turns that I never saw coming. After Jimmy tells Alice that Louis showed up at his office, she begins spying on him, and eventually confronts him at the coffee shop where he works. Eventually, Jimmy’s friend, Brian (Michael Urie), encourages Alice to meet with Louis, and the two begin forging a connection over their shared grief and depression. In a particularly heartbreaking moment, Louis asks Alice to share a story about Tia, which leads to an emotional breakthrough. She ultimately decides to forgive him — because it’s what her mother would have wanted.
It was a gut-wrenching moment — on the one hand, I completely understood Jimmy’s perspective and probably would have reacted the same way.
But then Jimmy catches his daughter and best friend having dinner with the man responsible for his wife's death and confronts them. While he handles it better than I expected him to, he later confronts Louis at his home and tells him he forgives him but demands that he stay away from his daughter and friends. It was a gut-wrenching moment — on the one hand, I completely understood Jimmy’s perspective and probably would have reacted the same way. But on the other, I had grown to empathize with Louis and the pain he was still carrying.
Shrinking's Eighth Episode Begins To Fill In Some Gaps
A Gut-Wrenching Flashback Shows The Fateful Day
In the season’s best episode, viewers finally get a glimpse into what Louis and Jimmy’s lives were like before the horrific accident. Both men are incredibly happy — Jimmy with his loving family, and Louis deeply in love with his fiancée, Sarah (Meredith Hagner). But everything changes in an instant when Louis and Sarah attend a business dinner, have a few too many drinks, and he insists on driving home. Even though the audience knows what’s coming, it’s still gut-wrenching to watch Jimmy arrive at the accident site, his world shattering before our eyes.
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Shrinking season 2's cast has brought a new face into the fold, but the actor will be very familiar to fans of another Apple TV+ dark comedy show.
In the aftermath, Jimmy spirals into the self-destructive behavior—booze and meaningless flings—that we witnessed at the start of the series. Meanwhile, Louis pushes Sarah away, even though she’s willing to wait for him while he serves his 10 months in jail. Overwhelmed by guilt, he refuses to let her stay, too broken by the weight of what he’s done. The flashback was incredibly effective, making me feel even more sympathy for Louis — something I never thought possible given his actions. But Goldstein is masterful at creating pathos, portraying a man consumed by depression and regret.
After so much turmoil, it was a huge relief when Shrinkig season 2 ended on a beautiful moment of comion and understanding. After Jimmy tells Louis to stay away from Alice, both men begin to spiral. At his lowest point, Louis finds himself at the train station he used to visit with Sarah, clearly suicidal. Desperate, he reaches out to Alice, but it’s Jimmy who shows up instead. While not much is said, the two bond over the crappy few years they’ve both endured. It's a deeply poignant moment to end a nearly perfect season of television.
Brett Goldstein Was Nervous About Portraying Louis
Jason Segel Suggested That Goldstein Play The Role, But Bill Lawrence Needed Convincing
Image via Apple TV+
Even though Brett Goldstein is one of the creative forces behind Shrinking, the role of Louis wasn’t originally written with him in mind. It was a major departure from the Roy Kent character he played in Ted Lasso, and the show's creative team assumed they would eventually write a comedic role for Goldstein at some point. However, it was series lead Jason Segel who realized that Goldstein would be perfect for Louis — though they first had to convince Bill Lawrence. Goldstein described the process of landing the role (via THR):
"Bill had been trying to get me to at least do a cameo, something funny. Then we’d written this character for season two, and we were about to cast it when Jason brought me and Bill into his trailer and said, “Why isn’t Brett doing this part?"... Bill was like, "I don’t see it.” But he called me the next morning and said something very sincere. He said, “I think you’re a real artist, and if you think you can do this, I will you.” It was scary, but f**k it, let’s give it a go. Anything scary, you should probably be doing.
Even after securing the part, Goldstein was still nervous. But ultimately, he wanted to challenge himself. He even found inspiration from David Bowie, which he detailed in an interview with Forbes:
"Doing this character was scary. David Bowie had this analogy about walking out to sea. Someone asked him about how he made decisions creatively. Bowie said, 'You know when you walk out to sea, and your feet are on the ground?' and the person said, 'Yeah.' He said, 'Then you walk a bit further, and your feet are still on the ground, but the waves are now up to your chin?' and the other person said, 'Yeah,' and then Bowie said, 'You know when you step a little bit further, and your feet are just slightly hovering over the ground? That's when you should do the thing.' That makes sense to me."
Goldstein is brilliant in the role, striking the perfect balance of empathy and sadness while still maintaining the sharp wit that audiences came to love from him in Ted Lasso. Like Bill Lawrence, I never would have imagined Goldstein in a role like this, but he ended up being the perfect choice, proving just how special a talent he truly is.
Season 3 Of Shrinking Starts Shooting Soon
Goldstein Has Not Confirmed He Is Coming back As Louis
Christa Miller, who plays Liz, confirmed that Shrinking season 3 will begin shooting in February 2025, putting it on track to premiere later in the year. While not much is known about the plot of the new season, it’s safe to assume the show will continue storylines from season 2, including Gaby’s new relationship with Derrick #2, Paul’s battle with Parkinson’s disease, Brian’s journey into fatherhood, and Jimmy and Alice’s continued healing after Tia’s death.
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With Shrinking season 3 already renewed, speculation has begun about what should happen in the next installment of the Apple TV+ series.
One storyline they must continue is Louis’ relationship with Jimmy and Alice and his journey toward self-forgiveness. While Brett Goldstein recently had his contract optioned for whatever incarnation of Ted Lasso comes next, he should have no issue finding time to return to Shrinking.
There is still so much Shrinking has left to explore with his character, and I can’t recall another film or TV show where a family befriends the person responsible for the death of a loved one. It’s a fascinating and emotionally complex dynamic, and I can’t wait to see how it evolves. I’d also love to see Louis reunite with his ex-fiancée Sarah because they had incredible chemistry—and after everything he’s been through, Louis deserves some happiness in his life.
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