Longtime movie actor Harrison Ford, at 82, is having a second career in television thanks to his role as Dr. Paul Rhoades in Shrinking, which just completed its second season at Apple TV+.
He heads an office of psychiatrists, including Jason Segal's Jimmy Laird and Jessica Williams' Gaby. At an advanced age, Paul's starting to deal with the trembling effects of Parkinson's disease.
Jimmy's known for his unorthodox apporoach to therapy, what he calls "Jimmy-ing." Season 1 ended with one of his patients pushing her boyfriend over a cliff, which he casually recommended.
But the main story is the trauma that he and his daughter Alice (Lukita Maxwell) suffer from after his wife and her mother was killed by a drunk driver. In Season 2, the driver becomes a character as well, pushing the bounderies of acceptance and benevolence. While Alice wants to get to know Louis (series creator Brett Goldstein), Jimmy would rather he go away. This conflict builds to a season-ending climax.
More characters flow through the series in Season 2: Gaby's boyfriend Derrick (Damon Wayans Jr.) and her mother Phyllis (Vernee Watson); neighbor Liz's (Christa Miller) ex-boyfriend Mac (Josh Hopkins); Paul's girlfriend Dr. Julie Baram (Wendy Malick); and patient Sean's (Luke Tennie) father Tim (Kenajuan Bentley),
Ford appears at home on the television set built for the show. He doesn't have to play an action hero like Indiana Jones anymore.
The rest of the regular cast – neighbors Liz and Derek (Ted McGinley) and gay couple Brian (Michael Urie) and Charlie (Devin Kawaoka – returned from Season 1.
Ford stands out as the aging shrink. His Paul is an irrepressible grouch who could easily piss off anyone who doesn't know him. But he is in his 80s, has a condtion and is beloved by all of his friends, deservedly.
In Season 1, Liz gave him gummies, which became a storyline. This season, no gummies are offered, presumably since he's on meds. (There is a gummies reference in Ep. 12.)
Ford appears at home on the television set built for the show. He doesn't have to play an action hero like Indiana Jones anymore, or so it would seem watchiing Shrinking.
Next we'll see Ford in 1923, the prequel to Yellowstone and sequel to 1883. He's family patriarch Jacob Dutton. Ford will likely ride a horse and do other cowboy activities. Also in 2025, Ford will be in Captain America: Brave New World as the Red Hulk. And Shrinking has been renewed for Season 3. So, clearly there is no shortage of work for the Golden Globes nominee for Best Supporting Actor - Television – which Ford should win.
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