Three seasons in, it’s impossible for me to envision Apple TV’s cherished series, *Shrinking*, without the unparalleled talent of living legend, icon, and GOAT Harrison Ford — a prospect I certainly don’t wish for!
Ford’s portrayal of the witty, cantankerous Paul Rhoades is woven into the very fabric of *Shrinking*. His onscreen chemistry with Julie (Wendy Malick) is among television’s finest. Furthermore, Ford’s sensitive and authentic depiction of Parkinson’s disease significantly raises real-world awareness. At 83, he is undeniably delivering some of the most profound performances of his illustrious career, even securing his inaugural Emmy nomination for Season 2!
Despite these undeniable contributions, as Season 3 draws to a close, viewers are left with a pressing question: Is Harrison Ford departing *Shrinking*?! What’s the reason? Let’s delve into the details.
While *Shrinking* masterfully blends humor with deeply challenging situations, a key reason for its acclaim is its refusal to sugarcoat the realities of Parkinson’s disease. In Season 3, as Paul’s symptoms advance, he makes significant life adjustments and confronts his own mortality. After deciding it’s time to retire, he dedicates much of the season to winding down his practice, imparting his professional wisdom to his mentee, Gaby (Jessica Williams), whom he affectionately calls his “legacy.” However, Paul’s plans extend beyond just leaving his office; he’s also bidding farewell to California and relocating to the East Coast to live with his daughter, Meg (Lily Rabe), in Connecticut.
Given that *Shrinking’s* initial three seasons heavily focused on the intertwined professional lives of Jimmy, Gaby, and Paul, viewers grew concerned that Paul’s absence from the office would lead to a drastic reduction in Ford’s screen time. The alarm bells truly sounded when it was revealed Paul would be moving out of state, meaning he wouldn’t be physically present for their routine bench therapy sessions, impromptu car karaoke, weekend hikes, or cherished “found family” gatherings.
As DECIDER highlighted in our Season 3 review, the third season concludes with a distinct feeling of resolution among the characters. It seemed likely that Lawrence had completed the three-season arc he initially envisioned, offering a profoundly satisfying and complete ending. However, Apple TV has renewed the show for Season 4! And without giving away any plot details, I’m quite confident that we won’t have to contemplate a *Shrinking* Season 4 without Ford, regardless of where Paul ultimately resides.
With so many significant transformations on the horizon for the ensemble, *Shrinking*’s fourth season will undoubtedly have a refreshed look and feel. Yet, there has been no official confirmation of Ford’s departure from the series prior to the Season 3 finale. Moreover, after the third season wrapped production, the actor delivered a heartfelt address to the cast and crew, stating, “You guys are the best. The very, very best, at what you do and how you do it. And how you make people feel is just fucking amazing. I love this place. I love working with you guys. I hope we can all get back here and do it again.”
Another promising indicator that Ford isn’t leaving the show? Alice (Lukita Maxwell) is attending Wesleyan University, also located in Connecticut! So, if Paul does proceed with his move, will he and Alice connect over some delicious Connecticut pizza? Could the *Shrinking* family journey to the East Coast? (And would Gaby truly break her vow to avoid that “boat shoe infested” state?) As a Connecticut resident aware of co-creator Bill Lawrence’s own roots in the state, I admit the potential for a Connecticut-centric Season 4 excites me. We might witness a “Sailboat Paul” and more intimate moments with Meg, Julie, and his family. As he hinted to Gaby in Episode 9, he also intends to set up daily Zoom calls for a couple of hours each morning to stay in touch. So, *Shrinking* Season 4 could even bring us “Paul vs. Technology,” but ultimately, we’ll just have to wait and see.
While there’s always a chance *Shrinking* could announce Ford’s departure before Season 4, he has consistently expressed his deep affection for the show and the sense of fulfillment, joy, and pride he derives from his work. During a recent Apple TV press day, speaking about the series, he commented, “If it was all over here, that would be sufficient for me… This has been very special for me and it really nurtures me and it makes me feel like what we’re doing has value and importance.”
In short, I refuse to entertain the fears that Ford is exiting *Shrinking*; as of now, there is no indication he is. To quote the living legend himself during his Life Achievement Award acceptance speech at the 32nd Annual Actor Awards earlier this month, “It’s a little early, isn’t it?”
With two episodes remaining in *Shrinking* Season 3, many more remarkable Ford performances are undoubtedly on the way. So stay tuned, and we will be sure to provide further *Shrinking* Season 4 updates as they emerge.
New episodes of *Shrinking* Season 3 are available to stream Wednesdays on Apple TV.
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