Season 2 is wonderfully expansive, fleshing out the larger world of Jimmy’s circle and their relationships with one another in rich and exciting news way throughout the eight episodes that were available to screen for critics (out of a total of twelve).

Contrary to its title, Shrinking continues to grow from strength to strength with a stellar sophomore season that’s more than up to the task of filling the Ted Lasso-shaped hole in our lives. 

In the second season of Shrinking, Lawrence’s patented “found family” vibe is in place, with different segments of the excellent cast mixing and matching easily in storylines that feel earned and unforced.

Shrinking has expanded to become something we all need in our roster of streaming shows: an ensemble piece stuffed with people who are just like us, but a shade smarter, funnier and more outspoken.

“Shrinking” has a habit of getting a bit too overwritten, sometimes verging on soap opera in its narrative twists and turns, but I’ve either gotten used to it or come to like these characters enough not to care anymore. The humor is sharper this year; the emotion lands harder.

While I’d hoped the final moments of the comedy’s freshman season would usher in a decidedly more biting tone, the first two episodes of Shrinking season two establish that very little has changed, at least tonally or narratively.

Platonic chemistry alone can’t provide enough glue to cobble these mismatched parts together. “Shrinking” is supposed to be about the work of healing wounds, but in Season 2, it’s broken into more pieces than when it began.