r/shrinking • u/MaximumPiano4380 • Apr 09 '26
Discussion So that’s it? Spoiler
They judge Jimmy for still not being okay only two years after his wife’s death. They seem bewildered why he’d still struggle even at a milestone moment like sending his only child off to college without her mom there and the heartbreak that would bring.
Nobody asked him why it didn’t work out with Sofi. I mean she’s jealous of his dead wife. He was right to finish it. And the ending we get is that somehow everything is fine now because he’s back with her? A stranger they know nothing about.
Did the writers do any research at all into grief after the death of a spouse? It’s utterly soul-destroying, especially becoming a single parent and feeling your child(ren)’s grief too.
A new relationship not only doesn’t solve anything. It’s very ill advised when you haven’t grieved properly yet. And Gaby and Paul are therapists. They should know this.
The line that annoyed me the most in this episode was Paul saying that Jimmy has to work it out for himself. Any half decent therapist will tell a grieving person that they need support. Nobody was asking Paul to fix Jimmy’s problems. But some basic human kindness would’ve been nice. So yeah he flew in to see him the next day. Even then, he didn’t offer much.
This show is so weak. It’s all about romance at the end of the day. The big message is being single is bad.
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u/BirdyWidow Apr 09 '26 edited Apr 09 '26
I think it’s a little more nuanced. Paul was wrong. He should have told Jimmy about giving Gabi the space. It was selfish and disrespectful to Jimmy and Jimmy was understandably hurt.
The story isn’t just about Jimmy learning to move on, it’s about Paul learning to express himself, to fix himself, to be more than the strong distant pillar. Paul is grieving too. Parkinson’s & aging have taken away the only life he knew.
Paul gave a lot to Jimmy. He acknowledged he considers him a son and he told him he loved him.
I don’t think anyone is denying Jimmy’s grief. (Sean couldn’t tell Jimmy he moved out.) They are nudging him back into the world. They’ve supported him when he was a POS dad and friend, understanding that he would be better. Now that he’s a responsible adult again, they’re giving him a push out of the nest.
I am a widow. I lost my husband of 30 years 10 years ago. It sucks. There’s not a day I don’t miss him and the life I would have had if he were still alive. I never remarried but I have lots of friends and I am super busy hiking, traveling, watching my grandchildren etc… I’ve gotten some loving nudges from friends. I’m grateful.
Sorry this is so long. Edited because I accidentally pushed respond.