‘Shrinking’ Dec. 11 Episode Recap: Truth Bombs, Birthday Cake, and a ‘How I Met Your Mother’ Reunion
Another week, another Shrinking recap. In the Dec. 11 episode of Shrinking, there are surprises—both good and bad—and truth bombs as Alice (Lukita Maxwell) turns 18. Ahead, what happens in the latest episode of the Emmy-nominated TV show from Apple TV+.
[Spoiler alert: This article contains spoilers from the Dec. 11, 2024, episode of Shrinking Season 2 Episode 10: “Changing Patterns.”]
Jimmy connects with someone new in the Dec. 11 episode of ‘Shrinking’
In “Changing Patterns,” which began streaming on Apple TV+ on Dec. 11, 2024, Jimmy (Jason Segel) is determined to make Alice’s birthday a good one after her disastrous 17th birthday. His plan? Get her a yellow Mini Cooper like the one her mom—and his late wife—Tia (Lilan Bowden) had in college.
He and Derek (Ted McGinley) go to look at the car. The seller is a single mom, Sofi, played by Segel’s fellow How I Met Your Mother alum, Cobie Smulders. Jimmy pays the asking price of $5,000 when Derek flexes his “morally good” negotiator skills.
Jimmy and Sofi proceed to have a funny yet meaningful conversation about lost love before Jimmy drives away. Later, he tells Derek and Derrick No. 2 (Damon Wayans Jr.) they “really clicked” but he did nothing, wondering aloud if he’ll ever be ready for another romantic relationship.
Alice ends her therapy sessions with Paul before a birthday surprise
Sitting on the park bench with Paul, Alice reveals she’s ready to end their therapy sessions. “I’m just thinking it’s time for me to start doing this on my own, at least for a little while,” she says before asking, “Are you mad?”
Paul, wearing his signature hat and tearing up, replies: “No, in fact, I’m deeply proud and if you ever feel you need me I’ll be here for you.”
Later, Jimmy delivers an embarrassing birthday speech in front of Sean (Luke Tennie), Liz (Christa Miller), Brian (Michael Urie), Derek, Derrick No. 2, Gaby (Jessica Williams), and Paul (Harrison Ford).
In doing so he reveals the big birthday surprise. Alice races outside to find a yellow Mini Cooper—just like the one her mom had—in the driveway before driving away with Summer (Rachel Stubington) and Dylan (Tanner Zagarino).
Later, Louis texts Alice telling her it’s “healthiest,” in his opinion, if they “don’t speak again.” Alice stops by the coffee shop where he works to talk. They sit on the bench where Louis and his ex-girlfriend, Sarah (Meredith Hagner), used to sit before the car accident.
“Why don’t you want to talk to me anymore? It’s weird,” Alice says. With some pressing, Louis reveals what Jimmy told him about staying out of their lives.
Truth bombs for Liz, Gaby, Paul, and Alice
The Dec. 11 episode of Shrinking is filled with truth bombs. While Gaby and Paul try to change their patterns—a nod to the episode’s name—they deliver some hard truths to each other.
When Gaby’s busy being “Classic Gaby” and babysitting her patient’s baby, Paul calls her out on it. He says it’s “Classic Gaby” to “allow yourself to be manipulated into taking care of someone else’s problem,” adding that she’s “never going to be happy” until the pattern changes.
Gaby hits back with a truth bomb of her own. She tells Paul he’s behaving like “Classic Paul” by being “too scared” to live with Julie (Wendie Malick) because he’s “so set” in his “ways.” (Gaby roasted Paul earlier in the episode at the funeral of Julie’s husband.)
Later, Paul asks Julie to move in with him and calls Gaby to tell her the good news and thank her or giving him “the courage.” His comment pushes Gaby, who is at her mom’s (Vernee Watson) house packing, to finally be honest.
“Mom, I love you so much. But I don’t think you should move in with me,” Gaby says. Things don’t go well. Gaby’s mom tears up and tells her to leave.
Other truth bombs include Brian (Michael Urie) telling Liz (Christa Miller)that she needs to go back to being herself—as in being rude to Derek—after kissing her ex, Mac (Josh Hopkins), in the Nov. 20 episode. It works, and by the end of the episode, Derek is tearing up over a piece of Alice’s birthday cake after Liz scolds him about crumbs.
Last but not least is Alice’s truth bomb. Besides ending therapy, she learns from Louis (Brett Goldstein) that Jimmy told him to stay away from them. Just as Jimmy’s about to reply to Sofi’s text, Alice storms in. “You told him not to talk to me even when you knew it was helping me? I can’t f***ing believe you,” she says. “Way to ruin another birthday.”
A new episode of Shrinking Season 2 hits Apple TV+ every Wednesday.
