Harrison Ford praised as anchor in Shrinking season three review

Apple TV's dramedy Shrinking returns for a third season and, according to the review, its brightest star remains Harrison Ford, who plays mentor and boss Paul in the series from the creator of Scrubs and Ted Lasso. The show is described as an unapologetically soapy confection best enjoyed in moderation.

The season reunites therapist Jimmy (Jason Segel) with Paul and a cast of friends, family, patients and neighbours. Jimmy, having spent the end of season two forgiving the drunk driver who killed his wife, appears set to rebuild his life, but the writers complicate that arc: the review calls Jimmy's back-slapping hangouts with drunk-driver Louis (Brett Goldstein) "pretty weird." Paul’s Parkinson’s symptoms are worsening and he tells Jimmy, "If you see me sinking, pull me up." Alice (Lukita Maxwell) goes off to college and former patient Sean (Luke Tennie) remains in the pool house.

The review finds the season delivers 11 "warm, inoffensive but undeniably mawkish" episodes that lean heavily on parent/child relationships and familiar ensemble dynamics. Jeff Daniels plays Jimmy’s father; colleagues Gaby (Jessica Williams), Brian (Michael Urie) and neighbour Liz (Christa Miller) provide quick-witted, cosy moments; and Michael J Fox is singled out as excellent as Gerry, a fellow Parkinson’s patient.