Shrinking Season 3 Is Oversimplifying Liz's Character

Shrinking is three weeks into Season 3 and has a clear through line: adjusting to change. Paul is stepping back from work while managing worsening Parkinson's symptoms, Jimmy is tentatively reentering the dating world after Tia's death, Alice is preparing to leave for college, and Sean is reconnecting with an ex now that they're different people.

In Seasons 1 and 2, Liz was drawn with some complexity. She could be controlling and intense, but those traits were balanced by a fierce loyalty and a surprising loneliness that made her one of the show's most lovable figures. A growing friendship with Gaby revealed how hard she had found it to get close to people, and she began to seek more fulfilling ways to live.

So far in Season 3, however, the show has started to lean on Liz as a single-note source of comic relief.

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