Shrinking ‘In a Lonely Place’ Review: A lovely look at the power in forgiveness

In a Lonely Place is another powerful episode that deals with forgiveness and parenthood through two incredible stories. It features wonderful performances, brilliant writing by Goldstein, and wonderful directing by Randall Keenan Winston.

In a Lonely Place Overview and Star Rating

The second season of Shrinking continues to thrive by finding the humor despite sad circumstances.

The episode begins with Sean in the hospital after starting a fight and not defending himself. Sean is seriously injured. However, Goldstein cuts the scene’s tension in which everyone visits him in the hospital by getting Sean high on medication. Some of his remarks, especially those towards Liz (Christa Miller), are hurtful. Others are hilarious such as Jimmy’s big head and Gaby being the leader of a white band.

After huddling around Sean, the episode separates into three main storylines. Jimmy (Jason Segel) and Paul (Harrison Ford) work together to find Sean’s father. Alice (Lukita Maxwell) and Brian (Michael Urie) meet with Louis (Goldstein), the man who killed Alice’s mother. Liz, feeling complacent, doesn’t receive the support she needs.

Maxwell and Goldstein are incredible in this episode. Ford’s comedic chops shine with his constant ribbing of Jimmy while trying to appeal to Sean’s father. Miller is doing some of the best work of her career.

My only issue with the episode is that I don’t think Gaby’s lack of willingness to step in for her sister, who is looking after their mother, makes her appear unsympathetic.

Overall, the scene featuring Alice, Louis, and Brian is one of the most poignant, tear-inducing scenes on TV this year, continuing to prove that Shrinking is one of the year’s best shows.

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Here’s a breakdown of the two main In a Lonely Place storylines.

Fatherhood

Paul and Jimmy continue their team-up from the last episode. Since they’re working together to treat Sean, they head off to find Sean’s father.

The three fathers reveal their failures. Jimmy turned to booze and drugs following his wife’s death when Alice needed her. Paul cheated on his daughter’s Mom and pushed his daughter away rather than confront the embarrassment he felt. Sean’s father, Tim, recounts how happy Sean was as a child. However, after serving in the military, that lightness in Sean was gone.

Tim still resents therapy, so he concludes they are terrible fathers. Paul and Jimmy don’t disagree. However, they were able to reignite their relationships with their children by getting back into the game. The episode ends with Tim visiting Sean and apologizing.

Forgiveness

At the end of the fourth episode of Shrinking Season 2, Louis stops by the house to return Alice’s wallet. Brian confronts him at first but realizes Louis is in tremendous pain.

Brian reveals to Alice that he’s continued talking to Louis and Louis’s life is terrible. Alice wants to meet with him again.

Louis welcomes them into his home. Alice starts by reciting the angry letter she wrote. Louis compliments the letter, which eases the tension a bit.

He apologizes to Alice for getting behind the wheel and offers an excuse for destroying their lives. All he’s thought about since that day is Alice’s mother, who she was and the lives he’s ruined due to his actions.

There are two beautiful, tear-jerking moments in this scene. The first is a story Alice tells. Louis wants to hear about Alice’s Mom, so she tells a story about losing a hat at a theme park and how her mother helped Alice find it. It’s a sweet, sad scene that serves as a reminder to Louis and the audience of the enormity of the life that was taken.

There are two beautiful, tear-jerking moments in this scene.

The first is a story Alice tells. Louis wants to hear about Alice’s Mom, so she tells a story about losing a hat at a theme park and how her mother helped Alice find it. It’s a sweet, sad scene that serves as a reminder to Louis and the audience of the enormity of the life that was taken.

The second lovely moment also involves Alice. Louis is emotionally affected by the story and can understand how it would be impossible for anyone to ever forgive him for his bad decision. Alice quickly responds with, “I forgive you.” Maxwell delivers the line so fast that it takes Brian, Louis, and even Alice herself aback. Then, Allice collects herself as if she fully recognizes that she means what she just said and repeats it, “I forgive you.”

The relief mixed with complete and utter surprise on Louis’s face when Goldstein put it on should earn him an Emmy nomination. It’s like the weight of the entire world lifted. He never thought anyone could forgive what he did because he would never forgive himself.

Maxwell deserves award recognition for her performance in this scene. Goldstein and Winston should win for writing and directing this scene.

Solace Seeking

Liz is the person most hurt by Sean’s attack. He shoots her for leaving their food truck business, and she tries to find something meaningful to occupy her time.

Liz sees her impact slipping and begins feeling underappreciated and useless. Her son, Connor, returns to college without saying goodbye, her dog photos at the pet shelter are thrown away, and she gives up the food truck business so Sean can spend time with his mother.

As he admits, Derek doesn’t respond to either of the qualms well. He reveals Connor said goodbye to him, brushes off the importance of the photos and believes the solution to the food truck situation is to buy a new truck.

Later, she reconnects with her ex, Mac, in town. He provides some reassuring words. They walk off together hand-in-hand.

Miller is doing excellent work showing Liz’s insecurities and desperation to find something of value.

In a Lonely Place Final Thoughts

Shrinking continues to impress with some of the best performances and writing on TV. The combination of great comedic and poignant moments makes In a Lonely Place another wonderful episode that firmly establishes the series as one of the best.