Shrinking Season 1 Finale Explained: Does Grace kill her husband?

Shrinking tackled a rollercoaster of emotions over its first season. However, the finale, “Closure,” ended on a relatively happy note with the wedding of Jimmy’s best friend Brian to Charlie. 

Still, things couldn’t end entirely conflict-free after Paul commented on Jimmy’s luck regarding his recent advice to patients.  We figured there would be some cliffhanger at the end of season 1-but who would’ve predicted it is Grace?  

To avoid all your confusion, Grace did kill her husband by pushing him down a cliffside as per the advice of her therapist, Jimmy. 

Grace has been a recurring presence throughout the first season as one of Jimmy’s patients, but not someone who was around most of the time. We saw Jimmy trying to convince her to leave her husband Donny, and at one point, it seemed like she did…only for her to be back.

When we saw the montage of patients throughout the wedding scene, we thought something terrible could happen to one of them or Jimmy himself. However, we saw Grace being insulted and tormented by her husband on a hike, only for her to push him off a cliff. We are left with the mystery regarding his death, though he seems to have died. 

We can only say that Shrinking has been renewed for a second season, and we have to wait and see what the writers decide to do. We assume that Gardner will be back for more, though she is a Saturday Night Live cast member with a busy schedule.

Will Jimmy face the consequences?

In the episode’s final moments, Paul expresses concern about Jimmy’s experimental and overinvolved approach to his patient’s life. Although Paul agrees with Jimmy that the best way to help oneself is to help others, he is unconvinced that Jimmy’s actions are ethically correct. 

However, Jimmy responds that he got lucky. The conversation is swindled under the partying and music as we get a closing montage of Jimmy’s new approach’s positive impact on his patients’ lives. 

But wait for it! In the final scene, Grace pushes her abusive husband, Donnie, off the cliff. The shocking cliffhanger questions everything we knew about Jimmy’s psychiatric practice and treatment of Grace. 

Earlier in the episode, we saw Grace talk about pushing Donnie off a cliff metaphorically during a therapy session with Jimmy. However, it was evident that Jimmy missed some obvious psychopathic signs in Grace’s behavior, especially after she lied to him about moving to Canada. 

The finale’s ending, therefore, seems to hint at severe consequences for Jimmy’s occasional complacency while treating his patients. While Jimmy has turned chiefly around the lives of his patients, it remains to be seen if they all take a dark path when things do not go their way. 

Now, supposing Grace is arrested, will she say that her therapist inspired her? That is one plotline to consider right now. We have to wait and watch what the writers have planned to do with the twist.

Does Jimmy move on? 

The first season begins with Jimmy grieving the loss of his wife, Tia, and ultimately isolating himself from his friends and daughter. In the finale, it seems like Jimmy is finally ready to move on from the tragedy. 

However, moving on doesn’t necessarily mean forgetting about Tia. Jimmy goes through six stages of grief and recognizes that he must move on in life. The final episode’s final act risks Jimmy’s progress as he prepares to officiate Brian and Charlie’s wedding. 

In the eighth episode, the mere talk of a marriage propels Jimmy down the depression hole. However, in the finale, Jimmy delivers a resounding speech for his best friend’s wedding. Jimmy even manages to work in memories of Tia into his speech and subtly thanks his friends for being there with him. 

Thus, Jimmy considers his time with Tia as a celebration of life instead of the eventual tragic outcome of their journey together. The finale draws to a conclusion as everyone gets into the party mood. A conversation between Liz and Gaby implies that the latter might have romantic feelings for Jimmy. 

With Jimmy seemingly moving on, there is undoubtedly room for romance, and Gaby would fit the mold perfectly. 

About Shrinking

Shrinking is a comedy television series created by Brett Goldstein, Bill Lawrence, and Jason Segel for Apple TV+.

The plot revolves around a therapist dealing with severe grief who begins to breach ethical barriers by telling his patients what he completely thinks, resulting in massive changes to his and their lives.

The series stars Jason Segel, Harrison Ford, Jessica Williams, and Christa Miller, among others. The series has been renewed for season 2.