Brett Goldstein knew he had to nail the emotional scene at the center of this week’s episode of Shrinking, in which Alice (Lukita Maxwell) confronts the man who killed her mother in a drunk driving accident, played by the Ted Lasso alum. Thankfully, this isn’t his first time riding the Bill Lawrence train of heartbreaking television.
Shooting that scene was really, really special, Goldstein, who co-created the series alongside Lawrence and star Jason Segel, told CNN in an interview last month. I think we all knew this scene really matters so we better get it right.
Still angry about her mother’s death, Alice agrees to talk to Louis (Goldstein) after Brian (Michael Urie) confesses that he’d been in contact with him after a chance encounter. At Louis’ house, Alice lovingly recalls a memory of her mother before the mood shifts.
All I can tell you is that not a single moment goes by that I don’t think about her or you or your dad, Louis tells Alice, his eyes welling up. I wish I could change it, I wish I could go back…
Before he can finish, Alice interrupts him.
I forgive you, she says.
Louis fumbles in his response but settles on a simple one: Thank you.
It’s a tearjerking moment, enhanced by Goldstein and Maxwell’s nuanced performances.
It is the pivotal moment in the season in terms of the forgiveness arc. Alice does it and it’s then, ‘What’s going to happen with Jimmy (Segel)?’ It’s now his story, Goldstein said.
Shrinking stars Segel, Maxwell, Jessica Williams and Harrison Ford, among others. It follows Jimmy, who starts to use non-traditional methods in his therapy practice as he grieves the death of his wife. His decision to throw ethics and his training out the window results in big changes in his clients lives, Alice’s and his own.
Goldstein’s character was introduced at the start of Season 2.
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