By Morfeli Data Desk (AI-assisted, data-checked) · Published: November 15, 2026 · Last updated: November 15, 2026 · 5 min read
The comedy-drama series Shrinking explores the life of a grieving therapist who adopts a policy of unfiltered honesty with his patients and personal connections.
Shrinking is a 2023 television series currently spanning 33 episodes. It holds a 7.8 score on TMDB and an 8.2 rating on IMDb.
Review roundup, not a personal review. Scores and audience reviews were checked on November 15, 2026. Spoiler-free.
- TMDB audience score: 7.8/10 (763 votes)
- IMDb: 8.2/10 (132,269 votes)
- Seasons: 3 seasons, 33 episodes
- Rank among 2023 releases: about #23 of 67
Shrinking Trailer
Official trailer via YouTube. Watch on YouTube
How Shrinking Stacks Up
- Among the 67 English-language series that first aired in 2023 with at least 200 TMDB votes, Shrinking ranks about #23 by audience score, roughly the top 34 percent.
- Within drama alone, it ranks about #16 of 50 in the same group.
Shrinking ranks in the top 34 percent of 2023 English-language series with at least 200 TMDB votes. Within the drama genre, it places approximately 16th out of 50 shows. The series performance has trended upward, with season averages rising from 7.4 in the first season to 8.0 in the third.
Critics vs Audiences
- TMDB audiences give it 7.8/10 across 763 votes.
Different sites measure different things. IMDb and TMDB scores average votes from registered users. The Rotten Tomatoes percentage is the share of critic reviews counted as positive, not an average grade. Metacritic converts reviews into a weighted average out of 100. A title can score high on one and lower on another, so look at all of them together.
What Reviewers Are Saying
This section is based on 3 recent audience reviews posted on TMDB, which rate it 7.7/10 on average (2 positive, 1 mixed, 0 negative among 3 rated reviews). It is a small sample and not the whole audience.
What reviewers praise
- Several TMDB reviewers describe the show as a profoundly human comedy.
- Some reviewers note the writing is pitch perfect and the portrayal of grief is realistic.
What reviewers criticize
- Several TMDB reviewers criticize the show for including what they describe as propaganda.
- Some reviewers express dissatisfaction with the inclusion of specific social themes.
The reviews behind this summary
| Posted | Rating | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-03 | 5/10 | Read the full review on TMDB |
| 2025-01 | 9/10 | Read the full review on TMDB |
| 2025-11 | 9/10 | Read the full review on TMDB |
What Is Shrinking About? (Spoiler-Free)
A therapist mourning the death of his wife attempts to navigate his roles as a father and professional. He begins to practice extreme, brutal honesty with those around him.
Shrinking at a Glance
Cast and Characters
- Jason Segel as Jimmy
- Harrison Ford as Dr. Paul Rhodes
- Jessica Williams as Gaby
- Luke Tennie as Sean
- Michael Urie as Brian
- Lukita Maxwell as Alice
- Christa Miller as Liz
- Ted McGinley as Derek
The Cast and Crew’s Track Record
Creators Brett Goldstein, Jason Segel, and Bill Lawrence lead a production featuring a cast whose recent projects average between 6.6 and 7.1 on TMDB. Harrison Ford and Jessica Williams contribute to these performance averages.
Other recent work from the lead cast of Shrinking (since 2020):
| Actor | Recent project | Type | Role | TMDB score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jason Segel avg 6.6/10 | Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty (2022) | TV | Paul Westhead | 7.7/10 |
| Over Your Dead Body (2026) | Movie | Dan | 6.4/10 | |
| Dispatches from Elsewhere (2020) | TV | Peter | 6.7/10 | |
| The Sky Is Everywhere (2022) | Movie | Big | 5.7/10 | |
| Harrison Ford avg 7.1/10 | 1923 (2022) | TV | Jacob Dutton | 8.3/10 |
| Captain America: Brave New World (2025) | Movie | President Thaddeus Ross | 5.9/10 | |
| Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023) | Movie | Indiana Jones | 6.5/10 | |
| The Call of the Wild (2020) | Movie | John Thornton | 7.5/10 | |
| Jessica Williams avg 7.1/10 | Road House (2024) | Movie | Frankie | 6.9/10 |
| Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022) | Movie | Eulalie 'Lally' Hicks | 6.6/10 | |
| Love Life (2020) | TV | Mia Hines | 7.0/10 | |
| Entergalactic (2022) | Movie | Meadow Watson (voice) | 7.7/10 |
Season by Season
| Season | First aired | Episodes | Avg episode rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jan 26, 2023 | 10 | 7.4/10 |
| 2 | Oct 15, 2024 | 12 | 7.9/10 |
| 3 | Jan 27, 2026 | 11 | 8.0/10 |
The best-rated season in this sample is season 3 (8.0/10), whose top episode is "D-Day" (8.3/10).
Where to Watch (US)
| Streaming | Apple TV, Apple TV Amazon Channel |
|---|
Availability data from TMDB (provided by JustWatch), checked November 15, 2026. It changes often.
The Bottom Line
With 33 episodes across 3 seasons, the show maintains an 8.2 rating on IMDb. It holds a 7.8 score from 763 TMDB voters.
It may suit you if:
- Viewers interested in dramedy series exploring themes of grief and therapy.
- Fans of work by creators Brett Goldstein, Jason Segel, and Bill Lawrence.
You might skip it if:
- Viewers who dislike shows featuring intense themes of personal grief and psychological exploration.
Shows Like Shrinking
| Title | TMDB score | About |
|---|---|---|
| After Life (2019) | 7.9/10 | Tony had a perfect life. |
| Dead to Me (2019) | 7.3/10 | A hotheaded widow searching for the hit-and-run driver who mowed down her husband befriends an eccentric optimist who isn't quite what she seems. |
| The Kominsky Method (2018) | 7.5/10 | Acting coach Sandy Kominsky and best friend Norman Newlander keep each other laughing as they navigate the ups and downs of getting older. |
| Russian Doll (2019) | 7.4/10 | Nadia keeps dying and reliving her 36th birthday party. |
More guides: House of the Dragon (2022) Reviews: Scores, Praise and Criticism · Spider-Noir (2026) Review Roundup: Ratings and What Audiences Say · The Last of Us (2023) Review Roundup: Ratings and What Audiences Say
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the IMDb rating of Shrinking?
On November 15, 2026 the IMDb rating was 8.2/10 from 132,269 votes. It changes as people vote.
Is Shrinking one of the best-rated 2023 series?
By TMDB audience score it ranks about #23 of 67 English-language titles with at least 200 votes, as of November 15, 2026.
How many seasons does Shrinking have?
Shrinking has 3 season(s) and 33 episode(s) listed on TMDB. Status: Returning Series.
Who stars in Shrinking?
Jason Segel, Harrison Ford, Jessica Williams, Luke Tennie, Michael Urie.
Data checked on November 15, 2026. Movie and TV data from TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB. Ratings via OMDb (IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, Metacritic) where shown. Audience reviews belong to their authors on TMDB. Scores change over time; check the source for the latest numbers.
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About this page. Published by Morfeli on November 15, 2026. Facts come from public data sources (TMDB, OMDb, Deezer, Ticketmaster and entertainment news feeds) and are compiled with AI assistance. Review roundups summarize public scores and audience reviews; they are not a critic’s review, and nobody here claims to have watched or rated a title for the page. Dates, scores and availability change over time. See our Editorial Policy.
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