Apple TV's dramedy Shrinking is renewed for a third installment, and Season 3 is on its way. After wrapping Season 2, the show was already renewed for a third season and will reportedly begin production in January 2025.
Shrinking follows Jimmy, a therapist who is grieving the loss of his wife, which is too unbearable for him, and he begins to breach the ethical code with his patients until he meets Paul, a senior therapist who is dealing with Parkinson's disease.
Indiana Jones actor Harrison Ford plays the role of Paul, who is revealed to have Parkinson's disease in the Season 1 finale. It was revealed through a flashback that he was diagnosed with the disease one year prior to Season 1.
He is often seen having involuntary movements called dyskinesia on the show, which is a common symptom of the disease. As Season 2 progressed, his condition got more severe, and after his final diagnosis, things will likely take a downhill in Shrinking Season 3 as well.
More on Paul's health in Shrinking Season 3.
Will Paul's Parkinson's get even more severe in Shrinking Season 3?
Parkinson's disease at such an age as Paul's is anyway more dangerous, and his condition got even more critical as Season 2 progressed. He was seen having trouble with movements and was also unable to do his daily activities properly because of the tremors.
His Season 2 ending diagnosis sets up a dire future for him in Shrinking Season 3. It was revealed that not only did his symptoms get severe, but his medicines were not working as effectively as they did previously, probably because of the increased symptoms.
One could increase the dosage to counter the increasing symptoms, but that is also a problem Paul might have in Shrinking Season 3 because, as explained by his neurologist, Dr. Sykes, he is at the maximum level of his dosage, and she cannot increase it.
This is also probably because of his age, and he cannot be injected with more medicines even if his symptoms are increasing. The only way left for him, which Shrinking Season 3 might approach, is to live a healthy lifestyle, due to which he already quit alcohol in Season 2.
All these concerns, coupled with Paul's thanksgiving speech in the Season 2 finale, hint that his health will deteriorate in further seasons and he will need the support of his family and colleagues the most.
Shrinking Season 3 star Harrison Ford on his character's Parkinson's disease in the show
When asked about the challenges of playing a person with Parkinson's disease on-screen, Harrison Ford said he is earnest about portraying the disease and takes it very seriously while acting.
In an interview with People Magazine, Ford said,
“There’s no intention to make it into a joke. But there are people that absorb these kinds of experiences with grace and courage and a little bit of wisdom. And that is not to say that some people do not.”
He added,
“It’s just to say that this is a person particularly equipped to communicate what it is that it’s like, and that is something that I feel that is worth sharing with our audience.”
Creator Bill Lawrence said in an interview with The Post that the disease was written in the show because of his and Brett Goldstein's fathers,
“It’s really, really so respectful because Brett and I wrote about Parkinson’s because of my dad, Michael J. Fox, Phil Stutz and Brett’s father. Harrison’s given it such care. We were super, super grateful. Brett and me.”
Goldstein also confirmed in “Late Night With Seth Meyers” that Ford's character is based on his father, who also has Parkinson's disease.
Trending
For the latest scoops on your favorite TV shows and movies, follow SoapCentral.
Your perspective matters!
Start the conversation
