Cobie Smulders Discusses Reunion with Jason Segel in Shrinking Season 2: “I Enjoy Acting with Jason”

Cobie Smulders recently discussed her reunion with Jason Segel in the second season of **Shrinking**, an Apple TV+ series where Segel stars as Jimmy Laird, a grieving widower and therapist. The show explores his unorthodox methods as he navigates the challenges of his patients’ lives while dealing with his own loss. Smulders, well-known for her role as Robin in **How I Met Your Mother**, guest stars in this season as Sofi, a woman looking to sell her car, who encounters Jimmy in a unique and intriguing situation.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Smulders shared her impressions of reuniting with Segel after their nine-year collaboration on **How I Met Your Mother**. She commended both Segel’s performance and the show’s writing, emphasizing how their pre-existing chemistry facilitated their on-screen interactions. Smulders noted:

I think so. I love playing with Jason. I was able to do so for nine years, which is insane these days, so it just sort of felt like very normal, natural. And again, the show’s so well written that the character was already kind of there, even before we got into the actual work of it, and Jason is obviously like such a talented actor as well as a wonderful human being, so I think we just fell right into step.

Moreover, Smulders expressed excitement about exploring new dynamics in their relationship, given their personal growth as friends over the years. She anticipated how viewers might react to this fresh portrayal. In her own words:

I think it’s really interesting, because as an audience, I’m sure people are used to the Robin-Marshall dynamic, but Jason and I have grown up together off-camera. So, we have a lot of shared life experiences, and so it was not difficult to sort of switch that that chemistry between us. He’s so talented, and we just fell right back into it. But I think it’ll be interesting. So it’s an interesting and new dynamic for people to see. But I just know him as Jason, and it’s easy to transition that relationship into the many different colors that you can play onscreen.

Understanding Smulders and Segel’s Evolving Dynamic in Shrinking

From Platonic to Potentially Romantic

Robin (Cobie Smulders) and Marshall (Jason Segel) sitting at a bar table, smiling at each other in How I Met Your Mother

During their time in **How I Met Your Mother**, the characters Marshall and Robin shared a primarily platonic bond, initially forming a friendship through their mutual ties to Ted Mosby. Their relationship was marked by a degree of distance compared to other pairs within the group due to Marshall’s fears, particularly connected to “The Mermaid Theory.”Nonetheless, they maintained a strong friendship that included supportive moments, such as when Marshall comforted Robin during her struggles with homesickness.

In contrast, the connection between Sofi and Jimmy in **Shrinking** hints at deeper possibilities. Despite Smulders’ guest role in season 2, her character represents a single parent looking to sell a car, and her backstory suggests complex circumstances that pique Jimmy’s interest as a therapist. This shift in dynamics signifies a potential romantic storyline, diverging significantly from the platonic history of Marshall and Robin.

Reflections on the Shrinking Reunion

A Reunion of Missed Opportunities

Season 2 of **Shrinking** has offered fans a delightful reunion between Smulders and Segel. Although the spin-off, **How I Met Your Father**, aimed to bring back the entire cast, only Smulders and Neil Patrick Harris had the opportunity to reprise their roles. Therefore, the reunion of Segel and Smulders will be celebrated by viewers nostalgic for the original series. As Sofi and Jimmy’s story develops, the potential for a romantic relationship could extend into a possible season 3 of **Shrinking**, inviting viewers to explore this new chapter for the beloved characters.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

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