Shrinking Co-Creator Discusses Louis’ Potential Return in Season 3

The following article contains discussions of suicide and suicidal ideation.

Anticipating Season 3 of Shrinking

Bill Lawrence, co-creator of the acclaimed comedy series Shrinking along with star Jason Segel and co-creator Brett Goldstein, recently provided insights into the show’s future and the potential return of Goldstein’s character, Louis. In the previous season, Louis is introduced as the drunk driver whose actions led to a tragic accident taking the life of Jimmy’s wife. The emotional weight of Louis’s return significantly impacts Jimmy’s journey, especially as the narrative explores themes of forgiveness and healing.

At the conclusion of Shrinking season 2, audiences witnessed a critical moment between Jimmy and Louis as Jimmy intervenes to prevent Louis from making a tragic decision. This climactic scene, laden with tension, is pivotal to both character arcs and serves to set the stage for future developments.

Bill Lawrence Reflects on the Season Finale

In a recent interview with the Los Angeles Times, Lawrence delved into the intricacies of the season finale, emphasizing that the closing scene was designed to evoke both unease and relief regarding Louis’s fate. He indicated that creators intentionally created tension to mirror the audience’s concerns while also hinting at Goldstein’s strong potential for a return. The full scope of Louis’s journey is integral to the overarching narrative, where each season tackles fundamental themes—first grief, then forgiveness, and soon moving forward.

We wanted to use the ending of the first season to set people up to think that something very bad was going to happen at the end of the second season. That’s why we had bad things happen to Brett Goldstein’s character, Louis — had him at the train station with Alice [Lukita Maxwell] talking about how he’d had bad thoughts being there before.

In a season about forgiveness, we wanted the finale to be a connection between how forgiveness can wipe away so many bad things. We knew from the start of the season that that’s how we were going to end the season. I saw the traffic on the internet of people getting worried about Louis, and it’s what we want them to feel. It’s emotionally resolved in the way that I hope people feel good, but also won’t be surprised if they see Brett again — because we have the advantage of Brett being one of the creators of the show.

I think the audience would feel cheated if that were not the case. Obviously, Brett’s got tons of s— he’s working on, but he is so good in the show this year, so the idea of getting to show how he [Louis] moves forward interests us. Don’t forget, we pitched this show where the first year is about grief, second year is about forgiveness, [the] third year is about moving forward. It would be weird to not include his character as part of that.

The Significance of Louis’s Return

Navigating Jimmy and Louis’s Complex Relationship

Throughout the second season, Louis has navigated his tumultuous relationship with Jimmy, finding acceptance from other characters like Alice and Brian, who have chosen to forgive him. In contrast, Jimmy remains deeply conflicted due to the pain Louis represents—a source of turmoil that reflects the intricacies of human emotions and relationships as the season progresses. However, this dynamic shifts dramatically in the season finale, where Louis’s experience with alcoholism leads him to a dark moment, compounded by the abandonment he feels when Alice is unavailable.

In a poignant scene, Louis stands at the edge of a train station, contemplating a devastating choice, but is saved from this fate by Jimmy’s timely intervention. This moment of connection raises the stakes for both characters, offering a potential pivot for Season 3 where themes of redemption, growth, and reconciliation could be further explored.

Our Thoughts on Brett Goldstein’s Return in Season 3

Highlighting a Powerful Performance

Brett Goldstein’s portrayal of Louis contrasts sharply with his famed role as Roy Kent in Ted Lasso, showcasing a more vulnerable and subdued character that enriches the narrative of Shrinking. This layered performance allows audiences to explore the complex themes of guilt and redemption, making his potential return for the third season highly anticipated. The ongoing development of Louis’s character suggests that there is much more to explore in his interactions with Jimmy and the overarching narrative of moving forward from past trauma.

For more insights, check out the full interview in the Los Angeles Times.

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