The latest episode of Apple TV+‘s beloved comedy-drama, Shrinking, arrived on February 18, 2026, and it brought some of the biggest emotional moments of the season so far. Titled “The Field,” this episode puts Harrison Ford‘s character, Paul, at a crossroads. While the show often balances heavy topics with humor, this weekโs story focused on Paul coming to terms with a life-changing decision about his career and his health.
Viewers watching in the United States can stream the show on Apple TV+, with new episodes dropping every Wednesday at 12:00 a.m. Pacific Time. For audiences in the United Kingdom, the episode is available at 8:00 a.m. GMT. Fans in India can watch it at 1:30 p.m. IST, while those in Australia can tune in at 7:00 p.m. AEDT. The series is available globally on the platform, ensuring fans everywhere can follow the story as it unfolds.
Paul’s Difficult Realization About His Career
The core of this episode revolves around Paul, who is dealing with the progression of his Parkinson’s disease. After receiving some encouraging medical news earlier in the episode, where Jimmy accompanied him as his “appointment buddy,” it seems like things might be looking up . However, the emotional weight of his condition continues to press down on him.
Throughout the hour, Paul finds himself thinking deeply about his own theory, “The Field.” This concept, which he discusses with those close to him, represents a place of acceptance and clarity . His conversations with his daughter, Meg, and his colleague and friends force him to look at what his life looks like moving forward. He also shares moments with fellow Parkinson’s patient Gerry, played by Michael J. Fox, whose return in this episode provides Paul with a mirror to his own possible future .
By the end of the episode, Paul comes to a significant conclusion. In a quiet, powerful moment in his dimly lit office, he tells Jimmy that he is considering retirement . It is not a decision made out of sudden despair, but from a place of gratitude for the decades he has spent helping others. He realizes that his energy is diminishing, and he wants to focus on the time he has left with his family rather than fighting to maintain a status quo that is slipping away. This moment is less about giving up and more about choosing a different path before the choice is taken from him entirely.
Jimmy’s Date Turns Into a Therapy Session
While Paul is wrestling with his future, Jason Segel‘s Jimmy is having a rough time in the present. After being pushed by Liz to go on a date with the nurse, Kimmy, things start off well enough. Kimmy laughs at his jokes, and the mood is light .
However, the conversation takes a turn when Jimmy opens up about his late wife, Tia. He shows her the tattoo he got in her memory, and Kimmy becomes completely overwhelmed with sympathy. Instead of flirting, the date turns into a pity party where Kimmy cannot stop crying about how unfair life has been to Jimmy. She even asks him if talking about his dead wife on a date feels like cheating, which completely kills the mood .
Jimmy walks away from the date realizing that he cannot be with someone who only sees him as a tragic figure. He wants to move forward, but moments like this prove that his grief is still a major part of his life that he has to navigate carefully. The failed date leaves him feeling exposed and exhausted, pushing him back into his shell just as he was starting to come out of it.
Parenting Chaos and a Drug Mishap
Elsewhere in the episode, new parents Brian (Michael Urie) and Charlie decide they need three days alone with baby Sutton to bond as a family. This means pushing away the helpers, including the ever-eager Liz. Of course, Liz does not trust them to handle it perfectly, so she secretly plants a camera inside a stuffed bunny in the nursery to keep an eye on things . When the baby starts crying inconsolably, Liz watches from afar and has to talk them through helping the infant pass gas, proving that even when she is not there, she is still in charge.
The biggest shock of the episode, however, involves Liz’s husband, Derek (Ted McGinley). Their son, Matthew, has been forced to work on the family’s house construction. Unbeknownst to Derek, he eats a bag of snacks that belong to Matthew which are laced with THC. The result sends Derek on a chaotic walk through the city, high out of his mind. He becomes convinced he is dying and calls everyone he knowsโincluding his wife’s old flame, Macโto say goodbye . He ends up in the hospital, leaving Liz furious at Matthew for not being there. The situation highlights the constant, messy struggle of parenting adult children who are still making poor decisions.
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Gaby Tries “Jimmying” With a Difficult Patient
Jessica Williams‘ Gaby has been struggling with a new patient named Maya, who comes to therapy but refuses to open up about anything real. Frustrated, Gaby mocks Jimmy’s unorthodox technique of getting too personally involved with patients, a method he proudly calls “Jimmying” .
However, after watching Jimmy embarrass himself during a guest lecture at her collegeโcourtesy of a former patient oversharing intimate detailsโGaby realizes she might need to try something different . Desperate to connect with Maya, she shows up at a bar where Maya plays trivia alone. Gaby joins her team, and they win. This small act of friendship finally breaks down Maya’s walls. She admits to feeling incredibly lonely because her old friends are too busy for her. By meeting her where she is, rather than waiting in an office, Gaby actually helps her patient. It is a win for the “Jimmying” method, even if Gaby hates to admit it.
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