Warning: This article contains spoilers from Shrinking season 2, episode 4, "Made You Look."
Shrinking season 2, episode 4, "Made You Look" is a pivotal episode for Brian (Michael Urie), including the episode's final scene with Louis (Brett Goldstein). When Brian's husband, Charlie (Devin Kawaoka), expresses his interest in having a baby and meeting with an adoption coordinator, Brian has to get used to the idea of being a father, which terrifies him. Much of the episode is spent on Brian navigating this fear with help from the Shrinking characters who are his friends.
As important as this storyline is, equally vital is his reaction to seeing Louis at the end of the episode. One of Alice's (Lukita Maxwell) two big scenes in the previous episode featured her confronting Louis, and accidentally leaving behind her wallet at the coffee shop where he works. When Brian sees Louis going to Jimmy (Jason Segel) and Alice's house in this episode, he must decide what to do about seeing the man involved in the accident that killed Tia (Lilan Bowden).
Brian's Reaction To Seeing Louis In Shrinking Season 2, Episode 4 Explained
Brian's Compassion Overpowers His Initial Anger
When Louis hands Alice's wallet to him and asks how she and Jimmy are doing, Brian is at first dismissive and angry in response. It is an understandable reaction, as he does not want to see his best friend, Jimmy, or Alice hurt by Louis. Brian was also close friends with Tia, so he is naturally angry at seeing the drunk driver who contributed to her death, and his instinct is to distrust Louis' concern about how Jimmy and Alice are doing since the accident.
The soundtrack is a vital part of Apple TV+'s Shrinking season 2 as Jimmy, Paul, Gaby, and the rest of the characters navigate new challenges.
Only seconds later, Brian visibly regrets this response and tells Louis that they are doing better now, as is everyone who knew and loved Tia. Brian also asks Louis if he is doing okay. While Brian can be vain, he is also an incredibly compassionate person, which his friends helped him recognize earlier in the episode during the storyline of him confronting the idea of becoming a father. Even though Louis tells Brian that he is doing fine, he is clearly not doing well, and Brian cannot help but be empathetic once he sees this.
Why Louis Lied & Told Brian He Was "Okay"
Louis Is Punishing Himself
In all his appearances so far, Louis seems to deeply regret what happened the night of the accident and is still punishing himself for his actions. He has shown nothing but kindness and humility in his scenes with Jimmy and Alice, yet both interactions ended with them angrily shouting at him. Meanwhile, there is no evidence of Louis having anyone in his life to help him work through his trauma and regret, as he seemingly lives a solitary life outside his coffee shop job.
Even if Louis was not punishing himself, it would be highly improbable for him to admit he needed help from a close friend of the woman whose death he caused.
Louis is not doing well,but he tells Brian otherwise because he does not believe he is worthy of help. Even if Louis was not punishing himself, it would be highly improbable for him to admit he needed help from a close friend of the woman whose death he caused. It is simplest for Louis to just lie about how he is doing and to carry on with being consumed by the self-loathing, sadness, and guilt he has been living with since the accident first occurred before Shrinking season 1.
What Shrinking Season 2 Episode 4's Final Scene Means
Louis' Role Is About To Further Expand
If Brian tries to help Louis, Goldstein's Shrinking character is likely to become further intertwined with Jimmy and Alice's lives. After Brian sees that Louis is not a monster, but is simply a man who is in pain, it may only be a matter of time before Jimmy and Alice are able to look at Louis differently as well. Becoming friends with the drunk driver in the accident that killed their loved one may seem like a stretch, but it would be no more extreme than some of the unorthodox things Jimmy has done to help his patients.
Jimmy's unorthodox methods include taking his patients to MMA fighting and having them dispose of their loved ones' cremations at the Rose Bowl.
Sean (Luke Tennie) went from being Jimmy's patient to living in his pool house, becoming an integral member of his friend group, and starting a food truck business with his neighbor, Liz (Christa Miller). Louis becoming friendly with Jimmy and Alice would be more extreme than what happened with Sean, but it is possible. At the very least, Louis is poised to become an even bigger part of Jimmy and Alice's lives as Shrinking season 2 continues, now that Brian has taken an interest in Louis' well-being.
In this series, a therapist grappling with personal tragedy begins to employ a radically candid approach with his clients and in his personal life. As he navigates his roles as a father, friend, and professional, his newfound method leads to unexpected consequences and self-discovery.
CastJason Segel , Luke Tennie , Michael Urie , Lukita Maxwell , Harrison Ford , Jessica Williams , Christa Miller , Ted McGinley , Heidi Gardner , Devin Kawaoka , Lilan Bowden , Kimberly Condict , Lily Rabe , Tilky Jones , Rachel Stubington , Wendie Malick , Sawyer Jones , Mike C. Nelson , Matt Knudsen , Kenajuan Bentley , Adam Foster Ballard
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