"You guys are the best. Truly, in what you do, how you do it, and especially how you make others feel—it's just f*cking amazing," Ford said. "I love this place, I love working with you. I really hope we can come back here and do it again."
Segel, who plays therapist Jimmy Laird, echoed the sentiment, responding with a smile: “Yeah, buddy.” To which Ford—in characteristic fashion, still firmly in his role as the grumpy mentor—quickly replied: “I wasn’t talking to you,” as he grabbed his jacket from Segel’s hands.
In the season two finale, it was revealed that Dr. Rhoades had stopped taking his Parkinson's medication because it was no longer effective. This raised the question of how long his character would remain part of the story. Showrunner Bill Lawrence previously indicated that he himself is still struggling with how the series will address Paul's illness and potential death.
"We've only just started writing season three," Lawrence said. "I don't know if I can handle actually showing that goodbye. But what Brett [Goldstein] and I really care about is that we present a realistic and hopeful portrayal of Parkinson's. It's going to be emotional, and I honestly don't know how it will end yet."
While Ford's speech sounded like a potential farewell, his line, "I hope we can do this again," seems hopeful. Given his impactful role and the open storyline surrounding his illness, a return for a potential fourth season is not yet out of the question.
Season three of Shrinking is currently in post-production. A release date has not yet been announced, but it is expected to air on Apple TV+ sometime in 2025.
The fact that his character, Paul, is dealing with the effects of Parkinson's makes it all the more poignant. You sense the creators handling this with care and nuance. Whether Ford will return after season three is uncertain, but his presence has left a lasting impression regardless.
I'm really looking forward to season three. If it's as sincere and sharply written as the previous seasons, it will be something special again.