Apple TV Admits We Need Therapy: 'Shrinking' Renewed for Season 4 Ahead of Season 3 Premiere

If you’ve been self-medicating with re-runs of Jimmy Laird breaking every ethical boundary known to the APA, Apple TV has some news that might actually lower your cortisol levels. Ahead of its highly anticipated Season 3 premiere on January 28, 2026, the streamer has officially handed down an early Season 4 renewal for Shrinking.

It seems Apple isn't ready to let go of its favorite "sad dads and the people who tolerate them" ensemble just yet. For a show that was originally whispered to be a three-season arc, this renewal proves that the "raw-dogging" honesty of Jason Segel’s Jimmy and the grumpy-old-man excellence of Harrison Ford’s Paul is a therapy session audiences aren't willing to end.

A Premiere with a Side of Job Security

While we were all preparing to settle in for the Season 3 debut which drops the first episode this Wednesday and runs through April 8, 2026 Apple decided to spoil us. The move to greenlight Season 4 before the first episode of the third installment even hits our screens is a massive vote of confidence. It says, "We know you're going to love this, and we’re already paying for the next round of tissues."

Season 3 is already looking like a crowded waiting room in the best way possible. Alongside the core cast—including the perpetually underrated Jessica Williams, Luke Tennie, and the scene-stealing Michael Urie—the guest roster is getting out of hand. We’re talking Jeff Daniels, Michael J. Fox, and Candice Bergen. It’s like the producers are just scrolling through a "Legends Only" contact list.

Why We’re Still Hooked on the Chaos

What makes Shrinking work is its refusal to be a "nice" comedy. It’s messy, it’s ethically questionable, and it’s deeply funny because it acknowledges that everyone even the professionals is usually one bad day away from a breakdown. Segel’s Jimmy Laird remains the poster child for "doing the wrong thing for the right reasons," and Harrison Ford continues to give the best performance of his late-career era by essentially being a high-functioning version of our collective internal monologue.

The series also solidifies the iron-clad grip that Bill Lawrence and Brett Goldstein have on the Apple TV ecosystem. Following the global takeover of Ted Lasso and the success of Bad Monkey, Shrinking has carved out its own niche: it’s the show that makes you feel slightly better about your own life because at least you aren't stalking your clients at their soccer games.

What to Expect Moving Forward

With Season 4 now a certainty, the stakes for the upcoming episodes feel a bit different. We can watch Jimmy, Gaby, and Paul navigate their latest professional disasters knowing there is a longer runway for these characters to actually grow—or, more likely, backslide into more hilarious mistakes.

The Season 3 premiere of Shrinking arrives January 28 on Apple TV. If you haven't caught up yet, now is the time to start your binge before the discourse officially takes over your feed.

Will Jimmy finally learn what a boundary is? Will Paul ever smile for more than three seconds? We have at least two more seasons to find out. Check back with The TV Cave for weekly recaps and breakdowns as we dive into the most chaotic therapy office on television.

Are you excited for more Jimmy and Paul? Let us know in the comments if you think the early renewal was the right move!