Brett Goldstein’s Role in Shrinking Season 2: Character Breakdown & Insights

The Shrinking Season 2 premiere introduced Brett Goldstein’s new character, known for his Emmy-winning role as Roy Kent in Apple TV+’s hit series Ted Lasso. While details of Goldstein’s role were kept secret, it was confirmed that he would appear as a guest star alongside a talented cast, including Jason Segel, Harrison Ford, and Jessica Williams.

All that was known about Goldstein’s enigmatic character aside from the fact that he would be making his series debut was hinted at by Bill Lawrence, co-creator of Shrinking, who described the character as “a sweetie,” “so lovely as a person,” and someone “you end up rooting for.”

Lawrence also talked about how Goldstein had to be clean-shaven for Shrinking, in contrast to Ted Lasso’s Roy. Another actor was almost cast because the character differed from Roy, but Segel convinced Lawrence that Goldstein was the ideal choice.

What Character Does Brett Goldstein Portray in Shrinking Season 2?

Goldstein’s Shrinking character is introduced in the season 2 premiere as Louis, the intoxicated driver responsible for the death of Jimmy’s wife, Tia. In “Jimmying,” the first episode of season 2, Louis is in the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Center’s waiting area.

Flashbacks of Jimmy seeing Louis in a police car the night of the terrible accident occur when he sees Louis in the waiting area. Jimmy does not take it well, losing his temper and yelling at Louis to leave despite Louis’s sincere apology and good intentions.

Goldstein distinguishes Louis from Roy in a few seconds. This is aided by Louis’ clean-shaven appearance and gentle voice, which is very different from Roy’s rough voice in Ted Lasso. Goldstein’s accent is one thing that hasn’t changed, though.

Louis has a British accent, but Shrinking is set in Pasadena, California. More information about Louis’ past, including his Pasadena lifestyle and the reason he drove the night Tia died while intoxicated, will probably be revealed as season 2 progresses.

How Does Louis’ Visit Change Jimmy and Alice’s Relationship in Shrinking Season 2?

Jimmy is shaken by Louis’ unexpected visit, both because of his outrage at Louis and because he is left feeling devastated in the wake of it. After much effort, he finally tells his daughter Alice about this in an unsurprisingly uncomfortable and awkward way.

As suggested by her friend and high school classmate, Summer, Alice initially appears to handle it better than her father, directing her rage into writing a letter to Louis that she will never send him.

Alice spends the night in Jimmy’s car and parks it outside Louis’ house in “I Love Pain,” episode 2. Sitting on Jimmy’s car’s hood, she spends some time looking inside the house of the man who unintentionally killed her mother.

This conclusion highlights how the circumstance impacts Alice more than she chooses to admit. The resurgence of Alice’s unresolved trauma, anger, and sadness over her mother’s death will make season two more challenging for her to deal with.

Does Brett Goldstein’s Role Go Beyond a Guest Star in Shrinking Season 2?

Since Goldstein is a co-creator, executive producer, and writer of the series, his role with Shrinking extends well beyond that of a guest star. Alongside Lawrence and Segel, he co-wrote the first episode, “Coin Flip,” and helped create the series.

The scripts for “Apology Tour,” the seventh episode, and “Fortress of Solitude,” the second, were entirely written by Goldstein. He wrote the script for episode six of season two and co-wrote the script for episode twelve along with Lawrence and Segel.

The success of Season 1 can be largely attributed to Goldstein’s work behind the camera and his ability to make the series come to life in a genuinely funny, poignant, and well-written way.

These contributions are still evident in the season 2 premiere, enhanced by the arrival of Goldstein’s Louis. Since the new character keeps impacting Jimmy, Alice, and other characters’ stories, he is already one of the most interesting aspects of Shrinking Season 2.

Here’s what Brett Goldstein’s character has been up to in Shrinking Season 2 so far.

Shrinking Season 2 Episode 1 – “Jimmying”

Jimmy Laird (Jason Segel) lost his wife Tia (Lilan Bowden) in a car accident, as was occasionally mentioned and hinted at in Season 1 of Shrinking. The series’ first episode began sometime after this when Jimmy was still in the throes of his grief.

At the end of the first episode of Season 2, Goldstein appears, and it is revealed that he was the drunk driver who killed Tia. With a sad appearance and a clean shave, he has come to Jimmy’s office and requested to talk.

Goldstein’s unnamed character is yelled at to leave by Jimmy, who is instantly triggered. At the start of Season 2, Jimmy told Sean about his experiences at the scene of his wife’s death and the montage returns with a clearer shot of Goldstein being loaded into a police vehicle. (Louis is the name of Goldstein’s character in the credits.)

Shrinking Season 2 Episode 2 – “I Love Pain”

“I Love Pain,” the second episode of “Shrinking” Season 2, explores themes of forgiveness, fear, and the intricacies of adult relationships while delving deeper into the character’s emotional turmoil.

The stories of Jimmy Laird, his daughter Alice, and his patient Sean—battling their issues and looking for atonement in different ways—are expertly interwoven throughout the episode.

After Alice passes her driver’s test, Jimmy reveals how the man approached him. He is referred to as “Double D” for Drunk Driver by Alice’s friend Summer (Rachel Stubington) later in the episode. Additionally, Summer recommends that Alice write him a letter expressing all her emotions, including her rage. After her father’s divorce, Summer did that. Alice’s therapists support this concept.

About Shrinking

Shrinking is a comedy television series created by Brett Goldstein, Bill Lawrence, and Jason Segel for Apple TV+.

The plot revolves around a therapist dealing with severe grief who begins to breach ethical barriers by telling his patients what he completely thinks, resulting in massive changes to his and their lives.

The series stars Jason Segel, Harrison Ford, Jessica Williams, and Christa Miller, among others. The series has been renewed for season 2.