The Shrinking Season 2 soundtrack on Apple TV+ offers a rich blend of music that enhances the series’ emotional depth and comedic beats. In this season, therapist Jimmy Laird (Jason Segel) continues his unorthodox approach to helping patients, all while grappling with the grief of losing his wife, Tia (Lilan Bowden).
His mentor, Dr. Paul Rhoades (Harrison Ford), challenges Jimmy’s unconventional methods, arguing for firm boundaries between therapists and their patients. This clash drives much of the show’s tension and humor.
Jimmy and Grace (Heidi Gardner), Jimmy’s patient, have to deal with the consequences of her actions after the Shrinking season 1 finale, in which she pushes her emotionally abusive lover off a cliff.
Gaby (Jessica Williams), a coworker of Jimmy and Paul, must decide how to handle her connection with Jimmy while juggling her work as a therapist and her new teaching position. Every episode of Shrinking features music that enhances the scenarios and difficulties the protagonists encounter in season 2.
Shrinking Season 2 Episode 1 Soundtrack: Every Song Featured in the Premiere
In the first scene of Shrinking Season 2, episode 1, Paul and his girlfriend, Dr. Julie Baram (Wendie Malick), are shown dancing to the opening song, “Born Under A Sun” by Albert King. Gaby interrupts them since she drives Paul to work every morning. Gaby takes pictures of the dance to save this event forever since she is thrilled to see the reticent and shy Paul dancing intimately with his lover.
The Outfield song “Your Love” is played briefly as Gaby takes Paul to work. Paul switches on the radio to divert his attention from her increasingly intimate queries about his relationship with Julie, including whether they plan to get married.
He starts singing along to “Your Love.” Gaby normally likes to sing along with Paul on their morning car drives, but this time, she swiftly switches off the radio to discuss his connection with Julie.
As Paul visits Julie’s house near the end of the episode, C. James’s poignant track “Hollow Heart” sets the tone for his heartfelt confession of love—an uncharacteristic display of vulnerability from a man who rarely lets his guard down, even around those closest to him.
The song continues as Jimmy returns home and discusses with Sean (Luke Tennie) the decision to have Paul take over as his therapist. With Paul’s guidance, Jimmy begins to see that this choice is best for Sean.
Fink’s “Looking Too Closely”: “Looking Too Closely” is the last song to play during the opening credits of the first episode of Shrinking season 2. The song opens with Sean starting his first therapy session with Paul, a big but necessary shift.
As the music plays, Jimmy enters the waiting area and is both startled and incensed to find Louis (Brett Goldstein), the intoxicated motorist who caused Tia’s death.
Shrinking Season 2 Episode 2 Soundtrack: Complete List of Songs Featured
Ben Abraham’s “Never Been Better” begins to play as Jimmy casually tosses his car keys to his daughter Alice (Lukita Maxwell) and captures the moment on video, creating a touching father-daughter memory. The song continues into a pivotal scene where Paul defies his long-held boundaries between personal and professional life and meets his former patient Raymond (Neil Flynn) at a club.
Meanwhile, Sean returns home after a breakthrough session with Paul, radiating renewed optimism. The steady backdrop of “Never Been Better” poignantly mirrors the characters’ emotional growth and shifting perspectives.
AKA Lisa’s song “Cope” reveals where Alice stole the car and that she is having more trouble processing the news of Louis’ visit than she told Jimmy. Alice parks her father’s automobile outside Louis’s house and sits atop it.
In what could be a major moment of foreshadowing for the remainder of Shrinking Season 2, she looks out the window at the guy who killed her mother, a man she blames for the terrible loss she has experienced and whose presence now worries her.
Shrinking Season 2 Episode 3 Soundtrack: Every Song Featured in the Episode
Dolly Parton and Bebe Rexha’s “Seasons” plays on Jimmy’s car radio as Alice drops off her best friend, Summer (Rachel Stubington), capturing her reflective mood. Lost in thought, Alice recalls a tender flashback of her mom dropping her off at soccer practice, calling out her love—a memory now tinged with loss.
“Seasons” poignantly underscores Alice’s struggle with time, change, and the painful adjustments after her mother’s death. As she contemplates her next steps with Louis, the song deepens the impact of her internal conflict, mirroring her journey through grief and growing up.
As Grace and her sister drive away in a moving van, Angie McMahon’s “Letting Go” resonates through the scene, symbolizing a pivotal moment for the characters in Shrinking as they begin to release what’s holding them back. Paul embraces vulnerability, inviting his girlfriend Julie to join him at his neurologist appointment, a significant step toward openness.
Meanwhile, Jimmy reconciles with Brian (Michael Urie) over dinner, shedding the tension from their previous clash and starting a new weekly tradition. The song also plays as Alice shares a misguided kiss with Connor (Gavin Lewis), underscoring her struggle to let go in ways that may not serve her best.
Shrinking Season 2 Episode 4 Soundtrack: Every Song Played in the Episode
The Strokes’ “Bad Decisions” kicks off Shrinking Season 2, Episode 4, perfectly complementing the opening scene where Alice and Connor wake up, reflecting on the consequences of their poor choices the night before. Alice’s decision to sleep with her best friend Summer’s boyfriend—the man Summer recently described as the most important person in her life—sets the stage for the following emotional turmoil.
The song resurfaces poignantly as Alice attempts to sneak out of Connor’s house in silence, only to disastrously fall off the balcony into the backyard, underscoring the consequences of her actions.
Arcade Fire’s “Age of Anxiety I” begins playing as Paul shares with his daughter Meg (Lily Rabe) that his years as a therapist have given him an uncanny ability to predict when disaster is about to strike. Meanwhile, Gaby ignores a call from her sister Courtney (Courtney Taylor), unaware that it’s about their mother’s car accident.
The song deepens the tension as the narrative unfolds, with poignant shots of Louis holding the wallet Alice accidentally left at the coffee shop, his expressions are a mix of sadness and internal conflict. The music amplifies the growing sense of impending doom, linking these moments of emotional chaos.
During a morning date with Derrick (Damon Wayans Jr.), Gaby reveals she’s prepared a 30-minute loop of “Give Us The Precious (Lord of the Rings Trap)” by 2Padre$, ready to set the mood. However, just as the quirky remix begins to play, Gaby’s sister Courtney calls with news of their mother being hospitalized, cutting their time short.
Before leaving, Gaby allows Derrick a brief moment to absorb the strange remix, leaving him bemused, wondering who could have created such an unusual track as he helps her with some household chores. The moment adds a layer of lightheartedness before the weight of the news takes over.
Goo Goo Dolls’ “Iris” plays for a while as Jimmy views the video he shot of how he threw his car keys to Alice when she begged to drive it. Jimmy wanted to make it into a touching father-daughter moment, and “Iris” was the ideal music for a video like that.
Jimmy makes a great deal out of little things, treating Alice’s taking the car keys as a significant milestone that should be widely celebrated in an attempt to make up for the year that passed after Tia’s death.
As Louis leaves Jimmy and Alice’s home, The National’s “Your Mind Is Not Your Friend” plays, perfectly capturing the internal turmoil he’s trying to suppress. Despite claiming he’s fine, it’s clear that Louis is struggling with deep discomfort. Since the car accident, his mind has become a cruel and relentless force, punishing him for the events of that night.
Meanwhile, Brian, despite knowing he should maintain his distance, can’t help but pursue Louis. Driven by a desire to help, he sees the unbearable pain Louis is enduring and refuses to let him suffer alone. The song intensifies the emotional weight of Louis’s isolation and Brian’s empathy.
All Songs from Shrinking Season 2, Episode 5: Complete Soundtrack Guide
In Shrinking Season 2, Episode 5, Marc Sibilia’s “Bittersweet” sets the emotional tone, starting as Jimmy reaches out to support Gaby through her family struggles. Their rekindled friendship is heartwarming, amplified by the song’s tender notes. As the music plays, other pivotal scenes unfold: Paul and his ex-wife Susan (Kelly Bishop) share a quiet moment of reconciliation, drinking from a flask during Meg’s lecture, while Alice and Liz (Christa Miller) begin to repair their bond after the fallout with Connor.
The song contrasts sharply with Sean’s growing resentment as he succumbs to his inner demons and faces a brutal physical assault by the construction workers. The bittersweet melody weaves through these moments, deepening the emotional complexity of the characters’ journeys.
Complete Shrinking Season 2, Episode 6 Soundtrack: All Songs Featured
When Sean’s father, Tim (Kenajuan Bentley), visits him in the hospital, Alexis Ffrench’s “One (Remix)” begins to play, perfectly underscoring the emotional weight of the moment. Having gained clarity through his conversations with Paul and Jimmy, Tim fully understands how he failed Sean in the past. But more importantly, he recognizes how to support his son moving forward truly.
“One” is a powerful anthem of reconciliation, capturing the essence of Tim’s heartfelt admission as he approaches Sean, takes responsibility for his mistakes, and vows to be there for him unconditionally from now on. The song beautifully amplifies this moment of renewed unity and hope.
As Shrinking Season 2 comes to a close, Kx5 & Deadmau5’s “Escape (John Summit Remix)” plays, seamlessly continuing into the end credits as Liz visits her old friend Mac (Josh Hopkins). The song’s lyrics—about escaping with someone who makes you feel seen and valued—perfectly mirror Liz’s emotional journey.
In this moment, Mac offers her a potential way out of the suffocating invisibility she feels, both in her marriage to Derek (Ted McGinley) and in the world around her. The song amplifies Liz’s longing for connection and highlights Mac as a figure who may help her rediscover her sense of self.
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.
No Comments on Shrinking Season 2 Soundtrack Guide: Complete List of Songs from Every Episode