It’s been over a decade sinceHow I Met Your Mothercame to an end, and though nothing will take its place, Jason Segel’sShrinkingis worth considering as a replacement show. Segel portrayed Marshall Eriksen forall nine seasons ofHow I Met Your Motherbefore the show concluded in 2014. The actor continued working on TV projects, including key roles inDispatches from ElsewhereandWinning Time, but his next starring role came in the form of Apple TV+‘sShrinking.
In it, Segel plays a therapist named Jimmy who questions his own practices while dealing with the immense grief after his wife’s unexpected death. That might sound too joyous, butShrinking’s casthelps balance out the comedic elements of the show while not burying the significant themes of the show. Speaking of themes,Shrinkinghas plenty to offer that would resonate withHow I Met Your Motherfans, including those who still want to forgetHIMYM’s divisive ending.
Shrinking Shares Similarities With How I Met Your Mother (Aside From Jason Segel)
The Two Shows Have Surprising Aspects In Common
WhereasHow I Met Your Motheris led by Josh Radnor’s Ted,Shrinkingfeatures Jason Segel as the lead in Apple TV+’s comedy-drama.Both shows effectively utilize a stellar supporting cast, with each member bringing something different to the table and garnering a pretty impressive list of guest stars. ThoughShrinkinghas only two seasonsthus far, it’s already managed to bring in names like Wendie Malick, Lily Rabe, Kelly Bishop, and Brett Goldstein, who also serves as the show’s co-creator. It also doesn’t hurt having Harrison Ford counter Segel’s character.
Apple TV+ has already renewedShrinkingfor season 3.
Aside from the cast list,Shrinkingalso shares an interesting plot point withHow I Met Your Mother, albeit from a darker lens. Marshall and the otherHIMYMcharacters encounter their fair share of life’s struggles throughout the show, but the driving force of the narrative stems from the death of Ted’s wife and the mother of his two children. InShrinking, Segel’s Jimmy experiences the tragic loss of his wife and the mother of their daughter, Alice.Being on streaming allowsShrinkingto lean more into the darker elements of grief,but the themes of loss and relationships are still the focus.
HIMYM’s Official Spinoff Didn’t Last Long
BeforeShrinkingdebuted on Apple TV+,How I Met Your Motheralmost had a worthy replacement show in the form of the sitcom’s official spinoff,How I Met Your Father. The Hulu series was released in 2022 and used a similar formula toHIMYMby following Hilary Duff’s Sophie as she detailed moments in her life that led to meeting the future father of her son.How I Met Your Fatherwas also set in the same universe asHIMYM, allowing for fun cameo appearances by several stars of the original show, including Cobie Smulders’ Robin and Neil Patrick Harris' Barney.
Shrinking Brought Together My 3 Favorite Comedy Shows Into 1, And I Love It
Shrinking has introduced several guest stars, who’ve all previously appeared in some of the most popular and influential sitcoms of the past decade.
Despite showing some promise,Hulu cancelledHow I Met Your Fatherafter season 2. There was hope the spinoff would lean more intoHow I Met Your Motherelements, including more appearances by the original cast. Instead, the return to theHIMYMuniverse was cut short, causing longtime fans to look elsewhere to fill the void left by the show’s absence. Thankfully, there are a few out-of-the-box replacement options, likeShrinking,to help find something partially resemblingHIMYM’s best elements.
Shrinking Season 2 Features Another Aspect That HIMYM Fans Will Enjoy
Season 2 Features Another HIMYM Vet
If Jason Segel and the rest ofShrinking’s cast aren’t convincing enough to give the show a try,How I Met Your Motherfans might be happy to hear that season 2 features a great reunion. Without giving too much away,Shrinkingseason 2 features anHIMYMreunion, thanks to Cobie Smulders' guest appearance in episode 10.The sequence brings together Segel and Smulders a decade after their NBC sitcom came to a (controversial) end. Their hilariously awkward encounter, however, also allows for Smulders' potential return, somethingHow I Met Your Motherfans would surely welcome.
…any potential for Smulders and Segel to work together should be welcomed since the friendship between their HIMYM characters deserved more focus.
If Smulders' character returns inShrinkingseason 3, it’s very possible that she could become a romantic interest for Jimmy based on their instant chemistry. The relationship would be a wild twist forHow I Met Your Motherviewers, considering Marshall and Robin were one of the few couplings that didn’t occur in the show. Granted, any potential for Smulders and Segel to work together should be welcomed since the friendship between theirHIMYMcharacters deserved more focus. More of Smulders could also encourage futureHow I Met Your Mothervets to enter the world ofShrinking.
