We’re almost back. Ahead of its one-hour season premiere on January 28, The BUZZ celebrated the return of Apple TV’s Shrinking by sitting down with Christa Miller, Ted McGinley, and Michael Urie. The trio opened up about their characters’ emotional journeys in Season 3 — a season that truly feels like the moment these characters find themselves.
At its core, this season is about self-discovery. Liz, Derek, and Brian are each forced to confront who they are, what they need, and how they show up for the people they love.
Christa Miller spoke candidly about Liz’s growth, touching on whether her obsessive tendencies stem from a fear of not being loved.
“I feel exactly that,” Miller shared. “I feel that something went on with her that she feels that she needs to be a perfect mom, do things perfectly, and even have the house perfect to be able to deserve love. I don’t know if Liz grew up with a critical parent, but it’s a great question because it’s something I think about with her. As you can see with the other characters, they’re more open and loving, and they don’t have these issues.”
Miller also reflected on a pivotal scene with Jason Segel’s Jimmy that left her thinking, ‘I went through something here,’ and shared a behind-the-scenes story about working with Candice Bergen this season.
Ted McGinley’s Derek continues to serve as the emotional anchor of the group — the steady presence who makes sure everyone else is okay, often at the expense of himself. Season 3 challenges that dynamic, forcing Derek to reevaluate where he stands and what he deserves.
“Derek takes great pride in the fact that he lives in a world where people experience real darkness,” McGinley explained. “Everyone around him has dealt with something serious and painful, which we all have at some point. Derek is that little piece of light you want to walk toward when you see him come into the room. What we then discover is that Derek, too, like all of us, is human. His big lesson this year is that he’s given to a lot of people — and now, he’s getting it back.”
McGinley also teased an upcoming scene where Derek is a bit… high on life, and admitted he briefly feared his character might be getting killed off.
Michael Urie spoke about Brian’s evolution from someone who needed to be coddled into someone learning how to be a father. Describing Brian as having “main character energy” and undeniable narcissistic tendencies, Urie explained that Season 3 forces Brian to finally grow up.
“Brian has to grow up, be a dad, and take care of a baby,” Urie said. “Yes, he’s leaning on his friends and loved ones, but ultimately, he has to be the one to grow up. What I’m so proud of is that over the course of the season, he starts to put others first — which is not something he’s used to doing. He’s been the center of attention for so long in every aspect of his life. He’s selfish, but now he has to start thinking about others, and he’s coming around to it.”
Urie also reflected on a meaningful scene where Jimmy encourages Brian to call his father, appreciating the opportunity to revisit Brian’s past — especially as the character confronts parts of himself he had been avoiding.
Season 3 of Shrinking is filled with heart, love, and real emotional growth — a reminder that growing up doesn’t happen all at once, but in moments of honesty, vulnerability, and connection.
The one-hour season premiere of Shrinking airs January 28 on Apple TV, with new episodes dropping weekly through April 8.
Watch the full episode featuring Christa Miller, Ted McGinley, and Michael Urie above.
