Warning: There are spoilers ahead for Shrinking, season 2, episode 5, “Honesty Era.”Shrinking Season 2, Episode 5, ‘Honesty Era’ subtly continues a major storyline with the cup of coffee Brian (Michael Urie) takes with him. Season 2 was busy for Brianstarting out by portraying Grace (Heidi Gardner) after she pushed her abusive boyfriend off a cliff in Shrinking end of season 1. With that storyline now resolved, much of the focus is now on Brian and his wife, Charlie (Devin Kawaoka), beginning the process of adopting a child, with Brian already worried that he might not be a good father.
Brian also continued to reconnect with Jimmy (Jason Segel) and help Paul (Harrison Ford) with legal matters. Shrinking The end of Season 2, Episode 4 added another dimension to Brian’s story as he meets Louis (Brett Goldstein), the drunk driver involved in the car accident that killed Jimmy’s wife.Aunt (Lilan Bowden). Brian was initially nonchalant about crossing paths with Louis, but quickly changed his attitude when he saw how much pain Louis was clearly in, which ties into the cup of coffee in episode 5.
Brian’s cup of coffee in Season 2, Episode 5 hints at his meeting with Louis
Their conversation didn’t end in episode 4
When Brian goes to Paul’s house to sign some legal documents, Brian puts a cup of coffee on the table and the camera lingers for a moment. The logo on the cup is the same as the coffee shop where Louis works and where Alice (Lukita Maxwell) confronted him in episode 3. Brian also apologizes for being late because he was meeting someone. This suggests that before Brian went to Paul’s house, he was meeting Louis at the coffee shopand that they have continued to see each other since their first meeting in episode 4.
Although Brian is busy being a lawyer, adopting a child, and spending time with many Shrinking characters he considers friends, he’s also making time for Louis. Despite Louis claiming he was fine, Brian realized Louis was suffering and wanted to help him. There are no signs that Louis has friends or family to support him, but Apparently, Brian has become an unlikely friend and the only person currently trying to help Louis..
What Brian’s Willingness to Help Means for Louis in the Rest of Shrinking Season 2
Another showdown with Louis is coming
It’s only a matter of time before Jimmy or Alice find out that Brian is seeing Louis. They will likely feel betrayed by Brian’s actions and have a hard time seeing how he can empathize with and want to help the man who contributed to Tia’s death. Jimmy and Alice have already had their respective run-ins with Louis, but learning about his new relationship with Brian is prepared to lead to another tense and emotional confrontation.
Brian, being a positive force that connects all three characters, can help them heal as they struggle with their unresolved feelings about what happened to Tia and the lives they lead now.
Since Shrinking season two largely focused on the importance of facing the past, Jimmy, Alice and Louis have more work to do when it comes to facing their traumas. Brian, being a positive force that connects all three characters, can help them heal as they struggle with their unresolved feelings about what happened to Tia and the lives they lead now. While the end result of this healing may be liberating, the road there will be difficult, especially when Jimmy and Alice learn that Brian and Louis met in Shrinking 2nd season.