Apple TV+’s Contraction It revolves around Jimmy Laird, a psychologist who responds to the sudden death of his wife by being so involved in his patient’s life.
The series covers the lives of Laird’s companions, as he finds out from his colleague Gabby, who is negotiating independence from his family while dealing with a fallen marriage, to his best friend Brian, a lawyer who plays Pickleball, feels that his “double income, child” lives are free.
The first season introduced the characters and their struggles. The second, released in late 2024, gives them room for growth. There’s more push and pull, learning united nationslearn. Laird recognizes that solving patient problems while he was suffering was a good emotional crutch, but now he needs to rely on those professional relationships. Louis, the drunk driver who accidentally killed Laird’s wife, shows up to apologize. His reappearance in Laird’s life is a lesson in that, apart from all the confusion it causes, everyone suffers in ways that may not be obvious.
To some extent, shows about millennials who love to talk about their feelings (mainly white and suburban). It is filled with nasty moments caused by the character making himself the centre of attention, announcing, wandering around with self-doubt, and not knowing that he never leaves behind something specific.
But the point is that these Gausch Millennials are adult now. They deal with real-life issues, from marriage and parent-child relationships to divorce and death. For all pettiness and discomfort, Contraction It is also filled with intense, moving moments about growth and loss.