Do you hear the people sing?! Harrison Ford sure can!
Last season on Apple’s Shrinking, Michael Urie’s Brian stressed about the idea of fatherhood. So many queer men do not consider becoming a dad because of all the extra hoops they have to jump through in order to start a family, and that extra consideration took a hilarious toll on Brian’s delightfully narcissistic persona. Now that baby Sutton is here, you can see how Brian might be asking himself, ‘What was I so afraid of?’ With Shrinking‘s third season, Urie proves that being a dad doesn’t mean that you need to stop thinking about yourself.
Are you ready to chat about some musical theater, because Urie and I get into a chat about Les Misérables at the top of our conversation. Brian and Jason Segel’s Jimmy belt out the act two showdown between Jean Valjean and Javert as they drive with Ford’s Paul helplessly wondering what the heck is going on in the backseat. Forcing musical theater onto straight people is what Pride is all about after all!
Now that Brian’s anxiety about having a family has calmed down, we chat briefly about what Brian’s strengths are as a father. You know that he will protect her like he would show up for any character actress. You know that he will make sure she is decked out in the most fabulous clothes as she grows up. You know that Brian and Charlie will love her as fiercely as she deserves. This seasons gives us a lot of opportunities to see Brian alone with Sutton or parenting with the rest of the gang’s input without Charlie present as he is off at work. I am curious as to what Brian thinks he does better as a parent than Charlie and vice versa. Perhaps Charlie will regret working so much and need to spend time with his family. Maybe this three-month work engagement in Tennessee will challenge them not just as a couple but as a family. I swear…if Brian doesn’t come home to California with bolo ties in every shade, size and shape, I will revolt.
We end our conversation pondering if Brian will ever get a rock from Liz. He’s pretty much the only character left on the show without one, and Brian is thirsty to add one to his home. Maybe he never will receive one and Liz will enjoy torturing Brian until the end of time…
Shrinking is streaming now on Apple.
