Real-life experiences with Parkinson’s disease directly inspired a major twist in Season 3 of ‘Shrinking‘. The show built a key storyline around the realities of the illness, using the guest role of Michael J. Fox to portray symptoms that many patients actually face.
Writers based the reveal on lived experiences with Parkinson’s and related conditions, then wove those details into Paul’s journey this season. Michael J. Fox, who has lived with Parkinson’s for decades, plays a character with the disease. And that real-world link gives us the episode’s most shocking moment.
Michael J. Fox’s Entry Sets Up A Painful Twist in ‘Shrinking’
The twist here focuses on the hallucinations linked to Parkinson’s. Co-creator Bill Lawrence drew this idea from his own life. His father lives with Lewy bodies, a condition closely associated with Parkinson’s that can cause vivid hallucinations. Lawrence explained that his father sometimes walks into a room, pauses, and asks if someone is really there, simply to confirm he is not imagining it. He admitted those moments can be painful, yet they remain part of daily life with the disease.
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Because of that, the writers chose to show similar experiences on screen as Paul’s illness progresses. In addition, medical research supports this portrayal. The Parkinson’s Foundation reports that 20% to 40% of people diagnosed with Parkinson’s experience hallucinations or delusions. So, the series uses a real medical pattern as the base for its big reveal.
We can see this in the episode titled “My Bad,” where we see Paul, who realizes his Parkinson’s disease is getting worse. His medication no longer controls his tremors as well, which leads him to visit his neurologist. There, he meets Gerry, a fellow patient with Parkinson’s.
Fox’s Character Brings Authenticity To The Story
During their talk, Paul admits he is “going through it today.” Gerry responds by pointing out what still works in Paul’s favor. He tells Paul he looks good and that his voice is firm. Paul still has balance, whereas Gerry says he falls three times a day and even jokes about taking up stunt work. That humor carries deeper meaning since Fox himself received his Parkinson’s diagnosis in 1991 at age 29.
Gerry also opens up about stronger tremors and hallucinations. Instead of dwelling on self-pity, he stops Paul’s complaints and says he is still here, so Parkinson’s does not win. He even encourages Paul to say it aloud. As a result, Paul’s mindset begins to change. Later, he tells Jimmy, played by Jason Segel, that he can either feel sorry for himself or truly enjoy the life he still has instead of staying in “Why Me Land.”
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Because of this renewed outlook, Paul decides to move forward in his personal life. He and Julie, portrayed by Wendie Malick, choose to get married. Legal matters like wills, property deeds, and power of attorney partly motivate the decision, but their love also plays a clear role. Jimmy officiates the ceremony, and the wedding marks a hopeful step.
However, the twist arrives soon after. Paul walks into the kitchen for water and suddenly sees Gerry there eating wedding cake. Gerry casually jokes that he just loves cake. Then, everything changes. Julie enters and asks who Paul is talking to. Paul looks at the chair and realizes no one sits there. When he asks Julie if she sees Gerry, she says no.
At that point, the truth becomes unavoidable; Gerry’s presence is a hallucination. Ultimately, the involvement of Michael J. Fox makes that message even stronger. A performer who has lived with Parkinson’s for decades helps bring a very real part of the disease into a mainstream series.
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