Shrinking season 2’s Cobie Smulders opens up about her How I Met Your Mother reunion with Jason Segel. The Apple TV+ sitcom stars Segel as Jimmy Laird, a grieving widower and therapist who breaches his professionalism to truly tackle the troubles facing his patients. On How I Met Your Mother, Smulders and Segel played Robin and Marshall, respectively, two members of the close-knit group of friends surrounding Ted Mosby (Josh Radnor) as he searches for love. Smulders made an appearance in the most recent Shrinking season 2 episode as Sofi, a woman selling her car who comes into contact with Jimmy.
Smulders opened up to The Hollywood Reporter about reuniting with Segel on Shrinking. After their nine years of working alongside one another on How I Met Your Mother, Smulders had nothing but praise for Segel and the writing of his new series, touching upon the show’s character work and how effortless she found recapturing her chemistry with the actor. She said:
I think so. I love playing with Jason. I was able to do so for nine years, which is insane these days, so it just sort of felt like very normal, natural. And again, the show’s so well written that the character was already kind of there, even before we got into the actual work of it, and Jason is obviously like such a talented actor as well as a wonderful human being, so
I think we just fell right into step.
However, Smulders also enjoyed the opportunity to try a different dynamic with Segel after their personal growth off-screen as friends, and looked forward to seeing how audiences react to their dynamic. Check out Smulders’ full response below:
I think it’s really interesting, because as an audience, I’m sure people are used to the Robin-Marshall dynamic, but Jason and I have grown up together off-camera. So, we have a lot of shared life experiences, and so it was not difficult to sort of switch that that chemistry between us. He’s so talented, and we just fell right back into it. But I think it’ll be interesting. So
it’s an interesting and new dynamic for people to see.
But I just know him as Jason, and it’s easy to transition that relationship into the many different colors that you can play onscreen.
What Smulders And Segel’s New Dynamic Means For Shrinking
The HIMYM Co-Stars Previously Portrayed A Primarily Platonic Bond
In How I Met Your Mother, Marshall and Robin began as acquaintances through their mutual friendship with Ted, and would ultimately find themselves holding a somewhat distant relationship when compared to other members of the group. While this was partly due to his fears of “The Mermaid Theory,” they still held a strong platonic relationship through their shared backgrounds and love of sports, with Marshall notably coming to Robin’s aid when she finds herself homesick during a low point in her life.
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In contrast, Sofi in Shrinking has a dynamic with Jimmy that could lead to something far more than a platonic bond, despite Smulders having been cast in only a guest role in season 2. She is the owner of a car that Jimmy wishes to purchase who is also a single parent, though the circumstances of her prior relationship are far more unpleasant, which immediately fascinates the therapist. With a potential romantic relationship blossoming between the pair, their dynamic in Shrinking is sure to be a far cry from the storylines Marshall and Robin were subjects of.
Our Take On Shrinking’s How I Met Your Mother Reunion
The Pair’s Appearances Fulfill A Missed Opportunity
With Shrinking season 2, audiences have been treated to a welcome How I Met Your Mother reunion. While the sequel series How I Met Your Father had hoped to revisit the entire cast, only Smulders and Neil Patrick Harris had the opportunity to reprise their roles. As such, Segel and Smulders’ reunion will be appreciated by sitcom fans who may miss the series. However, with Sofi and Jimmy’s potential romantic future possibly extending to Shrinking season 3, there could be more ahead for this nostalgic onscreen pair.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
9/10
Shrinking
In this series, a therapist grappling with personal tragedy begins to employ a radically candid approach with his clients and in his personal life. As he navigates his roles as a father, friend, and professional, his newfound method leads to unexpected consequences and self-discovery.
- Release Date
- January 26, 2023
- Cast
- Jason Segel , Luke Tennie , Michael Urie , Lukita Maxwell , Harrison Ford , Jessica Williams , Christa Miller , Ted McGinley , Heidi Gardner , Devin Kawaoka , Lilan Bowden , Kimberly Condict , Lily Rabe , Tilky Jones , Rachel Stubington , Wendie Malick , Sawyer Jones , Mike C. Nelson , Matt Knudsen , Kenajuan Bentley , Adam Foster Ballard
- Character(s)
- Jimmy , Sean , Brian , Alice , Dr. Paul Rhodes , Gaby , Liz , Derek , Grace , Charlie , Tia , Wally , Meg , Donny , Summer , Dr. Julie Baram , Mason , Dan , Steven , Tim , Nico
- Seasons
- 2
- Directors
- Bill Lawrence
- Showrunner
- Bill Lawrence