Throughout its run, Shrinking has balanced grief and humor by grounding its characters in empathy — and Derek has consistently been one of the show’s most reassuring presences. Often serving as a source of light when others are navigating pain, the character has quietly become one of the emotional anchors of the series.
In season three, Shrinking allows Derek’s story to deepen, giving him a more layered and at times uncertain journey that reveals just how much he means to the people around him. The shift offers Ted McGinley the opportunity to move beyond optimism and explore vulnerability, fear, and growth in ways the show has only hinted at before.
In a new interview with Blex Media, McGinley reflects on portraying Derek as both comfort and conduit, the trust required to take on heavier material, and what the series has taught him about reaching out, listening, and not facing life’s hardest moments alone.