Time to cool down: Apple TV+ series 'Physical' ready to end its run after three seasons

Aug. 19—Stephanie Laing enjoyed entering the world of "Physical."

As a director and executive producer of the Apple TV+ series, the work on the third and final season is bittersweet.

"It's really nice to end things the way you want to," Laing says. "We wanted the show to feel bigger and bolder. We did that and we expanded the world."

The third and final season of "Physical" is currently streaming on Apple TV+.

Set in the idyllic but fragile beach paradise of 1980s San Diego, "Physical" follows Sheila Rubin, played by Rose Byrne as she transforms from quietly tortured housewife to dominant fitness entrepreneur.

In her journey, Sheila battled her way out of an unsatisfying marriage to Danny, played by Rory Scovel, fostered a dangerous relationship with real estate mogul John Breem, played by Paul Sparks, and confronted the dark voices within her own mind that have shamed and suppressed her for so long.

With the help of her loyal friend — and now business partner — Greta Hauser, played by Dierdre Friel, she has found confidence and inner-strength through her work as a teacher and entrepreneur with Body by Sheila.

Body by Sheila is thriving, given that it's shaped and molded in the image of its ambitious founder.

Sheila finds herself content with running with her local wolf pack of fans and acolytes, who all find strength and improved health with her exercise methods. And as she prepares to launch the next phase of her lifestyle empire, Sheila's ongoing recovery from her eating disorder leads her to embrace the quiet in her head in order to nurture and embrace her most authentic self.

Enter Kelly Kilmartin, played by Zooey Deschanel, the pretty blonde TV star and rising exercise goddess, who threatens to slow Sheila's rise to global fitness guru.

The aggressive inner voice that once pushed Sheila's insecurities to extremes now begins to instead conjure an imaginary Kelly who appears in her mind everywhere she goes.

Meanwhile, Sheila's ex-husband Danny, continues his struggle as a now single father, himself finding relief in exercise, as he discovers how to be a better partner to the women in his life.

As for Mormon real estate mogul John Breem, the consequences of his torrid affair with Sheila continue to reverberate as his wife Maria, played by Erin Pineda deals with postpartum depression and infidelity-induced anger, with both unable to pray away the frustration in their lives.

As for Greta, Sheila's influence proves to have been a positive and transforming one, as she remains a trusted business partner and most fervent cheerleader for Sheila.

Yet, the impact of Kelly — both real and invented — threatens to creep under Sheila's skin, cratering their lives and business plans in shocking and frustrating ways, ultimately bringing those in Sheila's orbit to a life changing crossroads.

However, one thing is for sure, Sheila is a tough cookie to make crumble. Her very existence is a miraculous one, proving that exercise was never just a way to make women physically smaller.

Strip away the mirrors and the desire to reflect an artificial image, good health nurtures the power to make us all feel connected to something bigger than ourselves.

In this space, Sheila ultimately learns about life, balance, accountability and the selfless pursuit of strength in numbers.

Laing says the third season will unveil if Sheila will prevail, or will Kelly's presence in her life undermine the hard-earned healing and stability that Sheila has fought so hard for.

"What's been great about having a third season to wrap up the story is that we're able to complete the journey," Laing says. "It was important for us to see where Sheila would end up."

Going into the filming of the final season, Laing says the cast and crew were ready to give their all.

"What worked for us this season is that we had an ending," she says. "Everything that happened before was leading to this ending."