Portal 2 explores Shorter's struggle with trauma and addiction. He discovers Buddhism. He and Joseph Zawinul form the popular jazz rock group Weather Report and become pioneers of the jazz rock movement. Shorter collaborates with Milton Nascimentos, Joni Mitchell, and Herbie Hancock, marking this era as the most commercially successful period of his career.

In Portal 3, Shorter redefines jazz and encourage artistic exploration to affect social change. He sees "Zero Gravity" as breaking free from the genre's confines and oppressive societal conditioning. In his 80's, he innovates with his quartet and orchestral compositions, creating his most prolific body of work. He proves that the human being behind the instrument remains of the utmost importance.