Shifting Gears’ First Season 2 Storyline Goes Against Its Entire Purpose

Warning: SPOILERS for Shifting Gears season 2, episode 1.Shifting Gears season 2 has officially kicked off, but its biggest returning storyline goes against Tim Allen’s vision. After a rough pilot episode started the sitcom on the wrong foot with critics, Shifting Gears miraculously ended up as one of ABC’s highest-rated shows of the 2024-25 network TV cycle. Of course, the family comedy still has ample room for improvement.

Shifting Gears Was Always Supposed To Be A Comedy About Grief

For as highly-anticipated as its return was, however, the sitcom’s second season has an uphill battle to remain true to its original purpose. As Tim Allen explained in a Shifting Gears promotional interview with Good Morning America, he pitched the show as an exploration of grief with a sense of humor, exemplified by the sitcom’s “comedy scenes in a mausoleum.”

Yet, while Shifting Gears is primarily upbeat, season 1 proved it worked best when shining a light on the darker truths that underline the show’s premise. Irrefutably, the best scenes came when Shifting Gears pivoted to drama— albeit temporarily— to confront the pain Riley and Matt felt over Diane’s abrupt death (which happened only a year prior to season 1).

The laugh track and predictable storylines kept it rooted in firm sitcom territory, but Shifting Gears’ comedy served to soften the edge of its grief storyline, never to detract from it. After the arrival of Jenna Elfman’s Eve, unfortunately, Shifting Gears went into overdrive, rushing into a romantic cliffhanger for her and Matt.

Matt & Eve Have Chemistry, But The Romance Storyline Came Far Too Soon

A mere three episodes after meeting, Matt and Eve suddenly kiss in the Shifting Gears season 1 finale, while the long-established budding romance between Riley and Gabe had no easy payoff. Sadly, Matt and Eve’s kiss in Shifting Gears felt out of place and unprecedented by any believable build-up, making their romance a confusing last-second addition to the plot.

At face value, Matt and Eve should work. It’s a classic case of opposites attracting: Eve is a free-spirited dancer who prioritizes community and self-improvement while Matt is a stuck-in-his-ways traditionalist with a misanthropic streak. Beyond their personalities balancing out, they would force each other to change and grow, lending dimension to their characters.

Regardless, Eve and Matt’s chemistry on paper doesn’t mean Shifting Gears was right to throw in a kiss at the end of season 1. For the sake of longevity and sticking to Tim Allen’s vision, Shifting Gears should have dedicated its pilot season to building a strong foundation and establishing the family’s journey with grief.

Rather than end on a cliffhanger kiss, the season 1 finale could have been a more wholesome celebration of how much Riley and Matt’s relationship had improved, perhaps coupled with Matt agreeing to more grief-related healing tactics. Most importantly, Matt and Eve still could have had romantic development— but it would have been much more valuable in the long run.

Primetime Sitcoms Always Need A Love Story Element, But Shifting Gears Jumped The Gun

It’s understandable that ABC wanted both main characters to have a love interest, but Shifting Gears’ romances needed strong, realistic development. Part of what made Matt and Eve’s kiss jarring was that the show had spent the majority of their shared scenes cultivating a sense of animosity. As a result, Matt and Eve seemed like budding frenemies at most.

As Tim Allen mentioned to GMA, the “powers that be” wanted Matt to have a romance, but Eve deserved better than to be a narrative afterthought in Shifting Gears season 1. The hostility between Matt and Eve was an entertaining contrast, but they could have progressed their relationship by staying civil without jumping headfirst into a love story.

In contrast, Riley and Gabe’s storyline in Shifting Gears already feels like a slow-burn that will inevitably bloom. The key difference is that the sitcom primed the audience with Gabe’s feelings for Riley early on in season 1, while Eve wasn’t introduced until episode 7. Consequently, there were no stakes for the viewers when Eve kissed Matt.

Furthermore, without any established romantic or sexual tension, there was no reason for the audience to root for Matt and Eve, especially after Shifting Gears continually hammered home the fact that Matt was still coming to terms with his new life as a widower (and expressly wasn’t ready to move on).

How Shifting Gears Season 2 Handles Matt & Eve Could Make Or Break The Show

Luckily for Shifting Gears, the season 2 premiere indicated Matt and Eve aren’t heading towards a baseless committed relationship. If anything, “Secret” offered exactly what Shifting Gears season 1 needed: an unflinching look at Matt’s bereavement. The episode ends with Matt and Eve agreeing to casually explore their connection, but there’s still time for Shifting Gears to go south.

Matt’s grief in Shifting Gears season 2 requires nuance, and his relationship with Eve could add wonderful depth to the storyline. At the same time, their romance can’t be prioritized if it means sacrificing Matt and Riley’s relationship or letting the Diane of it all fall to the wayside.

The comedic look at grief is what sets Shifting Gears apart, and the ABC sitcom can’t afford to abandon its anchor so early in its run. There is, of course, life beyond loss— and Matt shouldn’t be stuck in his grief forever— but he also shouldn’t magically overcome his trepidation for the sake of Shifting Gears’ first love story.

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