Season 2 of Shifting Gears kicked off with a bang, as Nancy Travis humorously teased Tim Allen about his romantic life alongside Jenna Elfman.
In the premiere episode on Wednesday, October 1, Matt (Allen) was getting ready to reconnect with Eve (Elfman) three months after their kiss. However, he hadn’t reached out to her since she made the first move, leading her to believe he wasn’t interested.
The real issue for Matt was his anxiety about moving forward after losing his wife. Enter Charlotte (Travis), a friend from season 1, who happened to catch him having an emotional moment at the cemetery while talking to his deceased wife.
“We kissed, and I’m not quite sure what that means,” Matt lamented, to which Charlotte playfully responded, “It means you are a big old slut.”
Charlotte understood that Matt was still dealing with his grief and jokingly suggested he might be open to trying drugs. Instead, she guided him to a support group featuring some of Allen’s previous Home Improvement co-stars, including Patricia Richardson, Debbe Dunning and Richard Karn.
After spending time with Charlotte and the group, Matt had an embarrassing talk with his daughter Riley (Kat Dennings). Some mix-ups led Riley to think that Matt had spent the night with someone mysterious, a topic she later discussed with Eve.
Eventually, Eve and Matt found common ground and decided to go on a date (after she dubbed him the “Golden Bachelor”). According to showrunner Michelle Nader, this couple will encounter ongoing challenges.
“Their relationship development is fascinating to observe,” Nader shared exclusively with Us Weekly in September. “They’ll pick up pace, but expect a roller-coaster ride as well.”
Elfman, 53, excitedly commented to Us on rejoining the series.
“I’m enjoying every bit of it. The collaborative spirit among the cast is fantastic. I’m thrilled for everyone to see it because the writing this season really stands out. Each character receives thoughtful writing, and the humor is genuinely delightful. We’re often laughing uncontrollably on set,” she expressed.
Elfman elaborated: “As a performer, I’m genuinely impressed with the quality of comedy this season. I believe viewers are set for a wonderful time filled with laughter with their families.”
In a different plotline within the premiere, Riley shied away from Gabriel (Seann William Scott) because she thought he wanted to discuss his feelings for her. However, when she decided to pursue a relationship with him, he revealed he was dating someone already.
“Riley literally just got out of her marriage. She should take a step back,” Dennings joked to Us in March about Riley’s dynamic with Gabriel. “She’s been living separately for quite some time and hasn’t processed this relationship fully. However, she also has deep feelings for Gabriel as a friend, which adds many layers to their romantic tension.”
Shifting Gears airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET and is available for streaming the following day on Hulu.
