Shifting Gears ended Season 1 on a number of cliffhangers. The ABC sitcom follows Matt Parker (Tim Allen), a widowed father who runs a automotive restore store and whose daughter Riley (Kat Dennings) and grandchildren (Maxwell Simkins and Barrett Margolis) transfer in with him after her marriage turns into on the rocks.
The ultimate episode of Season 1 noticed Riley’s husband, Jimmy (Lucas Neff), come again into city and inform her that he was provided a spot to open for the Foo Fighters. However first, he requested if she wished to get again collectively. As a substitute of answering him straight away, Riley gave him divorce papers by the tip of the episode. This led to her childhood finest buddy/brother’s buddy/dad’s coworker, Gabriel (Seann William Scott), confessing his emotions to her. Nonetheless, she didn’t hear him as a result of she’d fallen asleep on her sofa after consuming an excessive amount of at a celebration. One of the crucial stunning issues to return out of the finale was that Matt and his rival, Eve (Jenna Elfman), shared a kiss after everybody left the social gathering.
With Shifting Gears returning for Season 2, listed here are 5 issues we’re trying ahead to (hopefully) seeing.
1. Riley and Gabriel *each* confess their emotions.
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Riley and Gabriel’s relationship is sure to bloom in Season 2. What together with her questioning why Gabriel hasn’t married anybody but, their previous historical past, and, effectively, his admission that he has a factor for her, there’s an excessive amount of there there at this level. There are two issues, although. First, Gabriel is finest buddies with Riley’s brother, Sammy. If the 2 of them break up, it may damage her relationship together with her brother. Secondly, Gabriel additionally works for her dad. For the reason that automotive restore store and Riley’s job are throughout the road from one another, their relationship may intervene with their work.
2. It’s time to lastly see Sammy.
Regardless that he’s been looming massive, viewers have but to really see Sammy but. He was talked about about two occasions all through the season. Except for Sammy having a one-sided dialog with Riley firstly of the season, followers don’t know a lot about him. Given that he’s within the Navy, his return would almost certainly be a joyful one.
Govt producer Michelle Nader teased the looks of Sammy in an interview with TVLine. “We hope to introduce Sam in Season 2. We expect he shall be one other enjoyable casting alternative and an excellent character for everybody to complain to!” she mentioned. Since Sammy hasn’t proven up but, it isn’t clear who will play him.
3. We’d like a flashback of Matt’s spouse, Diane.
Disney/Raymond Liu
One other potential casting alternative for Season 2 may very well be Matt’s spouse, Diane. The character died earlier than the sequence began, so she was by no means seen in Season 1. Nonetheless, as he strikes into a brand new romance, maybe followers will get to see a number of flashback scenes and even Diane showing to Matt or Riley in a dream. Matt visited his spouse’s grave in Season 1, so she continues to be very a lot part of his mindset, and it’d make whole sense for him to show to his recollections of her earlier than attempting to actually transfer on.
4. Matt and Eve turn out to be the actual deal.
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After Matt and Eve kissed, he appeared shocked. Then, when Riley requested him what he obtained as much as on the social gathering, he didn’t point out the kiss. Judging by his somber response, Matt was presumably fascinated by his spouse. (He was most likely additionally confused as a result of simply hours earlier than, Eve was his rival.) Possibly he’ll go to a grief counselor, or Diane will give him an indication that it’s okay to maneuver on, and he’ll start a relationship with Eve. Or they may return to their respective corners and preserve preventing issues out.
5. There ought to be extra acquainted visitor stars.
Disney/Raymond Liu
Tim Allen is understood for placing his previous costars in his present exhibits. Jonathan Taylor Thomas, who performed his son on Residence Enchancment, confirmed up in Final Man Standing. Nancy Travis, who performed his spouse in Final Man Standing, appeared in a single episode of Shifting Gears. Jay Leno, who was additionally a recurring character in Final Man Standing, appeared as himself in a single episode of the present sitcom.
So, may different acquainted faces present up? Hopefully. In any case, there are many different Allen-verse visitor stars that we may image guest-starring on the present. Kat Dennings and Seann Williams Scott each memorably labored with Jennifer Coolidge prior to now (in 2 Broke Women and American Pie, respectively), so what’s stopping her from showing on an episode or two?
Dennings additionally labored carefully on 2 Broke Women with Beth Behrs, who’s at present on The Neighborhood. She mentioned she would like to have Behrs seem or for her to look on Behr’s sitcom: “That’d be unbelievable. The enjoyable factor about Shifting Gears is that we have now this automotive store set. And anybody may stroll in. So yeah, in fact, I’d love anybody to pop by,” the actress advised TVInsider.
What would you prefer to see occur in Shifting Gears Season 2? Tell us within the feedback.
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