Warning! The next accommodates spoilers for the Shifting Gears episode “Valentine’s.” Stream it with a Hulu subscription and skim at your personal threat!
There’s quite a bit for Final Man Standing followers to have a good time these days, as only a day after it was introduced Jay Leno would reunite with Tim Allen on Shifting Gears, the sequence welcomed Nancy Travis into the fold. Travis performed Allen’s spouse within the earlier sitcom, so I used to be curious to see how this episode would go, contemplating it was centered round Valentine’s Day.
As somebody who watched the earlier sequence and is watching Kat Dennings‘ newest sitcom, I am completely happy to say I used to be happy with how Shifting Gears dealt with this look. ABC’s sequence continues to be the most effective exhibits on the 2025 TV schedule, and it’s aware of the quantity of fan service it delivers to anybody who has watched Tim Allen’s earlier present.
How Shifting Gears Referenced Tim Allen And Nancy Travis’ Previous Roles On Final Man Standing
Tim Allen’s Matt spent his Valentine’s Day visiting his late spouse’s grave when he got here throughout one other particular person visiting their late partner. After exchanging some witty banter with Charlotte (Travis), the 2 went their separate methods, solely to have an opportunity encounter later that day on the grocery store. Matt was ready on a prescription for his sick granddaughter Georgia and satisfied Charlotte to hitch him for a cup of espresso whereas it was stuffed.
The duo acquired alongside nicely sufficient of their conversations, and there was a touch of the identical chemistry the actors shared on Final Man Standing. Positive sufficient, when the opportunity of any romantic connection got here up, Charlotte rapidly stated that he reminded her an excessive amount of of “The final man she was with.” It was a easy meta joke to their time on LMS, however good for the second.
Why I Like How Shifting Gears Dealt with The Storyline With Nancy Travis’ Caroline
I am certain some folks hoped Matt and Caroline would possibly turn into an merchandise on this episode, however I am completely happy Shifting Gears confirmed restraint. The way in which the characters left issues allowed for Nancy Travis to return later, as Charlotte gave Matt her quantity and the invitation to speak every time he wanted to.
On the similar time, it was clear neither had been in a spot the place they needed to this point, so it isn’t going to step on one of many core parts of the story. Grief is a serious theme of Shifting Gears, particularly in Matt’s delay of dealing with the lack of his spouse. Introducing a brand new romance so quickly into the sequence would step on that storyline, and I believe it is vital sufficient to maintain going for some time.
As we have identified, Matt’s vintage-style house is a logo of who he’s. He is old fashioned, and making such large modifications to his life has been overwhelming. It might be unrealistic for him to tackle a brand new romance so quickly after rekindling his relationship together with his daughter and letting her and her two kids transfer into his home. Perhaps save a romance angle for a few seasons and let Matt proceed to regulate and take care of this new state of affairs he was thrust into.
Shifting Gears airs on ABC on Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m. ET. When you’re a Final Man Standing fan who nonetheless has but to test it out, what are you doing?