Tim Allen returns to ABC for his newest sitcom,Shifting Gears. Allen and Kat Dennings leadthe cast ofShifting Gears, playing a father and daughter with a strained relationship newly trying to coexist under one roof. Matt is a widower stuck in his ways, whose wayward daughter Riley has nowhere else to turn after a divorce. Matt never approved of Riley’s choices, and his wife served as the buffer in their relationship. Since her passing, Matt and Riley have grown further apart than ever. However, introducing Matt’s yet-to-be-seen son could improve his and Riley’s contentious relationship.
Shifting Gears' pilot had great viewership numbers but poor critical reviews, setting viewing records. There aremany reasons whyShifting Gearshas poor reviews, but mainly, it is a straightforward sitcom that does not offer anything fresh. However, sitcoms often need time to find their rhythm andShifting Gearshas only released three episodes so far.Allen’s star power is undeniable, withShifting GearsbeatingThe Connersin viewership. Allen has also hinted that Matt’s son could appear inShifting Gears, adding the element that could make the show worthy of its great ratings.
Matt & Riley In Shifting Gears Have An Exclusively Contentious Dynamic
Matt & Riley’s Fighting Already Feels Repetitive
Matt and Riley are constantly at odds with each other, making their relationship feel repetitive even after only three episodes ofShifting Gears. Matt is one of manysitcom characters with surprisingly traumatic backstories, but as a widower and a boss, his stubborn nature defines him. He and Riley frequently clash over their generational parenting styles: Riley favors electronic monitoring of her children, while Matt advocates for giving them more freedom. However, this dynamic is revisited so often that it already feels overused.
Shifting Gears Episode 3 Pokes Fun At Tim Allen’s Troubled Disney Role With A Brilliant Joke
Shifting Gears episode 3 episode 3 includes a nod to one of Tim Allen’s most famous roles, but the future is uncertain for the Disney classic.
Riley is not very gracious either, considering she showed up with no warning after 15 years away. She is just as obstinate as her father. Riley’s world is in chaos, with the divorce, moving her two children, and her dire lack of finances, but there is none of the comedic yet emotional bonding that happens on other shows, like another freshman sitcom,Happy’s Place.Riley and Matt’s relationship appears one-dimensional.However, the show has alluded to another character, andAllen has said Matt’s son will be introduced inShifting Gears,which could save Riley and Matt’s dynamic.
Shifting Gears Needs Matt’s Son To Make Its Central Relationship More Dynamic
Allen Has Confirmed Matt’s Son Will Appear In Shifting Gears
In her memoirBossypants, Tina Fey credits the magic of30 Rockto the interplay between Liz Lemon, Jack Donaghy, and Tracy Jordan, three characters with radically different perspectives who would interact with each other in surprising ways. This idea of a triangulation of characters could be the secret to changing the mixed audience reviews forShifting Gears.Allen has said that Matt has a son in the navywho audiences will “meet later.“Bringing a third character intoShifting Gearswill breathe new life into Matt and Riley’s stuck relationship.
Riley ran away to marry a musician, meaning her life over the past decade will have been drastically different from her brother’s. The son’s presence could add depth to Matt’s stubbornness and Riley’s chaotic return, offering opportunities for growth and comedic tension. Allen did not specify when Matt’s son would make his appearance on the show, but withShifting Gearsseason 2 not yet confirmed, he is likely appearing in season 1. Anything that disrupts the repetitive routine Matt and Riley are already in could be whatShifting Gearsneeds to resonate with audiences.
Shifting Gears Already Teased What To Expect From Matt’s Son
Matt’s Son Knows His Sister’s Struggles With Their Dad
WhenShifting Gearsdebuted, it was on the heels oftwo family tragedies for the Parkers. Matt is still grieving the unexpected death of his wife, whose heart suddenly gave out while on a run. Meanwhile, Riley is starting from scratch as she left her husband and has brought her two kids with her. BecauseShifting Gearsis a comedy, it is unable to fully delve into these dramatic turn of events, although Matt and Riley shared a moment about the loss of their family matriarch in the pilot. It grounded the series, although scenes like that would be rare.
Shifting Gears doesn’t even include a voice cameo from the Parker family’s son, it’s clear that he understands how big of an undertaking it is for her sister to come back home and live with their dad.
Prior to the father and daughter’s touching scene, however, Riley got on the phone with her unseen brother to deliver him the news that she has moved back home. WhileShifting Gearsdoesn’t even include a voice cameo from the Parker family’s son, it’s clear that he understands how big of an undertaking it is for her sister to come back home and live with their dad. From that alone, it’s safe to say that he knows full well how contentious Matt’s relationship is with his sister, or perhaps, even he has a difficult dynamic with Allen’s character.
Tim Allen’s Comeback Sitcom Flips The Premise Of George Lopez’s 3-Season NBC Comedy
Tim Allen’s new sitcom casts a light on a strained father-daughter relationship, but Shifting Gears is reminiscent of George Lopez’s ongoing comedy.
Whatever the case may be, throwing him into theShifting Gearsmix can shake things up and add something fresh to a tired sitcom trope. Across network TV, there are a few comedies that deal with a parent and child’s conflict such asLopez vs. LopezandPoppa’s House. WhileShifting Gearsis standing on the shoulders of Allen’s legacy in the sandbox, it’s important to be conscious about making sure that it is unique, so it can be sustainable in the long run. Unfortunately, the cycle of Matt and Riley fighting and making up can grow old quickly.
When Will Matt Son Potentially Debut In Shifting Gears?
Admittedly,it may be a little too early in its run to expectShifting Gearsto bring in Matt’s son. At this point, the focus of the new ABC comedy is to establish its core cast, especially Matt and Riley. While their relationship is central to the show’s narrative,Shifting Gearshas also started to develop their respective arcs, with Riley trying to find a job while her dad attempts to connect with his grandkids. Once that’s all fully set up, then the Parker family’s son can come in to disrupt the clan’s new normal.
Shifting Gears Review: Tim Allen’s New ABC Show Is Good… If You Love Tim Allen
Tim Allen returns to ABC with a new sitcom. For those who missed him, Shifting Gears is a good show but it needs more work for other viewers.
Whether Riley’s brother becomes a regular cast member ofShifting Gearsis also uncertain at this point. ABC can bring him in later in its run and make him an official part of the ensemble, assuming that his debut goes well. In any case, it will all boil down to his eventual introduction — something that Allen has already promised will eventually happen.
New episodes ofShifting Gearsair on Wednesdays at 8 ET on ABC.
