Shifting Gearsepisode 4 was a huge tonal shift for the better, with Matt (Tim Allen) and Riley (Kat Dennings) finally confronting their grief. While Matt and Riley’s consistently one-note, contentious relationship is partially responsible forShifting Gears’poor critical reviews, another element is how flat the secondary characters felt because they were not given enough screen time to develop. Allen’s Matt owns a classic car restoration shop, and the crew that works there has been underused until episode 4.
InShifting Gears' most promising episode 4, Matt leaves his foreman in charge of the shop for the morning, giving the auto shop workers their own storyline for the first time.Seann William Scott’s Gabriel, Daryl Mitchell’s Stitch, and Cynthia Quiles' Frankie have been present since the pilot,primarily serving as fodder for Matt’s jokes or Riley’s rants. Fleshing out more of the secondarycharacters inShifting Gearsmakes the show less generic, helping to create fan-favorite characters while centering on the show’s most unique set piece: the auto shop.
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The auto shop crew has been underserved, treated more as props than people, one of thereasons forShifting Gears' initial poor reviews. Riley uses Gabe as a sounding board for when she wants to vent about her father. InShifting Gearsepisode 2, “Accommodations,” Matt uses Stitch’s status as a wheelchair user to make a point to Riley. However,Gabe and Stitch finally get their own story inShifting Gearsepisode 4, which demonstrates how entertaining they arewhen given just a little screen time.
Matt
Tim Allen
Tim Taylor inHome Improvement, Mike Baxter inLast Man Standing, Buzz Lightyear inToy Story
Riley (Matt’s daughter)
Kat Dennings
Max Black in2 Broke Girls, Darcy Lewis in the Marvel Cinematic Universe
Carter (Riley’s son)
Georgia (Riley’s daughter)
Cynthia Quiles
Brenda inWhy Women Kill
Gabe is excited to be in charge but overwhelmed by decision-making, revealing a more sensitive and anxious side than previously shown. Stitch is a prankster, gleefully needling Gabe about his new responsibilities, until he sees that Gabe is truly distressed, and Stitch helps rebuild Gabe’s confidence with a rousing speech. Stitch could beShifting Gears’version of Phoebe fromFriends, revealing some quirky opinions when he proudly shares that he thinks aliens are real but “just shy.” Audiences will now look forward to checking in on Gabe and Stitch every week.
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Hopefully, episode 4 marks a new normal forShifting Gearsrather than a fluke. Making the classic car restoration shop more central to the show might help make the stories feel less overdone. This would naturally give Gabe and Stitch more screen time. WhileCynthia Quiles' gay Latinx mechanic, Frankie, isn’t featured as prominently in episode 4,she has a much more relaxed attitude compared to Matt and Riley. Bringing Stitch and Frankie out from the background will also introduce fresh perspectives toShifting Gears.
If You Can’t Get Enough Of Tim Allen’s New Show On ABC, Revisit His Original ’90s Sitcom Now Available On Netflix
Tim Allen returns to network TV in 2025 via his new ABC sitcom Shifting Gears, while one of his first comedy series is streaming on Netflix.
The classic sitcom formulaShifting Gearswants to adhere to works if the characters are endearing and three-dimensional. The show is adding more characters, with Allen teasing the introduction of Matt’s son and photos revealing the return ofRiley’s estranged husband Jimmy. However, even with new characters, there’s still room to feature Gabe, Stitch, and Frankie. WithShifting Gearsseason 2seemingly likely, hopefully, the show relies more on its secret weapon to secure renewal: the personalities at the auto shop.
New episodes ofShifting Gearsair on Wednesday at 8 p.m. Eastern on ABC and stream the next day on Hulu.
