In the Season finale of Shifting Gears, Riley finally understands that she and Jimmy have simply grown apart. She has changed a lot over time, and her goals in life are now different. So, she makes the bold choice to ask for a divorce. What makes this moment special is that the show doesn’t turn Jimmy (Lucas Neff) into a villain.
He remains a kind and lovable person, making it clear why Riley fell for him in the first place. At the start of the finale, Riley’s soon-to-be ex-husband, Matt, tells her he has landed a new job as the bassist for the Foo Fighters.
Along with this exciting news, he expresses his desire to get their family back together. This puts Riley in a tough spot: should she call off the divorce and give their relationship another shot, or continue on the path that she has chosen?
Throughout the episode, Riley struggles with this decision. She goes back and forth, unsure of what the right choice is.
Matt and Eve’s unexpected kiss
As Riley’s divorce party is coming to an end, Matt apologizes to Eve for overreacting when she accidentally hit his car door. Although he agrees to pay for the damage, he doesn’t actually say, “I’m sorry.”
However, Eve, being her usual self, understands that this is his way of apologizing, even if he doesn’t say the words out loud.
Then comes a shocking moment: Eve kisses Matt on the lips! That’s all the audience sees, but Tim Allen’s character hints before the credits roll that things may have gone much further.
Not long ago, the show was praised for not forcing a romantic relationship between Matt and Charlotte (played by Last Man Standing’s Nancy Travis). But now, things have taken a different turn with Eve possibly starting something with Matt. This development came as a surprise and maybe even a little too soon.
However, Jenna Elfman, who plays Eve, brings a fresh and exciting energy to the show. Fans are curious to see where this storyline will go if Shifting Gears gets a second season.
It seems inevitable that Riley and Gabe will start dating at some point. However, the show made a smart choice by not rushing into it right after Riley’s decision to move forward with the divorce.
There needs to be time for the story to develop naturally. If the show returns for a second season, it will likely explore their relationship slowly and give it room to grow.
Will Shifting gears return for Season 2?
Critics have had mixed opinions about the show, but many fans, including those at CinemaBlend, believe it deserves another season. Whether ABC renews it or not remains to be seen. In the meantime, you can stream all of Shifting Gears Season 1 on Hulu.
In an interview with Screen Rant, Kat Dennings, who plays Riley, shared her thoughts on how Riley would react to Matt and Eve’s possible relationship:
"Riley is going to be absolutely furious. That I am 100% sure about. She finally has this job that she really likes and this environment that's really good for her, and she loves Eve, and this is just the worst thing that could happen—for her dad to start dating her. To her, maybe not for him. But I think she'll be mad."
Seann William Scott, who plays Gabriel, also commented on the situation. Since Gabriel works for Matt, he has seen a lot of the flirting between Matt and Eve, so he wouldn’t be too shocked by this development:
"Gabriel has had a different experience than Riley because there's been so much back-and-forth flirtation in the car shop. So I would imagine that he wouldn't be too surprised."
The Shifting Gears Season finale packed a lot of drama, big decisions, and surprising twists. Riley finally realized that her marriage was over and made the tough choice to move forward with her divorce.
Meanwhile, Matt’s unexpected romance with Eve could shake things up in future episodes. Whether the show returns for a second season or not, fans are eager to see what happens next.
Trending
For more updates, keep reading SoapCentral.
Your perspective matters!
Start the conversation
