Warning: SPOILERS for Shifting Gears episode 9.Shifting Gearsepisode 9 was a drastic pivot for Tim Allen’s main character, but the sitcom is better for it.Shifting Gearsfollows Allen’s Matt, a widower and the owner of an auto repair shop. Aside from being the father of Riley (Kat Dennings) and grandfather to Carter (Maxwell Simkins) and Georgia (Barrett Margolis), Allen’s only discernible character trait thus far has been his stubbornness as a boss. Even in scenes with the core family, Matt has been no-nonsense and patronizing. As such, Matt hasn’t necessarily read as the hero ofShifting Gears.
Shifting Gearshas raked in impressive viewershipdue to Allen’s notoriety, but the same can’t be said for the sitcom’s critical response. Rather,Tim Allen being the main character has proven to be a double-edged sword forShifting Gears, with his past roles inHome ImprovementandLast Man Standingfeeling eerily similar to Matt’s caricature-adjacent personality. There’s nothing wrong with having an antagonistic main character, but given thatShifting Gearsseason 2is still unconfirmed, the sitcom likely needs to incentivize the audience to care more about its grumpy grandfather— and episode 9 kicks that into motion masterfully.
Surprisingly, Shifting Gears Episode 9 Exposes That Matt’s Abrasiveness Is An Act
Behind His Rough Exterior, There’s A Good Guy
Shifting Gearsepisode 9 begins with Matt as brusque as ever when Jenna Elfman’s Eve arrives to ask for a donation for a charity auction to benefit a local park. Matt refuses to offer anything, leading Eve to insult him before turning toShifting Gears’ scene-stealers, Stitch (Daryl“Chill”Mitchell) and Gabriel (Seann William Scott). After Matt takes a marijuana-infused gummy and becomes high, he becomes much more open with his emotions, even admitting to Gabe and Stitch that he appreciates them. The morning after, Matt pretends it never happened, butShifting Gearsepisode 9 proves Matt is sentimental.
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Even after he sobers up, Matt’s depth is further hinted at when Eve returns and reveals that Riley mentionedMatt’s documented philanthropy of the very park he claimed to despise. According to Riley, Matt has donated to the park for decades, a generous fact that Matt nonetheless denies. Though he seemingly loathes to admit it, Matt has soft spots in life that make theShifting Gearsmain characterfeel less like a nuisance and more like a neighbor.
Shifting Gears Episode 9 Has Made It Easier To Root For Him
The Sitcom Needed To Make Matt More Sympathetic
Shifting Gearsturning Matt’s rough exterior into nothing more than a front is the best gift it could give to Tim Allen’s character. FromShifting Gears’ strange age-gap couple joketo the awkward generational divide, Matt hasn’t been the most pleasant character to watch.Although Matt still hides his best qualities,Shifting Gearsepisode 9 at least proves he has positive traits, despite how clandestine he keeps them. Any snide comment Matt makes hereafter in Shifting Gears can be taken with a grain of salt, offering the audience an easy caveat for his cold demeanor.
Jenna Elfman
Eve
Many factors contributed to thepoor initial reviews ofShifting Gears, but a common denominator was the characters needing more substance. Granted, that critique was focused mainly on how the talented ensemble cast seemed hidden behind Tim Allen, but it applies to Matt now just as much as it did for the initial depictions of Gabriel, Stitch, and Georgia.Shifting Gearsstill has a lot of work to do before it’s out of the woods, but the sitcomtaking away some of Matt’s jaggedness is a great start.
