Shifting Gears Season 2’s Home Improvement Reunion Was In A Grief Group
Although Shifting Gears season 2, episode 1 did feature a Home Improvement reunion, fans of the classic ‘90s sitcom might be surprised to find out how maudlin it was. Shifting Gears is a Tim Allen vehicle, starring the perennial sitcom leading man as Matt, a widower whose estranged daughter Riley moves in with him and brings her teenage kids.
This premise drove season 1 of the traditional multicamera sitcom, a dysfunctional family comedy whose tone and style called to mind Allen’s earlier hits Last Man Standing and Home Improvement. Shifting Gears narrowly avoided cancellation despite season 1’s stellar ratings, and celebrated its season 2 return with a major reunion for Allen.
Shifting Gears Season 2 Episode 1’s Home Improvement Reunion Happens At A Grief Group
Tim Allen’s Matt Attends The Group As A Cautionary Tale
Season 2, episode 1, “Secret,” sees Matt struggle with the fact that Jenna Elfman’s dance studio owner, Eve, kissed him during Riley’s divorce party at the end of season 1. Matt feels unsure about how to proceed, resulting in him going three months without even texting Eve. Riley’s boss is surprisingly understanding, but Matt still feels uncomfortable about dating her.
As such, he visits his wife’s resting place, where he runs into Nancy Travis’s Charlotte. Charlotte tells him she knows just where to bring him and introduces him to a grief group for people who have lost loved ones. Lo and behold, the members of the group turn out to be none other than Richard Karn, Patricia Richardson, and Debbe Dunning.
Allen’s former co-stars each get a chance to share their grief with Matt, but Shifting Gears season 2’s Home Improvement reunion might not be what viewers are expecting. Rather than a warm, fun scene, the sequence sees Matt grow increasingly disgusted and frustrated with these people who seemingly can’t move on.
Shifting Gears’ Home Improvement Reunion Shut Down Future Appearances
Matt Made It Clear That He Never Wanted To Meet The Home Improvement Stars Again
When Matt tries to storm out, Charlotte explains that she really brought him to the grief group to show him what could happen if he fails to move on. Combine this with the fact that the group’s storyline focused on their inability to move on, and the entire scene seemed to mock viewers who hoped for a Home Improvement reunion.
It was surprisingly sad to see Allen’s character dismiss the group’s members. After all, this means that the characters played by Richardson, Karn, and Dunning will likely never be seen again in the series.
While the group didn’t need to become fast friends with Matt, this was still the latest of many instances where the misanthropic, bitter tone of Shifting Gears went a touch too far. As such, fans of Home Improvement who were looking forward to Shifting Gears bringing back its stars may leave disappointed.
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