Kaitlyn Dever’s Eve Baxter Marched to Her Own Beat on ‘Last Man Standing’
If you aren’t already familiar with the basic premise of Last Man Standing, here’s what you need to know. Mike Baxter (Allen) is a family man who is the director of marketing at a Denver-based sporting goods conglomerate called Outdoor Man. He is also the father of three daughters. As the “last” and only man of the house (get it?), Mike navigates life alongside his wife Vanessa (Nancy Travis) as they become grandparents and enter the next phase of parenthood as their children become adults. This is the case for 194 episodes, just a few shy of Allen’s previous Home Improvement record. But where does Dever’s Eve Baxter fall in this lineup? Well, technically she’s the “baby” of the three girls, but in a fun subversion, the opposite is true in practice.
When speaking with The Wrap about the series finale, showrunner Kevin Abbott (who later co-created Happy’s Place) noted that, “Tim [Allen] and Kaitlyn [Dever] have always had such a special relationship. Not that he didn’t have it with the rest of the crew and everything, but I think he felt very fatherly to Kaitlyn.” This certainly comes across throughout the series as Mike watches his youngest child grow up and eventually leave home altogether. Their relationship is a major driving force for Mike in the series, and it’s Eve’s healthy search for independence from her father and discovering more of herself that pushes her to eventually leave the show in its later seasons. Well, that and other outside factors (but we’ll get to that).
Eve Was the Wild Card of the Baxter Family on ‘Last Man Standing’
From the fake fights with her dad that drive away annoying family members to the various pranks she pulls on her sisters (not to mention their “Inglorious Baxters” performances), Eve is one of those characters who we just love to see in her natural environment. She’s a no-nonsense kind of girl, and because of that, we never know for sure what she is going to do. This is why Eve’s journey is so compelling.
Beyond that, the actress’ chemistry with the rest of the cast — particularly Amanda Fuller and Molly Ephraim, who primarily play Eve’s sisters Kristen and Mandy — is simply outstanding. In a show that sometimes risks hitting the same beat, Dever is a breakout star who keeps the sitcom fresh, especially as she torments her sisters, bonds with her father, and pursues her own dreams, loves, and passions. It may not be as notable a “coming of age” role as Dever’s later work in Booksmart, but her time on Last Man Standing is far more lovable.
Kaitlyn Dever Left ‘Last Man Standing’ After the Show Was (Briefly) Cancelled
Unfortunately, just as Eve was beginning to really discover herself outside of her military aspirations, the series was cancelled by ABC. After six seasons on the network, the series was axed, leaving us with the cliffhanger reveal that Eve was accepted into the Air Force Academy. While not her desired role in the armed forces, it was certainly better than nothing. Of course, neither Tim Allen, the cast, nor fans of Last Man Standing were ready for the show to end, and after a year-long battle to get the show picked up by another network, Fox came in to save the day. Unfortunately, not everyone could return to the show, and Mandy actress Molly Ephraim was replaced by newcomer Molly McCook. Thankfully, the show didn’t try and recast Eve, making Kaitlyn Dever the only Baxter sister to remain with the series throughout its entire run (original Kristen actress Alexandra Krosney was replaced by Amanda Fuller after the first season).
