
In an interview with Screen Rant‘s Rachel Foertsch, which also included fellow Shifting Gears star Seann Williams Scott, Dennings opened up about Riley’s reaction and detailed why she was upset. Dennings, who is also a producer on the show, indicated that this new potential relationship between Matt and Eve (Elfman) makes Riley’s job harder:
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.
As for Scott, who plays Gabriel, the American Pie alum mentioned that his character wouldn’t be too surprised by the development. Considering that Gabriel works for Matt, as Scott explains in the quote below, he would have seen some of the flirtation between Matt and Eve:
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.
What The Shifting Gears Finale Means For The Show
It Goes Back To The Premiere
The family dynamics in Shifting Gears, generally, need clarification. There is a budding relationship between Riley and Gabriel, coupled with the fact that Riley may not be completely over her ex-husband. Shifting Gears season 2 is not officially renewed, but considering that it’s one of ABC’s biggest hits, an official renewal announcement is likely. If so, that would mean that season 2 will further tackle this new development, with Riley, at some point, confronting her dad about the kiss.
Our Take On The Shifting Gears Ending
It Mixes Things Up
It’s not yet known how long Elfman will stick around on Shifting Gears. But while she’s there, the goal is that her character might help to illuminate the relationship between Riley and Matt. In that sense, the kiss in the finale already does the job of altering the sitcom in a significant way and setting up the states for a very likely season 2.