Last Man Standing’s Nancy Travis Brings Valentine’s Day Cheer

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Caution: This content reveals plot points from the episode “Valentine’s” of Shifting Gears. Watch it using a Hulu membership, but beware of potential spoilers!

For fans of “Last Man Standing,” there’s been a lot to look forward to recently! Following the news that Jay Leno will team up with Tim Allen on “Shifting Gears,” the series has now brought Nancy Travis back into the mix. In the past, Travis played Allen’s wife in their sitcom, so I was eager to see how this Valentine’s Day-themed episode would unfold!

Speaking as a viewer who’s following Kat Dennings in her new sitcom and was a fan of the previous series, I must say that I appreciated how Shifting Gears integrated this appearance. ABC’s current series remains one of the top shows on the 2025 TV lineup, consistently offering nods to fans who recall Tim Allen’s past show.

How Shifting Gears Referenced Tim Allen And Nancy Travis’ Past Roles On Last Man Standing

On Valentine’s Day, Tim Allen’s character Matt spent time at his deceased wife’s grave, where he unexpectedly met another person mourning their lost spouse, whom I’ll call Charlotte for simplicity. After sharing some amusing conversation, they parted ways but happened to cross paths again later in the day at a grocery store. As Matt was waiting for a prescription for his unwell granddaughter Georgia, he persuaded Charlotte to join him for a coffee break while they waited.

The pair had a pleasant rapport during their chats, and there was an echo of the same camaraderie the actors displayed on ‘Last Man Standing’. Not surprisingly, when the topic of any romantic involvement surfaced, Charlotte promptly mentioned that he bore too much resemblance to “The man she’d recently dated.” It was a clever wink to their shared history on ‘LMS’, fitting the situation perfectly.

Why I Like How Shifting Gears Handled The Storyline With Nancy Travis’ Caroline

It seems some viewers may have anticipated a romantic connection between Matt and Caroline in this episode, but I’m pleased that the show, titled “Shifting Gears,” demonstrated self-control. The storyline subtly left room for Nancy Travis’s character, Charlotte, to reappear later. This was done by Charlotte giving Matt her phone number and an invitation for a future conversation when he feels the need to.

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Simultaneously, it was evident that neither character was ready or willing to enter a romantic relationship at that point in the narrative, as doing so could disrupt one of the fundamental elements of the tale. The theme of grief is significantly prevalent in the story “Shifting Gears“, particularly in Matt’s prolonged struggle to come to terms with his wife’s death. Adding a new romance to the series so early on might interfere with this narrative thread, and I believe it’s substantial enough to warrant further exploration before introducing any romantic elements.

It’s clear that Matt’s antique home mirrors his traditional personality. Given the immense changes in his life recently, taking on a new romance might be too much. For now, it seems more fitting for him to focus on his recent reunion with his daughter and her family, adjusting to this sudden change in his life, before considering romantic entanglements. Let’s give Matt some time to settle into this new phase of his life first.

Change of pace: The show “Shifting Gears” is broadcasted every Wednesday at 8:00 p.m. ET on ABC. If you’re a devoted “Last Man Standing” viewer and haven’t given this one a try, why wait any longer?

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2025-02-13 04:37