Shifting Gears Season 1 Episode 2 Recap: Accommodations

The Parker family survives yet another week of living under the same roof and learns a few important lessons along the way.

On Shifting Gears Season 1, Episode 2, “Accommodations,” Riley, Carter, and Georgia are still adjusting to their new life. From meetings with divorce lawyers to the kids starting at a new school, the family has a hectic schedule.

Despite Riley being an amazing mother to her children, she ends up having an important meeting on the day of Carter’s meet-the-teacher night at school. Upset that his teacher won’t be able to meet his parent, Carter asks his grandpa to go instead.

Shockingly, Matt says that he’d love to attend, and that’s more than enough to convince Riley to reschedule her meeting so she can go with her father and keep his attitude in check. Because, knowing him, there will be a lot of unhinged comments and loud opinions.

Of course, with these two going to the school meeting, viewers are bound to meet new characters, but I’m shocked and pleasantly surprised when Brenda Song appears onscreen as the school’s assistant principal, Caitlin Baker, who went to school with and idolized Riley.

After quickly catching up with her old classmate before the meeting starts, Riley is taken aback when she’s asked for a favor by her new friend. She asks Riley to set her up on a date with Gabe, Riley’s other friend who also happens to work at her dad’s shop.

Caught off guard, Riley agrees to ask Gabe to meet her for drinks. But I’m not sure which is more painful for her—setting up this date or sitting through a school meeting with her “old school” dad.

It turns out it’s the second option because, by the time the teacher is done, Riley is ready to get away from her father as fast as possible. Before leaving the classroom, she takes the chance to introduce herself to Carter’s teacher and give her his accommodation plan.

To no one’s surprise, Matt doesn’t take well to hearing that his grandson has a learning plan in place, especially not one created by a therapist. He believes that learning differences and disabilities are just words that get into kids’ heads and make them believe they have a problem.

In hopes of “helping” Carter prepare for his upcoming test on World War II, Matt decides to teach him how he studied back in his day—with cue card study notes, which are also nicknamed cheat sheets.

This ultimately backfires when Carter decides to use his “cheat sheets” during the test after looking at the clock and stressing himself out to try and finish the test without his extra time accommodation and make his grandpa proud.

This obviously isn’t Matt’s intention with the study notes they made together, and Riley is rightfully angry at the pair when she comes home from her horrible third-wheel date with Gabe and Caitlin after receiving a call from the school telling her what happened.

Choosing to confront her father about his “old school” beliefs and tactics affecting Carter’s learning, Riley receives a heartwarming reply from her dad when he explains that he didn’t intend to hurt Carter. He just doesn’t want him to grow up feeling like he’s dumb or that his learning disabilities define who he is.

Matt goes on to explain that, even though it might not always seem like it, he does want what’s best for the family. And despite any previous comments he made to her, he tells Riley she’s an amazing mother and role model for her children.
 
What did you think of this episode of Shifting Gears? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Shifting Gears airs Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

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