Shifting Gears Season 1 Episode 6 Recap: Valentine’s

Love and growth fill the air in the Parker household on Shifting Gears Season 1 Episode 6, “Valentine’s.”

Matt navigates his first Valentine’s Day without his wife by visiting Diane’s grave. As he places flowers down and pays his respects, a woman interrupts him, asking how long he plans to take.

She’s there to visit her husband, who happens to be buried right beside Diane. After both have their moments alone, Matt surprises viewers by actually engaging in a polite conversation instead of being his usual grumpy self. He learns that the woman’s name is Charlotte and that she lost her husband five years ago.

As they share stories about their late spouses, Charlotte suggests Matt try group grief counseling, explaining that it helped her after her husband’s passing. Predictably, Matt refuses. He doesn’t believe in therapy, and he doesn’t like most people.

Charlotte then gets a bit flirtatious, mentioning that another way she moved forward was by putting herself back out there in the dating scene. Matt doesn’t fully catch her hint but quickly shuts down the idea of dating altogether.

Despite having no interest in dating, Matt enjoys talking to Charlotte as a friend, so they exchange numbers to support each other.

Meanwhile, at the house, Riley is getting ready for work and is stressed out because Matt isn’t home to watch the kids. Carter, who has never taken on such a big responsibility, volunteers to babysit Georgia, reassuring Riley that at 15, he’s old enough to handle it.

With no other options, Riley agrees, leaving Carter in charge.

Unfortunately, Carter’s first time being “the man of the house” doesn’t go as planned. Georgia eats too much candy and ends up sick.

At the shop, Riley attempts to learn a dance routine for a social media video her boss wants her to make. With Stitch beatboxing and Gabriel showing off some of his “classic” moves, Riley hesitates giving into learning the dance, until she gets the perfect out with a message saying she needs to come home because Georgia is sick.

Once home, Riley takes care of Georgia while Matt offers to pick up some medication. What should have been a quick trip turns into a long wait when the pharmacy tells him it’ll take 45 minutes to fill the prescription.

Annoyed, he heads to the café, where he runs into Charlotte. Realizing he has time to spare, he asks her to have coffee with him while he waits, and she happily accepts.

Nothing romantic happens during their coffee “date,” but as they continue sharing stories about their past relationships, Matt begins to realize that while he might not be ready to date now, he’s not completely closed off to the idea anymore.

Speaking of potential relationships, after Georgia is in bed and Carter confesses to trying (and failing) to cover up his sister’s candy mishap, Gabriel shows up with a surprise visit. Wanting to help after Riley rushed home from work, he brings pizza for Riley and Carter and chicken noodle soup for Georgia.

This episode is full of small yet meaningful gestures for all the characters, leaving plenty of room for growth and new relationships to develop throughout the rest of the season.

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What did you think of this episode of Shifting Gears? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Shifting Gears airs Wednesdays at 8/7c on ABC.

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