Gear change it broke Tim Allen i Jenna Elfmancharacters, but is there any chance they can rekindle their romance?
The ABC series marked the first time that Allen has starred in a sitcom where his character is not married. (Allen’s characters in the hit sitcoms home improvement i The last man standing they were in committed relationships when each began the series.)
“From the beginning, (the creative team has said) we’ve never seen Tim Allen in a sitcom with a romantic interest. And I was like, ‘Well, I just lost my wife on the show, so I don’t see it.’ So I love where we’re at,” Allen said exclusively Us Weekly when the show premiered in January 2025. “I said, ‘If it happens over time and it happens organically with two people who don’t get along, that’s fine.’ I’m just very cautious about it. I just want it to happen where it’s organic and appropriate.”
After mourning the loss of his wifeAllen’s character Matt formed a connection with Eve (Elfman). The couple dated throughout the second season before calling it quits due to long distance. Allen and Elfman, however, did not rule out a reconciliation, but remained tight-lipped about what a potential revival might look like.
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Keep scrolling to hear what Allen and Elfman shared about Matt and Eve’s future in Shifting Gears:
Have hope for Matt and Eve’s future
After joining the show, Jenna Elfman spoke sharing the screen with Tim Allen.
“I love doing scenes with Tim. I was so excited, and it took me a couple of episodes to go, ‘OK, who are we in this? Who are you? How is he playing in this format? What’s his timing like?’ It takes a moment to see how we’re dancing together as partners,” Elfman told Us in February 2025.
Elfman specifically praised Allen’s ability to support him as a co-star, adding, “He’s so confident as a comic actor. He’s confident and I am, and we don’t care if something (doesn’t land). When you’ve been doing it long enough, you’re not paranoid that a joke won’t work and you don’t care. There’s not enough confidence and exploration of the scene. Humor.”
Bringing Matt and Eve’s love story to life
“I really appreciate that, because you have two confident people playing and it feels really good. The other thing I really appreciate about Tim is that he gives me complete freedom to fill the space with whatever he brings,” Elfman told Us. “I don’t feel like he’s sitting there judging. I don’t feel like he’s sitting there judging my comedy or my ability to crack a joke.”
She continued: “I feel like he has faith in my ability and everyone around him. He allows me to be myself in the space in front of him. That kind of confidence when you’re doing comedy is really great.”
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Matt and Eve will continue to face obstacles
Before Season 2, showrunner Michelle Nader teased the fictional couple’s journey.
“I will say it’s really interesting to watch,” Nader shared we in September 2025 about the dynamics on the screen. “It’s interesting to see how their relationship develops and so they’re going to go into high gear, but it’s going to be a bit of a rollercoaster.”
Matt and Eve aren’t done yet
Tim Allen close the assumption that Matt and Eve’s relationship was over after their shocking split midway through Season 2.
“On arrival, you’ll see that it’s not over and it’s really a different thing for a comedian to play that,” Allen told Us in January 2026. “On the show, by design, there’s more drama to put the comedy on top of. It’s something I’ve always loved to do.”
He concluded: “The reality of the story is that it worked and it was very romantic for the show. (Even though) they’re not a couple yet, it was very sad. We were both really affected by the writing and played it very well.”