Shifting Gears will keep following Tim Allen's character, Matt, on his grief journey in season 2 ahead of a highly anticipated Home Improvement reunion. ABC released stills from the Wednesday, October 1, premiere, which showed Allen, 72, back visiting the gravesite of his character's late wife. This allowed Matt to reunite with Charlotte (Nancy Travis), who he met on Valentine's Day in season 1. Matt and Charlotte then crossed paths with new characters played by Patricia Richardson, Debbe Dunning and Richard Karn.