License
Carter’s driving lessons lead to Matt learning about his expired driver’s license. He then struggles both with the testing procedures and with how he’s aging. Meanwhile, Riley struggles with Georgia’s bond with Eve.
Warning: Spoilers Below.
Driving Lessons
Carter is about to head out for driving lessons when Matt overhears this. He’s confused because he thought he was going to give Carter driving lessons since he taught Riley and her brother how to drive. Riley explains that his style of teaching probably won’t work for Carter. Carter heads out but Matt comes along for the ride. Matt signs a waiver to ride in the car, claiming to be an “emotional support grandfather,” giving a funny flip of the script with the conservative Matt claiming to be emotional support and the more liberal driver claiming to have never heard of it.
Disney/Raymond Liu
The instructor gives Carter the lessons that will help him pass his driver’s exam. Meanwhile, Matt, who has been driving for decades, is encouraging Carter to take corners that would fail an exam even though many drivers do them. Matt tries to demonstrate how much he knows by showing his driver’s license and the instructor informs him that it expired two months prior and he will need to get a new one.
Matt Faces Mortality
Matt and eve go down to renew his license and he’s told he must re-take the driver’s test. Every time Matt acts incredulous about what he’s being told, the DMV worker assumes he’s hard of hearing and speaks louder and slower, insulting him since he’s not deaf. He’s becoming more and more frustrated with the process, which is on par with the DMV.
Disney/Raymond Liu
Matt agrees to take his driver’s test and seems to have a good rapport with the tester as the pair are seen laughing and having a good time with each other. Still, the tester fails him because of his rolling stops and road rage reactions. She explains that he reminds her of her mother when she reached her 70s, and this woman failed her own mother. Matt has to ride with Carter and he can’t handle Carter’s overly cautious approach to driving. Eventually, he gets up and walks off. Riley, Georgia and Carter go look for him and he’s sitting in his car in the garage eating. Matt is afraid he’ll never drive again like his own father when he lost his license. His family gets through to him and he becomes the lovable grump they are used to seeing.
Riley’s Jealousy
While this is going on, Riley is trying to juggle running a business and being there for her family. Georgia wants to win a bake sale, so she can be principal for the day. Riley is working to help her but also working to keep her coffee cart flowing. She rents a robot to help her deliver coffee, but it ends up getting damaged, so Gabe and Stitch have to step in to repair it. Meanwhile, Riley tries to help Georgia win the bake sale but ends up falling asleep and letting the brownies burn. That’s when Eve steps in to help.
Disney/Raymond Liu
Eve has some time and helps Georgia make the brownies. Riley is getting jealous because this is quality time she wants to be spending with her daughter rather than her daughter spending it with her former boss and her dad’s new girlfriend. Riley sees Eve using her mother’s sifter and that’s when she snaps and Eve leaves. Riley goes to apologize and explains the issue and Eve gives her some words of encouragement. The next day, Riley goes to pick up the robot and Gabe and Stitch have improved it, however Carter is driving and doesn’t see it, hitting it and damaging it beyond repair.
What’s Next?
This has been one of the more balanced episodes since the series began. Carter and Georgia feel like fully fleshed out characters in the same episode for the first time ever. Matt and Riley are battling emotions that are understandable for where they are in their lives. And the series still delivers the humor and heart it needs to be an enjoyable watch for fans of the series. It’s not breaking any new ground, but it works for what it is.
Check out Shifting Gears on ABC, Disney Plus and Hulu.
Article Written By: Jeremy Brown for Stelmach Brown Media 2025
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