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Shifting Gears season 2 is delivering what fans've wanted all along. The Parker family member everyone talks about? He's showing up. Luke Macfarlane landed the role of Sam Parker, Matt and Riley's Navy hero relative, whom nobody has seen in years. This casting pick has people excited. Macfarlane knows comedy from Apple TV's Platonic.
Producer Michelle Nader said Sam Parker would be someone "for everyone to complain to" last spring. That day is coming. When Luke Macfarlane steps into the Parker house in Shifting Gears season 2, things will get interesting. Matt's already dealing with his daughter and grandkids. Add another kid? He might need more than car parts to fix this.
Who is Sam Parker in shifting gears?
Who exactly is Sam?
All through Shifting Gears season 2, Matt and Riley keep mentioning him, this Navy guy everyone calls a hero. Yet he’s nowhere to be seen. No family dinners, no surprise visits, not even a cameo in the background. Fans can’t help but ask: Where has he been all this time?
Is it duty keeping him away? Personal battles he hasn’t shared? Or something deeper that the family refuses to talk about? His absence hangs over every episode, and the mystery around Sam is only getting harder to ignore. Gabriel works at Matt's shop. Gabe and Sam go way back. They're best friends from years ago. When Sam shows up, how's that friendship going to look? Will it be awkward? Will it mess with the garage vibe?
Why Luke Macfarlane is perfect for the role
The actor brings solid experience to Season 2 of Shifting Gears. You may know Luke Macfarlane from Platonic, available on Apple TV with Rose Byrne and Seth Rogen. He also did the movie Bros. Plus those Hallmark movies people love. The guy handles comedy and drama equally well.
Playing this part won't be easy. Coming back to family after being gone for years? There's baggage. Old arguments are never resolved. Hurt feelings nobody discussed. He has shown that he can do emotional work while making people laugh. That's what this part needs.
What Sam's arrival means for the show
Bringing in Sam Parker is going to shake things up. Matt and Riley spent time getting their relationship back on track. They're doing better now. But when family shows up? Old stuff resurfaces. Arguments from years ago suddenly matter. Sam coming home might rip open wounds they thought were healed. How's Matt going to handle seeing his son?
Then there's the kids. Sam's meeting with Georgia and Carter is finally. He hasn't been around for their lives much. Now he gets to be their uncle. What advice will he give them? How will they react when they learn their uncle served in the Navy? Those storylines could be really interesting for Shifting Gears season 2.
When will Sam Parker appear?
Luke Macfarlane won't show up right away on Shifting Gears season 2. The show's taking a break after episode eight airs on December 10. After that break? Sam makes his entrance into the Parker household. We're talking early 2026 here. ABC hasn't said which specific episode yet. Fans have to wait a bit longer.
But that wait might actually work out well for the show. The writers can drop more hints about his arrival. Other characters might talk about reaching out to him soon. All that buildup makes the payoff much bigger when Sam finally walks through the door.
The Impact on other characters
Sam's not just affecting the Parkers. Gabriel works at Matt's shop. He's supposed to be Sam's best friend. Those two reuniting will mean something. Stitch works there, too. He'll have opinions about the Navy guy showing up. The garage scenes could get funny as everyone adjusts to the changes.
Then you've got Eve, too. She's Matt's new love interest. Meeting your boyfriend's son for the first time? Always awkward. Especially when that son has been absent for years, and there's probably drama she doesn't know about yet. Her outsider view might bring interesting moments. There are lots of directions the writers can go with this new character in the mix.
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Shifting Gears season 2 just got more interesting with Luke Macfarlane playing Sam Parker in the Parker family story.
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