This week’s episode of Shameless reminds its audience how absolutely crazy this show can be. The episode itself was a bit predictable, but it was a nice transition into what I anticipate to be the major conflict this season: Jimmy/Steve is back.
Let’s start with Frank. William H. Macy recently won a SAG award for his performance of Frank, and it’s because he’s so convincing. I think if I ever saw Macy in the street I would be perplexed as to whether I should compliment him or scold him for his actions. Nevertheless, Frank never stops. He shows up at David’s parents house (the people’s whose son donated his liver to Frank), and I cannot believe how weird this situation has become. Well, yes I can, because it’s Frank. He starts messing with the father in order to stay at their house, wearing David’s clothes and sitting in David’s seat, and this father is completely fixated on the entire thing.
The mom is so uncomfortable with it (and she should be), but then Frank does that weird thing where he attracts women to him even though he’s got to smell horrible (right? he practically lives at the Alibi). They sleep together (thanks to the director and screenwriters for saving us from seeing that), and it brings up my favorite conversation of the episode. Sammy runs into their house to attack Frank with a knife, and the father stops her before she can hurt him, saying, “I did it this time! I saved David!” His wife responds, telling him “He’s not our son!” and when he continues to insists that Frank is indeed their son, she tells him that, well, then she just slept with their son. The husband is obviously confused. I wonder if we’ll see much of this family after such a dramatic reveal and a knife fight in their kitchen.
This episode finally allowed us to see more of V and Kev, but it still wasn’t enough for me. V insists that because she cheated on Kev he has to go cheat on her so they can be even. She makes the caveat that he can’t actually sleep with anyone, but he can fool around. Kev makes his first mistake in agreeing to do it and then actually follows through with it. Kev initially goes to a park (oh no Kev) to flirt with other moms. This really stuck out to me that he really wants V to care about their daughters as much as he does. He gets maced in the face, and it was great! Then he goes to a bar and meets a single mother with a three year old. She’s so into him, and he has to stop her because he’s obviously into her as well. He tells her the deal and she’s okay with it.
When Kev goes home and tells V he went through with it, they really get into a fight. Kev makkes some great points in this argument. He asks her what she thought their relationship would be like after they had kids and V responds with “The same, you and I and two other people around the house.” The babies start crying and V gives Kev an ultimatum: “If you go upstairs, when you come back down, I won’t be here.” I’m so worried for their relationship, but I don’t think that either should have to compromise. This is so difficult because I love both of them equally, but someone will eventually have to give something up if they are to continue to be together.
We also got more screen time for Mickey and Ian. I have to say, I love Mickey and Ian, but only when Ian is taking care of himself. I hate seeing Mickey so upset and unsure what to do. They’re low on money because Mickey has a wanted poster out for him, so Ian goes back to the club to dance for money. What a horrible idea. Earlier in the episode Mickey even tries to talk to Ian about getting help, but Ian wants nothing to do with it. He then goes to Lip and asks about the doctor. (I can’t believe Lip is still going back to school despite Ian’s condition.) Ian comes home and causally tells Mickey he shot an adult film and got them $600. Mickey is obviously upset and tells Ian he has to pack his things so he can get to a hospital. Ian pretends to get a shower but steals the baby instead and drives away. I’m still nervous about Ian but at least something actually happened with him this week.
The most important thing that happened with Lip this episode was when he realized he’s grown out of the South Side. He’s not cut out for it anymore and he actually has something to lose now. At the end of the episode, he makes the decision to go back to school early to help with freshman orientation. Fi and Lip have a nice moment where they both feel like real adults; they even call Carl and Debbie ‘the kids.’ Lip is the first one of Fi’s family to find out that she’s married, and Lip is really supportive. I love their relationship, and I’m sad that Lip’s decision will separate them. Whenever Lip and Fiona have a moment like this I hope that they really can improve their lives and maybe get out of their neighborhood.
Jackie ODs right before her custody hearing for her daughter, and Fiona and her boss find her in her apartment with the needle still in her arm. The scene was really powerful, especially when her boss began to cry. He tells Fi how his five-year-old son found him in a similar state, and he never wanted to scare his son like that again. Fiona remarks that Jackie had been clean for six months, but he tells her that it doesn’t matter, that he wanted to stick the needle in his arm right then. I feel like this is an honest portrayal of addiction. It might give Fi some insight into her parent’s addiction and how it transfers over to her. Jackie’s going to be okay, thank goodness. I’m interested to see how Fi interacts with Jackie if and when she returns to the diner.
Gus leaves Fiona flowers and wine at her house. He meets her at work, and they discuss how freaked out they are about being married. They’re still cute, and they seem okay. That’s when Jimmy/Steve shows up acting like he still matters to her. He doesn’t! I was so happy to see him go two seasons ago, and I’d like him to leave just as quickly. This will be the major conflict this season; will Fi stay with Gus or will she go back to Jimmy/Steve? Personally, I think the love triangle is old news. and I couldn’t care less about what Jimmy/Steve has to say.
Some funny lines from this episode:
– “So an entrepreneur can’t start a goddamn business in this neighborhood.” —Mickey
– “Do you have children? Then shut up.” – V to Lip.
– “He’s very patriotic.” – Kev
– “It’s a Gallagher rite of passage.” – Debbie to Sammy about Frank.
[Photo via Showtime]
Follow Us
