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"Shameless" Highlights - "Hope Springs Paternal"
| Posted on March 11, 2014 at 11:45 PM |
By Farid-ul-Haq
There was no “Shameless” last week and I can't even begin to explain how I managed. Anyway, the Gallaghers came back this week and it was an awesome episode.
Lip and Fiona
The tension between the siblings has been a focus throughout the season. Fiona is trying to make up for what she did to Liam the best she can. However, her best just doesn't cut it when she lets the food burn after sharing some drinks with Veronica. Fiona and Lip get into a fight...again, and he leaves with Carl and Liam. I enjoyed Fiona break down after that. I really think Fiona needs to help herself straighten things out because no one is going to do it for her. In the end, Fiona and Lip come to an understanding but based on what I’ve read you can expect more hardships for Fiona before the season finale.
Frank and Sammi
It seems Samantha's bad side is finally showing. In order to get some money (she says she needs it for Frank's operation), she hatches a plan that involves putting Sheila's house up for sale. First the father-daughter duo move in, and then they start collecting money from interested parties. I don't know how long this con will continue. I was half expecting Shelia to show up in the episode. But then again it wouldn’t do any good because she isn't a character who will report Frank and Sammi to the police.
Ian and Mickey
I was glad to see Ian return to the series, but the Ian I am seeing isn't the Ian I know. What has happened to him? I want the old Ian back. The new Ian manipulated Mickey to go down on him, and I couldn't believe Mickey agreed. I want Mickey to stand up for himself and knock some sense into Ian. Yes, Mickey was able to be openly gay in front of other people, but I couldn't help but feel he was being himself in front of an Ian we aren't familiar with.
There are only four more episodes left. Fiona needs to provide for her family again, and her siblings should cut her some slack. I can't get over the fact Debbie doesn't remember all Fiona has done for them and is comfortable ignoring her. (The same goes for Carl.) She also needs to stop obsessing over losing her virginity.
What did you think of this week's episode?
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9 Comments
Ulysses Dietz says...
I'm not sure I feel any sympathy for MIckey--yet. I love how they've made him a more interesting, less awful person (without really doing much, so it's very clever). His real love for Ian is shown both in the passionate public (first public?) kiss; and also in his willingness to offer a BJ. Previously his love for Ian has been totally repressed and denied - crap, he married a Russian whore he doesn't even like much less love. Oh, it is a new Ian - one whose romantic view of the army as a place of safety and order has been shattered; but who also realizes that his treatment by Mickey has been horrible and abusive from the beginning (poor MIckey, whose own home life is like a Dickensian nightmare only WORSE). Mickey has always had the power in that relationship, and the new, damaged, in-denial Ian is using his own cynical outlook to give Mickey a taste of his own medicine. I see promise with these two, and a balance. But, it's Shameless, so who knows?
I absolutely agree with you, Ulysses (hello to you, by the way!) except for the fact that I have already warmed up to Mickey. It's amazing how a completely negative surrounding can completely warp a person, but I think that both Mandy and he have swam to the surface of their sh*thole and hopefully they'll soon reach the shore. Cheers.
I'm not sure I feel any sympathy for MIckey--yet. I love how they've made him a more interesting, less awful person (without really doing much, so it's very clever). His real love for Ian is shown both in the passionate public (first public?) kiss; and also in his willingness to offer a BJ. Previously his love for Ian has been totally repressed and denied - crap, he married a Russian whore he doesn't even like much less love. Oh, it is a new Ian - one whose romantic view of the army as a place of safety and order has been shattered; but who also realizes that his treatment by Mickey has been horrible and abusive from the beginning (poor MIckey, whose own home life is like a Dickensian nightmare only WORSE). Mickey has always had the power in that relationship, and the new, damaged, in-denial Ian is using his own cynical outlook to give Mickey a taste of his own medicine. I see promise with these two, and a balance. But, it's Shameless, so who knows?
It's remarkable that all the characters in "Shameless" have significant character arcs. The same applies to Mickey and Ian. Mickey's arc is more obvious (and somehow touching): the scared, violent, primitive being is gradually becoming a man conscious of his true feelings and of his gay identity. With Ian, it's a bit more tricky: the fact that both actor and character were underage when he was presented as gay to the audience, caused the showrunners (imo) to tread carefully. We saw Ian doing things and being comfortable with it, but we didn't see enough motivation. Although there were moments. With Kash, it was when he was taken to Kash's bedroom, saw the family photos and refused to have sex. With Jimmy/Steve's father, it was the moment he realized that he was playing the "respectable straight family man game". Ian was a teenager, who was honest enough to come out to his family, so it's only natural that the hypocrisy of others bothered him so. In short, he may have been a "user" with his older lovers, but I believe it was mostly out of indignation and lack of respect rather than out of opportunism. The situation with Mickey was more complicated: he was in love and wanted to live his love out in the open. He detested Mickey for not having the courage to do it, but on the other hand he fully understood (having witnessed the father's reaction) that for Mickey, a coming out would be life-threatening. I think it's this dichotomy that drove him away in the first place.
I'm a huge Ian fan. I welcome contrary evidence but I can't recall any sign of romance from Ian even going back to his Kash days - hence my "user" designation. It doesn't help that he seems to be taunting his men, admittedly because they all seem to be in the closet to varying degrees. It would be nice to have more Ian screen-time to get to know what happened in the Army, his motivations, his plans for the future.
I'm not as negative about Mickey as some of the comments at TBL - he's a reminder that gays come in different sizes, ages, economic backgrounds, and interests. He's not nearly as sympathetic as the UK Shameless Mickey but is a refreshing change from the squeaky clean gays that seem safe for network TV.
I'm not as negative about Mickey as some of the comments at TBL - he's a reminder that gays come in different sizes, ages, economic backgrounds, and interests. He's not nearly as sympathetic as the UK Shameless Mickey but is a refreshing change from the squeaky clean gays that seem safe for network TV.
TempestRaven says...
There is some talk about Ian suffering from bipolar disorder like his mother, but i'm not into yet, the symptoms don't quite match...you are right, something must have happened with Ian at the Army...however, if this is the shows way to create sympathy for Mickey's character and they plan to cut off Ian completely, i don't think the show will work well with no Ian at all
Your quite right, of course. I think all of the Gallagher children are indispensable (I wouldn't mind Frank leaving us, though). Especially, in Ian's case, taking him off "Shameless" would definitely affect the gay audience of the show, which I surmise is not small. Once more, thanks for your recaps!
Yiannis says...
Hi Hue-Man, always read and respect your comments! I'd like to think that Ian's erratic behavior originated from his love-hurt, was aggravated by the Army's rigid discipline, (the Gallaghers and discipline definitely don't mix) and then shaped by the go-go boy life-style (booze, party, drugs, etc). The fact that he was living in that derelict house for a period (when Lip and Debs were looking for him), gives us a hint that he's been through much more sh*t than meets the eye. In short, I don't see Ian as a user. He is punishing Mickey, but I think that's a prerequisite in order to be able to fully love him again. Unless the showrunners want to remove Ian off the show altogether and make Mickey our favorite gay character. That could explain why they're deconstructing Ian's excellent image and are building up sympathy for Mickey. Of course, of the two versions, I seriously want the first to happen. "Shameless" will be a lesser show without Ian.
There is some talk about Ian suffering from bipolar disorder like his mother, but i'm not into yet, the symptoms don't quite match...you are right, something must have happened with Ian at the Army...however, if this is the shows way to create sympathy for Mickey's character and they plan to cut off Ian completely, i don't think the show will work well with no Ian at all
Hue-Man says...
"What has happened to him? I want the old Ian back."
We've all seen friends/family members go off the rails, often with no obvious causes. Logic, ultimatums, threats, nothing seems effective - Fiona's disastrous choices are of the same thread. I speculate that something truly horrific happened to "Carrot Boy" during Basic Training - we've been given no hints of another cause.
I especially liked the two gay worlds colliding - well-educated, wealthy urban gays meet Mickey. It's a contrast with Ian whose relationship with Jimmy/Steve's Dad (Harry Hamlin) has given him the skills to thrive in both worlds. I have a hard time seeing Ian settling for Mickey with the result that a lovelorn Mickey becomes a bitter closet case. I may be too harsh but I see Ian as the user here, in typical Gallagher fashion, with little affection for Mickey. Is this the new reality Ian?
Hi Hue-Man, always read and respect your comments! I'd like to think that Ian's erratic behavior originated from his love-hurt, was aggravated by the Army's rigid discipline, (the Gallaghers and discipline definitely don't mix) and then shaped by the go-go boy life-style (booze, party, drugs, etc). The fact that he was living in that derelict house for a period (when Lip and Debs were looking for him), gives us a hint that he's been through much more sh*t than meets the eye. In short, I don't see Ian as a user. He is punishing Mickey, but I think that's a prerequisite in order to be able to fully love him again. Unless the showrunners want to remove Ian off the show altogether and make Mickey our favorite gay character. That could explain why they're deconstructing Ian's excellent image and are building up sympathy for Mickey. Of course, of the two versions, I seriously want the first to happen. "Shameless" will be a lesser show without Ian.
"What has happened to him? I want the old Ian back."
We've all seen friends/family members go off the rails, often with no obvious causes. Logic, ultimatums, threats, nothing seems effective - Fiona's disastrous choices are of the same thread. I speculate that something truly horrific happened to "Carrot Boy" during Basic Training - we've been given no hints of another cause.
I especially liked the two gay worlds colliding - well-educated, wealthy urban gays meet Mickey. It's a contrast with Ian whose relationship with Jimmy/Steve's Dad (Harry Hamlin) has given him the skills to thrive in both worlds. I have a hard time seeing Ian settling for Mickey with the result that a lovelorn Mickey becomes a bitter closet case. I may be too harsh but I see Ian as the user here, in typical Gallagher fashion, with little affection for Mickey. Is this the new reality Ian?
We've all seen friends/family members go off the rails, often with no obvious causes. Logic, ultimatums, threats, nothing seems effective - Fiona's disastrous choices are of the same thread. I speculate that something truly horrific happened to "Carrot Boy" during Basic Training - we've been given no hints of another cause.
I especially liked the two gay worlds colliding - well-educated, wealthy urban gays meet Mickey. It's a contrast with Ian whose relationship with Jimmy/Steve's Dad (Harry Hamlin) has given him the skills to thrive in both worlds. I have a hard time seeing Ian settling for Mickey with the result that a lovelorn Mickey becomes a bitter closet case. I may be too harsh but I see Ian as the user here, in typical Gallagher fashion, with little affection for Mickey. Is this the new reality Ian?
After last week's very bleak episode, where most of the main characters precariously walked on the edge of the cliff, this last episode was the ray of light we needed right now. Mickey is so grateful to have Ian back, that he would do much more than give BJs upon request. Plus, he knows that he's the reason that Ian left and consequently had this unpleasant transformation and he feels guilty about it, so... Their kiss in the gay bar was the best. I think both Mickey and Lip are aware of the need to stage an intervention for Ian and they probably will, soon. Concerning Lip, I liked it that he forgave Fiona. Family works better united, even if members occasionally slip up. Debbie has taken control of her relationship with the older boy - and that's good. She won't do anything stupid, at least I hope not. I don't think Samantha has evil in her mind, she's just trying to get paternal love and become a Gallagher and she's chosen an obvious way to do it. Things are going well in general, but then again, this is "Shameless", so it's absolutely possible that in an episode or two, things will turn completely around...
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