Shameless - "Facts Cannot Be Racist" Review

“Fi, I don’t have time to call you every time Frank has a bad idea.” -Kev

Shameless fully delivered tonight! Just a great episode with heart, drama, laughs, suspense, and moments of anguish. If we’re to acknowledge the main plot line for Shameless being the Gallagher’s survival, then we got great subplots tonight for all the characters we care about. Lip’s cheating scandal, Fiona, figuring out Carl’s behavior problem, the shoplifting at Cash’s store, Frank owing money to two crooks, and Sheila’s behavioral disorder. This seems like a lot to pack all into one episode, but they weaved each story line in seamlessly with each other. This creates a real world and culture for the viewer to experience. If we can place ourselves in the world of the characters we can begin to empathize with them more.

Further, all of the subplots served as support for determining the outcome of the biggest question on Shameless: will the Gallaghers look to better themselves. With Lip we saw just how brilliant he is. An investigator from the University of Chicago caught on to his schemes and essentially offered him a scholarship to UC. I wonder if Lip had every really thought about actually going to college and to where it might take him. Liam stuck up to the shop lifting bully for Cash. We’re starting to see him become more comfortable with who he is. It’s only a matter of time before he comes out to his whole family. The entire family bonded over trying to help Carl get over his behavioral issues. The Gallaghers may not be a lot of things, but they are definitely family-centric. It was really good to see all of them come together in support. And by “all of them,” I mean everybody but Frank.

I vacillate constantly on what I think of Frank and what he adds to the show, but after tonight I fully appreciate his place in the show. He almost gives the kids a great bad role model. They see him be a father, but they also see him make terrible decision after decision and I think it serves as a warning to the kids. I also enjoy his rants on the state of affairs. His one tonight about “wussification” of the kids thanks largely to school systems trying to feminize all of the boys was particularly hilarious. The scene near the end when the whole family is walking out of Carl’s parent conference and they walk into Frank and Karen will showed the polarization of the Gallagher family. The kids stand united in their quest to not become Frank all while Frank pursues selfish desires under the guise selflessness.

Tony was not in this episode and it seems like Fiona is going to go with Steve. Before I would have thought that this means Fiona isn’t looking to improve her situation and she’s only looking for fun and excitement, but after tonight’s episode it looks like Steve can add stability as well as excitement. The funny way they showed Steve’s loyalty and use to the Gallaghers was by him essentially paying off a principal with weed. The Gallagher’s have a different way of doing things. They don’ see the world we all do. If giving the principal a teacher discount on weed to keep one of there brothers from being turned over to social services is wrong, then they don’t want to be right.

Other thoughts:
-Hooray for a Robert Knepper sighting! One of the best character actors ever, specializing in playing sleazy scumbags. You may remember him from Prison Break where he played T-Bag.

-I was sad that Veronica was trimmed from this episode. I really do like her and Kev together.

-Shameless does a good job with all their supporting characters. Even if they don’t have a lot of screen time, we still no exactly who every one is. This was especially evidenced by Kash’s wife. She really shone tonight.