Original Air Date: Dec 20, 2020
In a rush to get out of the house, Debbie loses track of Franny and has to balance her search for Franny with her handy-woman jobs. Meanwhile, Frank and Franny have a day of weed runs and adventure. Ian and Mickey question who is the “man” in their relationship. A delighted Carl gets a new Training Officer who loves to kick ass. When Brad and Cami learn about their newborn baby’s health complications, Lip and Tami step in to help. Kev’s newfound money and lack of modesty prove to be trouble.
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I liked this episode way more than I thought I was going to. Aside from the extremely cringy sex talk and all of Carl’s scenes, I actually enjoyed most of it, even if it was a little boring at some parts.
I loved Mickeys scenes at the alibi, loved V going off on Ian and Mickey, loved frank and Franny, and loved how Lip is finally being given dramatic scenes again. This was the best storyline Frank has had in such a long time, and it seems like they were hinting at him dying or something being wrong with him
Counselor V is my favorite.
a positive comment on this subreddit?! almost unheard of lol
I've been rewatching the series and reading through all the archived episode discussion threads, just got to this episode today and christ, I've never seen SO much negativity for a show. EVERY. SINGLE. EPISODE. people are bitching about whoever is getting screentime. Lots of familiar names too making the same negative comments week after week. I don't get why some of these people even bother watching anymore.
Frank having dementia is definitely a storyline I can get behind
Yeah, I totally caught that in the episode, first with him confusing Debbie and Fiona, and then later he couldn't remember where he was heading. It was different from other times when he was just high...something felt really off about him. Also when he was getting that tattoo with Franny and was talking about his dad making him put on a dress, I felt kind of bad for him in that scene. I think that was the first time he ever mentioned his father, and we all know how his mother treated him.
I think this can be a really interesting storyline if they have Frank lose track of his reality and be forced to remember all the things he did to his kids in the past. When Debbie told him off about him not caring where his kids were growing up, you could tell he got upset. And at the Alibi, Vee telling him that his kids resent him because he wasn't a good dad to them. He looked like he was actually contemplating his past.
Frank has mentioned his dad before it’s just been a long time since he has talked about him. Frank has continually mixed up his kids he was calling Debbie Ian last season. I am rally curious were they are going to go with this storyline and I hope it does not get dropped and forgotten about by next episode.
I don't think it will be dropped. They made it way too apparent this past episode. There were like four or five separate incidents that put his fading memory in the spotlight.
Just for shits and gigs, does anyone else remember when they were totally about to give Ian AIDS, or at least start a storyline where he had an AIDS scare, but then never mentioned it again? Lol
I do remember that storyline. It’s seriously amazing he does not have it’s a true miracle because If this was real like he would totally have it.
he also said ‘aunt kev and uncle vee’ if anyone else caught that
yes! My husband caught it and backed up to double check that that's what he said.
u/bbneebadahee this occurred as Frank and Frannie were about to enter the dry cleaner if I recall correctly.
He mentioned his father in season 5 I believe when he was having liver issues. He said that when his mother was caught sleeping with another man and his father was released from prison early & caught them, he got in all the trouble for her affair and father beat him for not “keeping her in line.”
I saw someone else mention that this was going to be a storyline a month or so ago, I always wonder how people figure these things out before airtime!
I know it's only three episodes but they are using Frank SO well this season, in a way that's been neglected since probably season 7. His storylines have honestly been my favourite bits of the last two episodes.
The interactions with the other characters, the classic Frank blustering but misplaced intelligence, a bit of pathos and surprising messed up sweetness and the hint of something tragic to come. This is what they should have been doing with him all along instead of those stupid 'comedy' capers with one dimensional side characters, which were a total waste of William H Macy.
This is probably my favorite use of Frank since that great Bianca story in S5.
I agree 100%. I stopped enjoying Frank's presence a long time ago because he just became an over-the-top caricature of who he was in the early seasons, but I've really been enjoying how they've been using him so far this season. I actually felt bad for him in this episode, and I can't remember the last time I felt genuinely bad for him - maybe when Monica died. Like you said, they wasted WHM's talent for years. I'm all for a dementia storyline if that's where it's headed because I know WHM will portray it well.
I agree 100%. I fully believe that Fiona's stories and Emmy's good acting really pulled focus from the fact that this was his show for many many years. I wanted to see more of this Frank last season. But I am glad were getting it now. This season has the potential to redeem the show for the crap that was dealt to us after season 7.
In the end they will somehow manage to make us feel bad for Frank!!
I constantly catch myself liking Frank, and then I think abt it objectively and realize I just pity the asshole.
It’s always the episodes where we he spends some one on one time with one of the kids. We see them getting along and can tell that Frank cares in his own way but is just such a selfish toxic person himself that he can’t properly love and support them.
Honestly despite not being really sad this episode made me bawl my eyes out cause I could see where they were going
Frank's been dead to me since he called Child Services...on his own kids...the same kids that he neglected. But yes, the dementia story line for him will be interesting.
AH I FORGOT ABT THAT! THAT WAS SO FUCKED UP. Also let's not forget he nearly abandoned Franny at a random middle school.
This storyline is breaking my heart. I know it just started but I’ve watched so much tv lately where dementia/Alzheimer’s was a key plot point. Also, not to mention that my Granny-in-law just died Saturday from Alzheimer’s/Covid.
It’s hard to see Frank like this and it’s just beginning. I know he’s been an ass of a character over the years but watching him go out like this is going to be HARD! He’s been invincible throughout this entire series, NOTHING has been able to take him down. But this will and it’s going to be a hard thing to watch.
Someone finally calling out Debbie for being an entitled asshole was so great. Literally left her child expecting someone to cover for her and gets mad when the only person who does is frank.
Also with the stealing food from her client and thinking it’s fine because only she has problems. When will she realize she isn’t the center of the universe.
Really hopes she sees the light this season. She is a terrible person who has convinced themselves that they are good. At least frank knows he’s an asshole.
It was honestly refreshing just to see Lip yelling at someone in general! And a new kind of satisfying feeling for that person to be Debbie, finally lol. I feel like this episode brought back hints of the intensity and emotion that made me love Shameless in the beginning, it’s my favorite this season so far.
Absolutely agree. I won't try to defend these past few seasons; I know the show peaked, depending on who you ask, somewhere around season 5, but I've found something to enjoy in all of them. But these few episodes we've gotten this season have really felt like the initial seasons, in my opinion.
And Lip yelling at Debbie was unbelievably fucking cathartic. She's like...Joffrey level entitled. It was awesome seeing someone finally stick a pin in the overinflated balloon that is her ego. She had the most promise of any character when the show began, and I understand subverting expectations, but they really turned into a character who is just legitimately insufferable.
loved the Joffrey comparison lol. I've seen a lot of foreshadowing and scenes that depict Debby as the new Fiona, at least in her own way. But Fiona juggled taking care of all the kids, working(multiple jobs at times), and still having a social life. Debby has one job and one kid that she has responsibility for and creates the issue herself. If they were trying to portray that Debby would follow in Fiona's footsteps by being the most helpful(ish) and reliable(ish) why would they create this plotline that it's too much for her to handle? After all, they literally replaced Fiona with Debby in the opening credits. I don't know what the writers are trying to push here.
She has done this before apparently because Liam mentioned he usually ends up taking Franny. It sounded like he was tired of it. I don’t think she will be doing it anymore.
He definitely was tired of it. He was the one who texted “leave me alone Debbie”
I think Liam knew Franny was not going to make it to school so I think he did that to teach them all a lesson.
He probably also figured she’d be fine since he’s the youngest and had the most recent experience as a child left in Frank’s care.
Liam is doing exactly what EVERYONE did to him for years including debbie as the next oldest from him lol.
I've been rewatching the series and just got to the seasons with Debbie's pregnancy and Fiona telling her she wouldn't lift a finger to help. Debbie responds that she wouldn't want her help, and that she wouldn't let her near her kid. It was some nice juxtaposition, to see Fiona's fears of someone else having to raise Debbie's kid come true.
I really hope that's where the series is going with her, it kind of seems like that's the set up,. right? -Surprisingly Sandy seems to be the voice of reason in their relationship so maybe she'll be a good influence.
That fucking look that Sandy gave Lip though, like what the fuck, just thought that was awkward...
I’m usually pretty forgiving of Debbie but she was an absolute unbearable asshole this episode.
Yes! When LIp called her out I was cheering! Fuck Debbie. And the way she spoke to Liam! Fuck that
This episode hit cuz i could totally tell where Lip was coming from. My cousin used to do that shit where she would just leave and pawn her kid off to whoever. Mostly to my aunt or her mother in law. She tried doing it to my mom once when she came over and my mom cut that shit at the root and stopped her at the door saying "woah, aren't you forgetting something???" and my cousin played it off as "yeah, I was gonna take him with me already" but we all knew what she was doing. Still does it with other people but she's more responsible around my mom cuz my mom don't play those games lol
I feel so bad for frank :( I know he's been a piece of shit the entire show but you can really tell he loves franny. And he's starting to lose his mind too, very sad
For real. He's a cool grandpa now and I don't want anything bad to happen to him.
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My MIL is a wonderful grandmother to my nephew, but from what I can tell, she was an overly harsh parent to my husband and SIL. She’s way better now (I’ve only ever known her as a relatively chill woman). People can definitely change as they get older, especially when they no longer need to parent their child. Granted, Frank never actually did the parenting thing.
I assume this season is 12 episodes and we’re no closer to a “Lip is actually really smart and was going to be an engineer” storyline. Maybe once brad sells born free, Lip will run into an old college friend and magically get a job in a lab or something... one can only hope
I think it's possible Lip might buy into Born Free somehow and be partners with Brad, which I actually like for him.
I honestly don’t mind Lip ending up at born free and not going back to college. College was an extremely toxic environment for him, and he’s way happier now than he was back then. Plus working with brad is good for his sobriety.
Also, people seem to forget that every time he spoke about the work he wanted to do he always said "practical stuff, mechanical stuff". He was taking engineering, he stole machinery from a lab, he build robots... I think a bike shop makes loads of sense, specially since college was that awful for him (people seem to forget that it was the literal spark to his alcoholism)
Yeah when he was putting up the nightlight in Fred’s room (which was sweet) I immediately thought “man this is not where 18 year old Lip saw himself ending up.” He’s turned into a good dad and a supportive partner and kicked his bad habits, but there’s not a hint of his original character left and it’s really kind of a waste. He was such a ballsy, rebellious, genius go-getter and I get that the writers are just trying to play it off as that he’s grown up but really his best qualities are totally gone imo.
I mean it's very realistic. Theres a lot of smart kids out there but life circumstances or apathy kick in and they just kinda settle in life. You have to really have the drive to do something with intelligence, and while Lip is really smart, he never really was enthusiastic about leaving his neighborhood.
they made it realistic by toning back how smart he was too. I think it is reflective of real life. He felt like Will Hunting in the early seasons, only to find out he was not much smarter than the average college student thanks to his awful habits.
its what happens in real life. you can take the kid out of the hood, not the hood out of the kid
What he was coming up with new math theorems and shit as an ug. Yeah they got rid of him being the best at everything but still kept the boy genius part.
I don’t think we are any closer to lip being a genius considering Tami had to correct him when he told Fred the wrong name and mispronounced Cassiopeia
You can be a genius and not know everything or pronounce things correctly. In general, Lip did have an amazing memory in the early seasons, but what made him smart was his ability to problem solve; that was the point of Ian’s story at Lip’s hearing. I don’t mind him getting things wrong every now and then.
soooo are we now just supposed to pretend the whole kermit and tommy thing in the first episode never happened?? they made a big deal out of it in the second episode, and now in this one they're back to sitting next to eachother in the alibi. don't get me wrong, i hate this storyline and i have no interest in it, just like most people, but damn they are so bad with continuity in this show....
In episode 2, when they're sitting far away from each other Frank says "Why don't you two just kiss and make up?"
If the whole Kermit-Tommy thing was just build up for that joke, I'm not mad about it.
That's where I'm at with it. I won't be disappointed if they don't go any further into it. Let it be a throwaway. Not everything needs to lead into new, full fleshed out storylines.
It's stuff like Ian hinting that he might have AIDS and them never going back to it that I count as truly dropped storylines.
I really thought they would have said something when Ian and Mickey were fighting. Like "Every couple has fights, but you gotta work through them. Look at us" and then realized they slipped up
Carl: I just made my first arrest!
Everyone cheering: Congratulations!
Mickey: Fuck you cop.
This was the best 👌😂
The Jonas Brothers song coming on after the Ian and Mickey bit really made me laugh I gotta say
It bothered me for some reason that Ian refused to switch positions for his husband when he had already done that with he who should not be named.
I think he was just caught off guard. He was fine with bottoming by the end of the episode in the post credits scene.
I think it had a lot more to do with the “bitch” framing. Ian is clearly feeling pretty insecure about the money situation and he was struggling with that the whole episode. In fact it’s been sort of festering since last week.
ian offered to do it in the car during 7x11 for mickey but mickey didn't want to top unless he was in prison but to be fair you need to do a lot of prep for that and also ask ahead of time plus maybe the previous experience made him realize he hated it and he's used to being the top when it comes to him and mickey but he likes switching postitions now but only with mickey
Ehhh, sorry but no. If you don't normally bottom you can't just stick it in at any time. It's painful if you're not used to it, and that was a very intimate moment between Ian and Trevor that they discussed for a long time beforehand. Just because he did something with one partner in the past doesn't mean that he wants his husband to suddenly spring something on him without discussing it first.
Don't forget ian said no several times during that arc for days before being eventually manipulated and worn down and had to be high in order to do it 🤮🤮 meanwhile ian was ready to bottom for mickey later that same night
He offered it to Mickey when they got back together a few seasons ago. Says he could bottom and Mickey said if he wanted to fuck a dude, he woulda stayed in prison.
People can consent or not consent to sex acts at any time, even in the middle of sex and even if they've done it before with their current partner or someone else.
It was maybe more about the surprise and Mickey calling him his bitch that he didn't like, the end credits suggest that a more sincere approach from Mickey resulted in a yes from Ian....
Fuck dude this shit is actually making me emotional. I really hope frank makes it out of this season alive. He’s a terrible father but a cool grandfather. I think he’s now at the point where he may actually change... a bit late but better than never.
Also I love when lip has a go at people, always says the truth and Debbie really needed to hear that. She is a bad mother, she thinks the world revolves around her. She needs to hear that before something dangerous could actually happen.
Damn it I love frank.
Tami: “are you telling me the Gallagher’s can’t do anything here???” Um - no, call your own family then call Brad’s family. Why the fuck would a 20 year old single mom sell her work truck to help the child of her brother’s baby mama’s sister? Reaching far there Tami. Brad & Cami have a house & bike shop as collateral, In addition to family money. Shame on you Tami for asking the Gallagher’s. Have some damn pride. The “could have been Fred” line was garbage. Gallagher’s would have reacted differently to one of their own. Whole point of the series. They couldn’t get at least 65k from grammy’s free house season 10??? BS
Seriously man that scene was just shit, poorly acted and why the fuck would anybody care about a background characters kid that we've barely met or seen on screen before.
These writers are pathetic.
lol and they didn’t even bother to name the kid, it was just “the baby” omfg
Unborn baby I thought?
It was annoying me cuz we don’t ever see the kid and cami always popping out babies
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It would have played out better if she mentioned selling her shiny cute red car before asking about Debbie’s truck. Shoddy writing.
Good point wtf? She has her own car to sell
also who has a 65k co pay that's due up front? medical bills can ruin you but it takes a long time
Nobody the writers don't know what a copay is.
Seriously. I sold insurance for years and some of the stuff they were saying was ridiculous. Not a copay and not coinsurance. They have insurance and there isn’t a plan on this planet that has a deductible that high.