Shameless Review: This is Chicago! (Season 11 Episode 1)

The pandemic is still running strong in Chicago’s South Side on Shameless Season 11 Episode 1, “This is Chicago!” And the Gallaghers are up to their usual tricks to survive.

If I am being completely honest, the premiere of the final season gives me the same vibes I got when watching the pilot all those years ago. Everything from a Frank voiceover down to the “kids” all pulling their own separate scams gives us that old school Shameless vibe that made us fall in love with the show to begin with.

Frank: This is my Chicago, the Chicago that I love. Lip’s got a baby now. Debbie’s got a kid and a rap sheet. Carl’s gonna be a cop. Didn’t see that coming. Ian’s married to a Milkovich. Really didn’t see that coming. Family looking after family. That’s the South Side way. That’s the Gallagher way. Yeah, this is our Chicago. It’s disappearing fast. But before it’s gone, we’re gonna enjoy every f**king minute of it.

One of the best elements of “This is Chicago!” is the way the writers paralleled Lip and Ian’s relationships. It really drives home just how close these two have always been and how much Ian looks up to his big brother. 

While Ian is married and Lip is not, they are both in stable relationships where they share their whole lives with someone they deeply care about. Lip may not be married to Tami, but for all intents and purposes, he may as well be — as Ian so aptly points out.

The two brothers are having similar issues with their significant other regarding money. For Lip, it’s a matter of lying to Tami in order to make her believe he’s spending way much more money than he really is on “designer things.” Ian, meanwhile, has to deal with Mickey spending money and not contributing any.

These struggles are perfect for the show to cover because the Gallaghers have always managed to find a way with or without money and during the current climate, that struggle is even more extreme. Money is always an important discussion to have when you are in a relationship, and while Lip tells Ian he should’ve had that discussion, he also needs to take a look at his own situation and reevaluate.

Lip needs to realize that he may harp on Ian for not discussing money with Mickey before they tied the knot, but he can’t expect Ian to not do the same to him about Tami. After all, Lip is just letting Tami make all financial decisions without even talking it through — with the exception of him fudging the truth a bit.

This is going to end up blowing up in his face and create a major conflict between him and Tami — again. This couple is great for each other, but there have always been the looming economic differences over their heads. 

Tami never worries about money because her parents always had a stable income and her father always made sure she had everything she could ever want. Then there is Lip, who has lied, stole, and scammed his way through life on the South Side. 

While Lip’s decisions regarding Tami’s coffee order and the paint make sense considering their financial status, it’s going to really set Tami off once she finds out the truth. If you think about it, Tami freaked out when she found out Lip used to steal cars, and that didn’t directly affect her.

Or maybe this season will be a growing point for her and she will learn the true value of the dollar. Maybe she will find out the corners Lip is cutting and will appreciate the bigger picture he is trying to hold onto by making these decisions. 

The real concern I have is the conflict between Ian and Mickey. These guys are no stranger to conflict and physical fighting — which this episode has none of, thank god. 

However, when they got married at the end of last season we all hoped that Ian knew what he’s getting himself into. He’s been with Mickey for the better part of a decade; does he really still think he can just make Mickey into a law-abiding citizen overnight?

It is very great that they have a discussion about what marriage means to them, but Ian is definitely overthinking everything. It’s not like Mickey spent the money and didn’t leave any kind of note about it and, as he says, he’s good for it. 

It should be that Ian has more faith in Mickey at this point in time. Mickey has never let Ian down in the years they’ve been together. In fact, you could even go as far as to say Mickey gives up more for Ian than Ian does for Mickey.

I just hope that what Mickey spent the money on doesn’t create a huge divide further on down the road. It doesn’t sit well that Mickey refuses to explain what he spent the money on.

They both have some growing up to do in the season to come and it’s going to test everyone’s patience. But ultimately, nothing has managed to really come between them yet — they are in it for the long haul.

Meanwhile, Carl and Debbie have their own troubles with the law that is going to evolve in very unique and interesting ways in the weeks to come. 

Debbie is now on probation because of her mishap with Julia last season. She isn’t struggling with it as much as we assumed she would be. 

It probably helps that she has siblings who have been on that side of the law before — or still are, like Ian — along with Sandy to keep her focused on the big picture. Debbie hasn’t ever really been one to fight it when she gets into trouble. She’s always taken her consequence and walked away with her head held high.

This situation is going to be no different. It does help that Sandy is helping her get around her sex offender status with an Instagram account.

Debbie is going to do her best to stay legitimate despite her probation, which is probably the best of any Gallagher in a long time. Honestly, her turning the other cheek and staying above the law is reminiscent of how Fiona used to be.

As we said, this season is already giving us season one vibes, and Debbie is a large part of that. She is taking over the family in a way that Fiona used to do. 

Carl becoming a cop — who has that on their 2020 BINGO card? As Frank says, we don’t see that coming. 

Ultimately though, Carl only has really two paths in life thanks to his violent tendencies — in prison for assault or becoming a cop. While on one hand, it’s great that he’s become a cop instead of the alternative, it’s also concerning for the image Shameless is trying to perpetuate.

Through the dialogue with Carl and his commanding officer, it’s clear that he’s being streamlined to the streets because of his violent tendencies. During the era of police brutality, is it really smart for the show to exacerbate that image of the police?

During a training session the cadets are told, “Never shoot a guy in the back. Wait until he turns around so you can shoot him in the face.” I’m aware that this show is a satire, but that hits just a bit too much on the nose and it’s not funny at all.

Here’s hoping Carl’s role as a cop doesn’t continue to perpetuate that stereotype, but my money is on the show continuing the current path. Considering this show has never been afraid to back away from controversy, this is going to be the worst part of the season ahead.

Other Shameless Situations:

• Kev letting his 5-year-old daughters roll blunts is definitely up there with “went there” moments on this show. It’s made even worse by him continuing to brag about it.
• Tommy and Kermit. That’s really all that needs to be said about that.
• Frank inciting violence to keep the gentrifiers away…are we really surprised?

 

What did you think of this episode of Shameless? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Shameless airs Sundays at 9/8c on Showtime.

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