#also thought of frank gallagher from shameless at one point

[islanddboyy]

Thanks for the tag @skeleton-squid-boy , let’s see if I even know who my favourite characters are 😅

Tagging: @zoya-nazyalensy-supremacy , @agni-ashes , @that1fangrl , @radishdreamss , @wowthatsextra , @shrimplylemonade , @hi-im-uur . But anyone who sees this and wants to do it feel free to!

[m4ndysk4nkovich]

No bc Frank hitting Debbie was literally so upsetting

Like she loved her dad in the first seasons, and always thought he could change, and idk him hitting the person who once loved him the most made my heart break :((

ok hi hello hi i was trying to respond to this and then LIKE A LITTLE BITCH tumblr deleted it soooo yeah ik this isn’t relevant but i want to bitch about it so i’m bitching about it so sorry if this post isn’t my best it’s a remake kinda

ANYWAYS

i was already sad about this, but then you said that, and now i’m even sadder. like, “hitting the person who once loved him the most” 😭😭

frank and debbie are so fucking complex… i’m writing about them right now and when i post it i’ll link it to this but like… god. they’re one of the saddest duos in shameless, in my humble opinion.

debbie fucking loved frank so much. she cared for him so so fucking much. she made sure he was safe at night, she waited for him, she joked with him, checked on him, fucking took care of him more than he took care of her because at this point, she was parenting him more than he was parenting her and in return she got empty promises.

i am a firm believer that what set debbie on her season 4 downfall was 3x02. she had already lost hope in monica from 2x12 (and kinda 2x11 but not really), but she still had hope in frank. she knew he was a shitty, abusive alcoholic who would never change but she still waited for him, still prayed for his return, still let him into their house and let him sleep in her bed. but then he and his friends destroyed and pissed in her room, and frank destroyed her project (that he refused to help her with) and suddenly… she’s just changed. like, a part of her dies and she just goes fucking crazy on him.

i think that for every gallagher child there was a point in their life where they just officially lost hope, and that was debbie’s.

and then in season 6 their relationship is mended almost? like, they spend a lot of time together, he’s the only one she has at the moment, and they go to that weird-ass place with queenie together (i forgot what it’s called sorry LMAO). like there’s a moment before she’s gonna give birth to franny where she says, “no daddy, please. i’m scared. i want to go home” and i like sobbed because she’s his fucking daughter and i ASSUMED that they might have a bond or something after that but… nope!

in season 7 he hits her.

and it’s like… okay, that’s your sixteen year old daughter. the one who waited for you. the one who brought you a pillow every night. the one who loved you the most. the one who named her daughter after you because she loved you. she gave you everything and you gave her nothing.

it’s giving, “he takes what he pleases and offers nothing” (fiona gallagher, 3x07).

and if we’re going to talk about frank hitting his kids, what about ian also? i don’t want this post to be about every character but since we’re on the subject i’ve gotta bring it up. he’s hit ian multiple times, and he’s done it off screen before too, apparently. i don’t even wanna hear y’all say “i think frank was a good dad he just-” like no. yeah, he got abused growing up, and i get the cycle of abuse, fuck peggy gallagher, yeah, yeah. but you guys know that’s not an excuse… right? frank is still a piece of shit. he’s a drunk and an addict, as well as a narcissist. he neglected and abused all of his children. don’t even try.

fuck frank gallagher.

i can’t believe some of y’all think debbie is worse than frank is. unbelievable.

[elliottshadowcadet]

okay now that i'm done watching shameless i am going to share every single thought i have about it. first thing first, season 11 was terrific and sometimes painfully cringe to watch and made me want to throw something at the screen but ya. the season finaly sucked and i kinda hated the ending cus it was so vague and lame in a way? like the only thing i liked was that when frank died he got flashbacks of memories with his kids which made it feel more emotional and like we've been with them for a big part of their life (which we basically have watching them grow up) and i guess it also made me feel like he somewhat cared about his children? it gave a whole nostalgic feel to it. i also didn't like all the plot holes and open endning situation, like i want to know if carl and arthur bought the alibi, and how kev and v's lives changes after they moved and what everyone else do with their lifes. LIKE did lip and tami have another baby and did debbie and that crazy woman heidi who got introduced in the last two epidodes run away to texas? AND LIAM, actually so so mad bc they have done his character so dirty and he's been forgotten so many times. i did like the scene where he could feel franks prescence in the alibi right when he died, but like then what? he was going to live with lip and tami i think? ian and mickey are probably going to be fine in their new apartment but yea kinda meh. ALSO don't know if people noticed but in the first episode of season 1 frank introduced his kids in the same kind of way he said goodbye to them in the last episode of season 11. kinda liked that little detail. THERE AREE ALSO SO SO MANY CHARACTERS WHO HAVE JUST DISAPPEARED AND NEVER REALLY GOT AN EXPLANATION AS TO WHY, LIKE MANDY- what happened to her ? i miss my girl and i wanted her redemption arc after all that shit shes gone through😭

anywho, i still have no idea of who my favorite character is because it is constantly changeing, like i love-hate almost all of them yk? but some of them are definetely at the top, like kev and v for example AND LIP fucking love lip. AND SVETLANA I LOVE HER SM. i also miss sheila she was a girlboss </3 carl and ian are also in the top 5 for sure and i ABSOLUTELY LOVE liam and wish he could have gotten a better storyline sooner. debbie is a very hated character which is understandable to a certain point, but a lot of her bad behavior just like many of the other gallaghers come from their parents, which many people seem to forget when it comes to debbie? the way fiona treats debbie in the later seasons also play a big role in her change i think, but thats what kinda makes me angry when it comes to the debbie slander. people forgive fiona and say that her behavior is from needing to take the parental role at a very young age and from the abuse frank and monica put her through, which is true, but that last part is also the case for debbie ? and the other gallaghers as well. i just think its strange how people only seem to forget that when it is about debbie yk? then again she has made many horrible and bad desicions which makes her character unlikeable and i totally get and agree on that. one last thing i have been thinking about and can't really understand is why most of the gallagher siblings think that frank is a better parent than monica just because he's been more physically present? like that makes no sense, because most of their trauma comes from the alcoholic abusive dad who's never been there for them mentally or physically, but since monica left completely and frank "stayed" she is portrayed as this monster of a mother who left her kids. now i am not saying that she was a good mother, but she has not put the kids through close enough as much as frank has, and that is why i'm confused as to why they hate her more.

buy yo think that was it for now

[writefullyrobin]

1x01 – Pilot thoughts

I haven’t been living under a rock, I do know of Shameless because it was an UK show originally and I have seen odd episodes of that over the years. I’ve just never gotten around to watching the US version and 11 seasons is a big investment. I thought I’d finally give it a go.

This family is as dysfunctional as that of the one from the UK show which I’m very glad about. That’s what made the original so fun and I’m glad they kept the spirit of the show.

Frank is one of those very sad, tragic individuals that if he actually did stay sober, he’d probably do very well for himself. He’s intelligent. Something he clearly passed down to some of his kids because Fiona, Lip and Ian are no slouches.

Also has anyone ever thought to tell Frank he actually does put in a very hard day’s work indeed running with some of these schemes? I guess he’d probably refer to himself an opportunist rather than a hard worker.

It’s been one episode and I already adore Fiona, Lip and Ian. They’re all brilliant and bounce of each other so well. Definitely get the bonds forged in fire with those three. Fiona runs the show but Lip and Ian are great lieutenants.

Speaking of Ian though. Big fat EW to his… I can’t bring myself to even call it a relationship. It’s not a relationship. It’s an older man having sex with a minor. It feels so icky. I mean, Kash buys him stuff? Really not good!

I’m guessing Ian and Kash will be given a relatively decent amount of time though as all three of the eldest Gallagher kids seem to be set up for love interests. Fiona with Steve. Lip has Karen (and they came up with the oddest ever test to see if Ian was actually gay, I add! BJ under the table while her mom was in the next room? OK, why not! Shows not called Shameless for nothing, I guess!), Wonder how many of the three “couples” will be standing by the final episode?

Let’s talk about a non-Gallagher for a second. Steve looks and acts like a trust fund baby. There, I said it early. He looks so out of depth and seriously has no game. The Southside might just eat him up and spit him back out if he’s not careful! All episode it felt like something wasn’t quite clicking with him and low and behold he’s a car thief. I’ll actually be more surprised if that’s all he’s hiding. If he can do that for a living, then who knows what other secrets could come out down the line!

Steve as a lens to this chaotic, crazy, whirlwind of a family worked well even if all it did was highlight how very out of touch he is with Fiona. For now, at least. I feel like they have potential to be a good couple. Maybe. I like their chemistry and it would be nice for Fiona to have something for herself as she seems to put everyone else first.

I enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would. I was thinking I’ll be making comparisons to the UK version all the way through and there were definitely some familiar points but actors wise, I think they’re all brilliant. Frank and Fiona’s in particular were the two standouts.

Characters: First Impressions

Frank – I’ve worked in hospitality and therefore encountered my share of functioning alcoholics. Frank is spot on. He’s a delight to watch when he gets going on a rant and extremely well cast.

Fiona – adore her. She’s so resourceful and down to earth. Which I know is probably a result of her circumstances but she’s written very well and acted beautifully. Just a very organic portrayal. 

Lip – knows he’s more intelligent than everyone else and that's probably gonna come back to bite him at some point.

Ian – sort of adorable. Really not a fan of his “relationship” with Kash though. He’s the quintessential middle kid, isn’t he?

Debbie, Carl and Liam – not much to say about them honestly. They’re there and I like the scenes they do have.

Kev and Veronica – everyone needs friends like these two! Completely and unapologetically themselves and I am here for it.

Steve – you are shady young man...

[ocalaghan]

I juuuuust finished watching Shameless (US) which I started... less than 6 months ago, I think? And I just. Have so many thoughts.

That show was crazy. It's been on my list for years and I've seen various emosh clips of it on Tumblr from its very early days but I finally began watching it when I did because @agaytoremembr told me to and boy oh boy.

I started out really loving it but it gradually got worse (read as: the characters' stories were bullshit 80% of the time) and then Fiona left and it officially sucked. She really made the whole show and after she left, all of the Gallaghers somehow started to suck more so the last season in particular was a struggle (and I also watched Shameless: Hall Of Shame just because I hate myself apparently). The finale ended on such a garbage note. I realise it was meant to be a parallel to the opening scene of the pilot but it just... sucked. Sometimes parallels don't hit that emotional nail on the head and this was one of those times. I also really didn't need it to be a COVID season, we have enough of that in real life and none of them even donned their masks properly when they were meant to so what was the point of including them at all?

I was happy they mentioned Fiona in the finale but I feel like it wasn't enough. It was Frank that mentioned her and I think the siblings should have also talked about her, or mentioned calling her, or just something. Instead of, you know, seemingly forgetting she existed. She's their sister and they loved her so that was fucking annoying. But then again, we rarely saw good sibling interaction/intertwined plotlines towards the end between any of them. It was like they were all housemates that mildly tolerated one another. Which was... stupid? The whole point of the show is about that family banding together through thick and thin lmfao.

Overall I'm glad I watched it but very disappointed with how much the entire plot for nearly every character went in the toilet at the end. Character development? We don't know her.

Don't get me started on the plot-holes either, I don't have it in me. Their ages and birthdays almost sent me into an early fucking grave, never mind everything else.

Anyway there were so many characters over the course of the show sooooooo I have to word-vomit my feelings on all of them obviously. I'll start with the Gallagher family and then other characters.

FRANK & MONICA

Wild. Terrible selfish parents, obviously. Was kind of sad that Monica died, especially right beside Frank. She was a bad mother but I totally did not expect her to die. Frank, on the other hand, I was friggin' desperate for him to just bite the dust already by season three. PLEASE SIR. JUST DIE. FOR THE SAKE OF HUMANITY. I get that his antics were supposed to be funny and ridiculous but I hated watching the majority of his storylines - they were either stupid, annoying, disgusting, or just downright depressing. Truly an awful father, truly hated that many scenes of his seemed to try and evoke empathy for him from viewers. NO. NO THANK-YOU. I did feel sorry for him at the end though, it's a rough way to die. I felt like the way his story closed out was fitting but they could've made his demise over the final season so much more emotional (the way the kids found out about his alcoholic dementia, for example). We didn't even see them read his suicide note (which actually was also really shit and just insulting so maybe that's fine) or find out about his actual death which I think would've been important to show, considering they all joked about wanting him to be dead, so like... actually seeing those complicated emotions play out would've been a great closing chapter IMO.

SAMMI & CHUCKIE (& QUEENIE)

Sammi was literally one of the most annoying female characters to ever stumble onto my television screen and I HATED her after a while. I wanted someone to fully beat her ass. I hate her more than I hate Rachel Berry from Glee and that's a lot. But it still bugged me when she faded into the background and stopped being mentioned. No idea how long her prison sentence was meant to be but I assume she eventually gets out and learns about Frank's death? Can't really see her having much contact with her half-siblings unless she comes out of prison with a major attitude adjustment. It's probably a good thing Chuckie was living with his grandmother. Queenie seemed ever so slightly less deranged. I did feel a bit sorry for Chuckie though, and maybe it'd be nice if he got to know the Gallagher side of his family some day? I feel like he and Carl could be good friends lmao.

FIONA

Fiona Gallagher supremacy. I loved her from day one and it baffles me that there are watchers that hate her. HOW CAN U HATE HER. PROTECT HER. SHE DESERVES EVERYTHING GOOD. She was diverse and loveable and relatable and I felt closer to her when she got an abortion too because I don't see a lot of shows where it's an adult woman that chooses to do that (instead of a high schooler). I just loved her and her arc was so good. I wasn't even sad that she left because I wanted her to get out of Chicago and do something great with her life, but God did the show suffer when she went lol. The last couple of seasons would've been much better with her presence but at least with her not there, I can picture her living a great life in Florida, having a good job and a nice place, staying in touch with her siblings and Kev and V obviously... getting into a healthy relationship, finally? And I think this is probably an unpopular opinion but I was rooting for her and JimmySteve. I mean, he was a compulsive liar, but I was also rooting for him to stop doing that. So in my head they are endgame but in a healthy way lmao.

Side-note, Fiona's Hall Of Shame episode was craaaazy. I feel like she would never go on a reality dating show but all of the other episodes for this companion series were canon so that must be too. And I am pretending her new Florida pals were the ones that put her up to this. Because it does feel very un-Fiona, or at least the Southside Fiona that we knew.

LIP

I loveloveloved Lip at the start of the show and then the last few seasons, he just pissed me off most of the time. They did him so dirty. I like to think he makes something of himself but the fact everything was hung up on a question mark as to whether he would cope financially and job-wise, and whether he and Tami would keep their possible second baby was just so... ANNOYING. No answers, just straight-up ended the show on a weird cliffhanger for so many of the characters. I will say, I am delighted he did find a way to sell the house after all even if it was for less money, because then he can tell Debbie to suck it.

IAN

I thought I was going to like Ian a lot at the beginning but I never fully warmed up to him... partly because he was gonna be in the army or whatever it was. Some of his opinions and overall attitude just bothered me and I didn't like him a lot of the time, and he was a dick to Fiona CONSTANTLY over nothing, but I also wanted to see him do good things? It's a Complex Relationship(tm). Anyway, I hate that he and Mickey were endgame. I feel like the majority of the fandom loves them together? But I fucking hate it. They had passion but they were not healthy for one another. The implication is they remain happy on the West Side and end up adopting some stray infant or two eventually so I guess that works out but ugh. Also, a real swing and a miss that the show reveals Ian's biological father is actually one of Frank's brothers... and then that just never gets explored. Missed opportunity, IMO. I like to think maybe Ian decides to get to know Clayton after Frank's death and maybe even has a decent father/son relationship with someone for once.

DEBBIE (& FRANNY)

Girl bye. I fucking hate this one almost as much as Sammi and Frank. Actually maybe more than Frank. Debbie had so much potential to be a fantastic, feminist, cool character and they just fucked her up so badly. What was with giving her a 20-year-old boyfriend when she was barely a teenager and then making her accidentally rape him? What a weird fucking plotline??? And then everything she did after that was just insane or fucking stupid. She's a terrible mother even though she thinks she's not and I feel bad for Franny. She's a terrible sister too, especially to Fiona. And randomly had her be extremely homophobic over her whole crisis about thinking she caught AIDS when she slept with a gay man which was the most bizarre addition to that plotline. They tried to appoint her as the head of the family and be Fiona 2.0 after Fiona left but she was always a bratty bitch so it didn't really work. I thought she and Sandy would be endgame (and that made me feel bad for Sandy because I actually liked her) and then at the last second they brought in a random ex-con that invites Debbie across the country to do some criminal shit and let her daughter tag along AND DEBBIE WAS CONSIDERING IT??? WHAT. W H A T. Awful mother, just Monica all over again except with excess mommy issues and less drugs. Her story ended so much worse than I could've imagined. I sincerely hope she does not stay together with Heidi and just... you know, has a total personality makeover and gets together with someone fucking normal that she isn't a dick to for a change. And if she's so desperate for Franny to have a big family, she can man-trap a few more random guys. audisghiijkof[dgj I just hate Debbie.

hate hate hate, double-hate, LOATHE ENTIRELY

CARL

I hated him at the start because he was a weird little bastard who also abused animals and it was just...? And then he got older and somehow did not turn into a serial killer and actually started being nice to animals (interesting turnaround that never got mentioned) but he also wanted to do army shit and I was just thinking great, another flag-shagger like his big bro. AND THEN HE WANTED TO JOIN THE POLICE. WHY. THIS CHILD SHOULD NOT HAVE A GUN. His story seemed to be going well in the final season where he was having this whole revelation that cops ain't shit and I thought he was gonna quit and make a big statement but then he just... didn't. AND THAT GIRL THAT RAPED HIM ACTUALLY DID GET PREGNANT WITH HIS KID? AND THE SHOW JUST GLOSSED OVER THAT? And apparently his future is for him to buy the Alibi with his co-worker and make it a cop bar? So garbage. I figure he's probably gonna get in touch with what's-her-face about their illegally conceived child but I don't have much other hopes for Carl. The writers did him mega dirty too. Not to mention, he already has two kids wandering around in the world from that time Frank literally stole his own son's sperm. HIS LIFE IS SO FUCKED UP.

LIAM

Liam was one of the best Gallaghers for years because he was a baby and did not speak. And then he got old enough to have proper plots and the writers had him "struggling with his identity as a young Black man in a white family" but it really... came to nothing? It didn't feel like that plot achieved anything for him personally, they just sort of... fucked around with his character because it seemed like they did not know what to do with him re: his huge age gap from the other siblings. And also, that opens up a massive can of worms because Liam is meant to be Frank's biological son, meaning ALL of the Gallagher kids are canonically mixed race regardless. Which was... a choice from the writers' room, I gotta say. Not a good one. Not a good one. But whatever. Liam was meant to be under the care of Fiona until he turned 18 which was conveniently forgotten about when Fiona left and I honestly think they should have had Liam leave with her because that just... would've saved some really boring, stupid plotlines from almost ruining his character. But they didn't so... whatever. I do like that Liam is going to live with Lip, Tami, and Fred. And their potential second child. That's a cute, satisfactory ending for him, at least. I also liked that Frank's "Ghost of Gallagher Future" was Liam in his Hall of Shame episode because we got a little snippet of how Liam's life will turn out as an adult, and in his own words, he's doing well for himself, and so are the other siblings. So I liked that too, knowing there's a little look into their future and it's bright despite everything.

And now, other characters. Fuck, there were so many.

KEVIN & VERONICA

LOVE THEM. LOVE THEM SO MUCH. They kept the show bearable after Fiona left. I loved their ending. Was really happy that they were moving somewhere close to V's mom and her brother-nephew Dominic and her other family, and obviously other Black people that V could relate to. Happy lil life with their daughters. Obviously I like to think Fiona will always keep in touch with them. Their storyline as a couple was the only one I was super happy with at the end lmao. Though personally I would've liked to see more of Kev visiting Dominic or like... mentioning that he was visiting Dominic or showing him having days out with Amy and Gemma. Like, yeah, it might be a weird dynamic because Kevin is his dad-uncle and Amy and Gemma are both half-sisters and cousins to him but it's very on par with what Shameless is like and Kev isn't the type to just abandon his son. So I would've liked to see more of that, but I also imagine they all become closer as a family by living right next to each other in this new chapter of their lives anyway.

CLYDE YOUENS

I liked Youens a lot! And I liked he and Lip's relationship. Probably the best father/son-type relationship Lip was ever going to get. I was genuinely gutted when Youens died, I wanted better for him and Lip needed him. Sad. But I loved that Lip named his son in honour of him.

JIMMYSTEVE

As stated, I loved JimmySteve. Hope he's good and less of an asshole. I do think he's a good person at heart. JimmySteve stans, where u at?

MANDY MILKOVICH

Remember her? Wild. I never much liked her, and she was kind of a psychopath, but also hope she's fine and doing better than when we last saw her getting out of an abusive relationship.

MICKEY MILKOVICH

Hated him to start with, then was kind of indifferent because he became the comedy relief of the show. He was funny and it was a nice change-up from all the drama; he does have some great one-liners that I genuinely laughed out loud at. But he was still dumb and racist and full of internalised homophobia by the time the finale came around and I feel like he and Ian are just not a good couple and the character development was just not there BUT WHATEVER. I feel like I may be burned at the Shameless stake for saying any of that because I cannot find anyone else on Tumblr that doesn't like him/doesn't ship him and Ian.

SANDY MILKOVICH

I loved Sandy and I'm glad she and Debbie broke up because Debbie is shit and Sandy deserves nice things. I hope one day she's maybe able to have a relationship with her son but overall I just liked her a lot and I think the writers did her dirty with having her just... break up with Debbie and leave. Like what was the point in her? She had potential. Her relationship with Debbie had potential, if Debbie didn't suck obviously.

SVETLANA YEVGENIVNA (& YEVGENY)

I both liked and disliked Svetlana. She had some bad takes but overall I really enjoyed her character, and the wild polyamorous relationship that she, Kev, and V had for a while. I guess we never really know 100% that Yevgeny is Mickey's son and then he never gets mentioned again after Svetlana remarries so... that's kind of annoying. It was laughable in the finale listening to Ian tell Mickey he would be a good dad. DID YOU FORGET YOU ALREADY HAD A SON? WHERE IS HE? If we know anything about Svetlana, though, she's gonna hustle and provide for her kid lmao.

SHEILA JACKSON (& KAREN... & JODY & HYMIE)

Sheila was the best. I kept hoping she would come back onto the show but it wasn't to be. I loved that she finally said fuck Frank and drove off in her big-ass RV to see the world like she wanted. I assume she ends up in Arizona so she can be close to Karen, Jody and Hymie (and I'm just gonna assume Karen and Jody got back together even though their relationship was really fucking weird from the get-go). I enjoyed the Jackson family's antics and I think Sheila was up there as a character I missed the most after she left. Second to darling Fiona obviously.

TAMI TAMIETTI

Is it not child abuse to name your daughter Tami if your last name is already Tamietti? Anyway, didn't like Tami to start with. She was another character that had a shitty attitude/bad takes that didn't seem to match the rest of her personality sometimes? But by the end of the show, she was probably one of the characters I liked the most. She had actual common sense and I wanted to bop Lip for her so many times. She was a good mom and I enjoyed her a lot and would still bop Lip for her no questions asked. Manz is dumb.

BRAD YOUNG (& CAMI)

As above, Cami Tamietti? Wtf. Anyway, I liked Brad, I liked his friendship with Lip. Glad that he's happy with his little family with Cami, but they're nothing on the baes Kev and V obviously.

ETHEL & MALIK (& JONAH & TAMIKA)

Ethel was a really interesting character and it always made me really sad she didn't get shown to get back in touch with Kevin and Veronica. So I like to think she and Malik are a happy little family with their kids and that she reaches out to Kev and V one day, 'cause I really think that would make Kevin in particular so happy to know how she and Jonah are doing, and to have a relationship with them all again.

TONY MARKOVICH

Remember Tony? I almost didn't until I was looking at a list of Shameless characters. I was most amused to find he ended up being gay sooooo wherever he's at, I hope he's thriving since he obviously got over Fiona lmao. It would've been kinda cool if he popped back up when Carl was entering the police force?

TREVOR

Would die for Trevor. Hope he's happy as can be. Ian missed out by screwing him over and I'll die on that hill.

That's all the significant characters that I really gave a shit about that I can think of.

THE PLOTS THEY SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN

This has been plaguing my brain for the entire final two seasons so now I gotta write down how I think their storylines should have went throughout the show. I don't care enough about it to turn it into fic, I just want to get it out my head.

So, I present, the storylines that EYE think should have happened instead of the trash that actually did happen.

FRANK

As much as I would've loved for him to die WAY SOONER, I guess the show and all their trauma and dramatic scenes wouldn't be as impactful without Frank there. Soooo his story can remain pretty much the same, have him die in the finale, but just... make the final season more painful! The way they all find out about his dementia, the way he dies! Make it hurt! He was the worst father but he was still their dad and they had some good times so it's gonna be a lot of mixed, painful emotions. SHOW THAT SHIT.

And also, don't make his actual cause of death be COVID. No COVID season!

I haven't thought it all through but just... a more harrowing storyline to play out for the family relating to Frank's ultimate demise.

FIONA

I don't know that I would change much about Fiona's plot... maybe less focus on the men in her life because she was always jumping from one relationship to another that always ended in tears and it didn't seem to serve her progression in any way. And less of her siblings treating her like straight-up trash.

Like I said before, I would've loved to see her and JimmySteve work out but I don't know if I necessarily needed to see this on screen? I don't know.

LIP

Okay. So, he has an affair with his professor (honestly she was a freak ew), he gets kicked out, he becomes an alcoholic, Youens gets him into rehab, that can all remain canon. He gets into fixing bikes as a hobby, meets Brad, meets Tami (earlier in the storyline, and maybe a slightly nicer version because they really had her acting like a whole bitch at the start and not in a fun way). BUT Lip was not only smart, he actually liked learning and thriving academically. And that college admissions dude way back in s1 or whatever told him don't get some girl knocked up and blah blah... and the writers have exactly that scenario happen to him. It's bullshit.

So, in my eyes, his goal would be to ultimately get back into college. Not only for himself but maybe for Youens too because he looked up to him. He spends a year or two fixing up bikes, volunteering, trying to make himself look like a respectable member of the community (with difficulties for Good Television(tm) because it's the Southside and he's a Gallagher). And he shows his college that he's done the work and that he'd like another chance, he can manage his anger, etc. And voila, he goes to college, completes a business degree or something that would open a lot of doors for him.

And in his final season, he's graduated and been offered a prestigious internship a couple of states over. So he and Tami are preparing to move. It's bittersweet and he's back and forth about it because he doesn't want to leave his siblings. But, then he mentions that he had a phonecall with Fiona (because she deserved to be more involved in the finale, let's be real) and that's what ultimately helps him realise he would be dumb not to take the internship. Then maybe a little line between Lip and Tami about how maybe they'll get married in a few years and have kids after he makes "lots of money." And they laugh and Lip's like, "Yeah, I'll give being a dad a go, can't be any worse than Frank." And they mention that they like the name Freddie - just so he gets a little mention since he ain't gonna be born during the run of the show lmao.

Ta-da, Lip's story makes more sense now.

IAN

I feel like it would be fine for everything in his life to remain canon up until he goes to prison (maybe add in some more outrage over his adult boss fucking him as a teenager though cos that was heavy creepy and nobody seemed super fussed about it).

I honestly think Mickey going to Mexico or wherever he ran away to should've been his exit from the show. So, that happens, bye Mickey.

Ian does the whole Gay Jesus episode, sure, but ultimately doesn't go to jail because he was, I don't know, off his meds at the time and it was a mental breakdown and he had a decent lawyer to plead that case (funded by savings from Trevor, which makes Ian realise Trevor really cares about him, because it was a chunk of the money that Trevor had squirrelled away in case he wanted to get bottom surgery at some point).

So Ian spends some time in the psych ward, has some community service hours, gets back on his medication and he's dandy.

Maybe Trevor keeps his distance during all of this because it's a Lot but Ian realises he's in love with him and ultimately strives to get him back.

They get back together, Ian's a little lost for a while personally because there's still residual online fame (and hate) from Gay Jesus and he doesn't know what he wants to do. I think it would've been ideal for him to then try to get his paramedic job back, or something similar (working in a care home? idk) because he enjoyed helping people and he was good at it. So he does that, feels more satisfied career-wise.

Ian's final season could have revolved somewhat around him deciding to connect with his biological father, Clayton Gallagher. Maybe this causes some tension and hurt feelings among his siblings because he actually ends up getting along really well with Clayton and it's healthy and the others don't have that with Frank. It all ends up working out, maybe Clayton says he would like to make more effort with his nieces and nephews too, whatever. Maybe this has the potential for a painful scene with Frank because he comes over and Clayton is there and Frank is confused and thinks Clayton is their father, and there's yelling and it's sad.

Ian's finale could involve him and Trevor planning to move in together, and Ian proposes to him, yaaaay. Gotta get a proposal in there since there won't be a queer wedding.

DEBBIE

Alright. Debbie's story, I would make completely different.

Starting with her not accidentally raping her adult boyfriend when she was a child and not man-trapping her age-appropriate boyfriend when she was also a child.

I'm gonna say she does get pregnant by accident while still at school and wants to keep it BUT. BUT. After her talks with Fiona and finding out Fiona is pregnant too, ultimately decides they should indeed get abortions together and it's nice and they bond. None of the bullshit pro-life idiot nonsense that actually happened.

So she graduates school with promising grades, and goes to her welding degree thingy (bring in plots about her feminism and fighting for equality in the workplace/class/overall desired profession). Starts having a sexuality crisis and thinks she might be a lesbian, and Ian is actually supportive towards her (unlike the canon (((((: but anyway) but he brings up that bisexuality is valid too.

So at age 19 or so, Debbie tries dating a man one more time to see how it goes. They have sex, it's fine, but she ultimately decides she doesn't really like it and decides she likes women only and that is that.

ENTER SANDY.

Now, side-note, Sandy coming in could create drama for Ian and Trevor because Ian asks if she knows how her cousin Mickey is doing and Trevor gets jealous/concerned about this, just as a sub-plot for an episode or two.

Anyway, Sandy and Debbie fall for each other really quickly, it's going great, Debbie's really happy despite being surprised she's fallen for a Milkovich. THEN, gasp, she realises she is pregnant from her date with that man and she considers aborting again but realises she can't go through with it a second time. Maybe the scene of her finding out ends with her calling Fiona and going, "Fiona, I'm pregnant again." And later mentioning to someone, "My sister really calmed me down and we talked about another abortion but I just can't do it again." Because, again, I want it shown that Fiona is still involved in their lives and loves them (and that they love and turn to her in times of need).

Anyway, it's a whole panic, she thinks Sandy will leave her (and in my timeline, Sandy isn't married with a kid of her own), and she doesn't know what might happen with welding school. But Sandy is actually really happy and says they will make it work. Debbie tells the father, maybe there's some drama there because he asks for a paternity test but ultimately ends up being supportive and says he will be involved.

In the canon timeline, Debbie seemed to name her daughter after Frank because he was the only one who was supportive of her pregnancy. This time around, so that Franny can keep her name, let's say it's because she goes into labour in the finale and gives birth shortly before Frank dies. So Debbie names her daughter Frances 'Franny' Fiona Gallagher.

Maybe she and Sandy already live together by this point because they wanted their own place before the baby came, and Debbie's worked it out with school somehow.

TA-DA. A much more likeable Debbie.

CARL

Carl... I don't know, man. I would probably change almost everything about Carl's personality because wtf but just so I'm not entirely redoing his character from day one, let's his say his life pans out pretty much the same (maybe minus the animal abuse bc I am a big baby, and minus Frank STEALING HIS SPERM AND MAKING ACTUAL BABIES WITH IT). Except, in his final season, he's on this journey of realising cops ain't shit (and let's also say, to get around a plot-hole, that he's on, like, a junior training course that allows young people the chance to potentially become officers when they're of age). And he realises he doesn't want to be a cop any more because it's kinda bullshit, but he wanted to do it for a long time so he's struggling with just walking away. AND THIS IS WHERE TONY COULD COME IN. Carl talks to Fiona on the phone about it and Fiona suggests he ask Tony why he became a cop because Tony was one of the few nice ones. So Carl tracks down Tony and it turns out Tony's not a cop any more either so that conversation plus seeing more racial injustice and a shitty attitude towards poor people from his co-workers has Carl feeling really down about his career choice. Maybe he sees one of his superiors cussing out a young Black boy on the Southside that reminds him of Liam and Carl steps in, enraged, and that solidifies his decision to quit. And his final episode is him like... getting involved in local community work and an organisation for minorities, and maybe he gets advice from Trevor and it links into what Trevor does, so they're gonna cross paths frequently in their jobs. And in the process of selling the Gallagher home, Carl's not sure where he's gonna live and Trevor and Ian invite him to live with them. Or Debbie and Sandy. One of them.

LIAM

Liam should've went with Fiona when she moved away to Florida. She was still his legal guardian, it would've made sense, and it would've saved Liam from some really ridic plots in the final seasons. However... even if Fiona couldn't come back for the finale, maybe they could've had Liam back visiting and he gets into some funny antics. I don't know.

And then I haven't really thought through the final scene or where Frank's death would fit in or anything but I thought it would be entertaining and fitting if, right after they manage to sell the house, there's an accident and it goes up in flames. Still parallels the first episode but it's a climactic end, they all are devastated at first and then find it really funny. Maybe Frank's body is inside! Who knows! They FaceTime Fiona to show her and it's just a lot of yelling and laughing and there's no insulting Frank voiceover.

And just... obviously more sibling interaction and love throughout all of this. That's what I needed to see!!!

I'm done now.

[cdt12345]

Here are some of my rambling thoughts on Shameless 11x09. My only real issue with this episode is the way it ended. For some reason these episodes have been ending awkwardly. I feel like the episode isn't finished yet, but then it ends. Like, what the hell happened to Gemma and Amy? We never saw Kevin find his children! It's like whoever is in charge has never ended a show before and don't know where to stop.

I hate that Mickey was in pain and crying, But I did love that he was allowed to cry and grieve. He had a safe space and safe person he could cry in front of and go through all his crazy range of emotions with.

I loved that Ian gave Mickey the space he needed, brought him coffee, and kept Mickey's perspective of Terry in check. All the while still letting Mickey grieve and helping him through.

The scene with them going through Terry's stuff was a reminder of what Mickey said to Ian in season 7. Ian always had his back more than his family ever did.

Mickey is left to deal with Terry's arrangements and going through his stuff and all the Milkovich's are gone. Where was Sandy, where were the other Milkovich's who were actually living in the house with Terry? They wouldn't even take care of him when he was alive. Not a single one is there to help Mickey. Only Ian!

Ian was there through everything. Ian always has and always will have Mickey's back. I don't know what more proof people need to see how the Milkovich's just aren't close and Ian is the only one who was and will always be there for Mickey. I need no more proof of Ian's love for Mickey. Haven't needed it for a long time.

People wanted Mickey to be close with Sandy when she was introduced last season, but they hardly even interacted. How is it, that people like to point out how Mandy and Mickey weren't close, but actually believed Sandy and Mickey could be close?

I agree Mandy and Mickey aren't as close as we'd like them to be. Especially not as close as she was with Ian. But if Mickey was close to any of his relatives, it would've been Mandy. They grew up in the same house with the same father. Sandy didn't. She may have lived with them from time to time throughout the years, but it was not the same. Not to mention she was never even mentioned before, just like the rest of the Milkovich's that showed up this season.

I didn't expect it, but I thought this would be one of the last chances they had to at least mention Mandy. Maybe saying they talked to her and told her about Terry's death over the phone. Anything! But still not a single mention. Like the writers forgot she existed. Even when Mickey is reminiscing about dodge the dagger, he mentions his brothers. If someone was watching the show from season 7 on, they'd never even know he had a sister.

When Mickey described the nun as "A cold blooded killer in a nun costume. We don't actually know that yet." that made me laugh. Ian stopping him from ranting any further was hilarious!

I loved how @annatrow pointed out that Ian still thought Rachel could've married Terry after he killed her father because Ian would've, had Mickey done the same to Frank. Ian's like that's not a deal breaker for me and Mickey! 😂🤣😂🤣

Omg the knife scene at the funeral home! When that guy was behind them and they get all awkward and Ian tells Mickey to put the knife away! I laughed so hard at that! That was fucking hilarious! These two are so embarrassing, you can't take them anywhere! 🤣🤣🤣

Another time that Ian took charge for Mickey. Like finding Terry a nurse, he was talking to the guy at the funeral home about Terry's wishes and asking what the most affordable package they had. I love that Ian takes charge for Mickey like that, even when it's for Terry and Ian could care less about the man. Ian knows, seen, and has been a victim of Terry's. He even knows about Mandy's rape by Terry. I don't even think Mickey ever found out about Terry raping Mandy. Only Ian, Lip, Mandy, and Terry knew about it. Wonder if that would've changed the way Mickey grieved Terry? The love of Ian's life has suffered so much because of Terry. Ian has every reason to hate this man. It continues to amaze me how he still keeps helping take care of Terry and makes arrangements for him because he knows that's what Mickey wants and needs right now.

THEY SANG AGAIN!!!! I know some people find it odd. But it was a final fuck you to Terry. Ian even said I know what Terry would love. Obviously he was being sarcastic because he knows Terry would hate that. Maybe if it hadn't been right after they just sang in the bathroom, it wouldn't have seemed so odd to people. Maybe if it had been more spread out from the last time they sang. But I do love that it's canon that they sing together pretty often now! They're free and happier than they've ever been before. Who is to say that it's ooc for them now that they can be themselves and their happy for the first time in their lives.

The song Ian picked?! Fucking perfect! It was Mickey's life story in that song! And the fact that Ian picked that song shows how Ian really sees Mickey. As a survivor who has been through so much, tormented by a father who wanted to knock him down, but Mickey persevered. He sees Mickey for who he really is and how much he's gone through in a way that no one ever has or ever will.

Mickey deserves that. He deserves Ian and vice versa really. They deserve each other and in moments like these I'm so freaking happy they have each other for the rest of their lives. When Ian lost his mom, he was alone in his grief and that broke my heart. Not anymore!

Okay, and the whole time they're at the cemetery, I was watching that guy behind them. I was thinking, Ummm are you going to do this with that guy right there?! I'm sure he's gonna notice the fire behind him! 🤣🤣

I didn't notice until a GIF was made about Mickey touching Ian's butt at the cemetery! When re watching, I realized Mickey wasn't holding Ian until the guy yelled at them. I don't know why that made it so much funnier to me, but it really did! The guy yells at them, Mickey grabs Ian's butt in response and then they run off. That's fucking hilarious!!! Love the parallel from them running off after Mickey punched Ned in season 3. Even laughing when they ran away at the cemetery! I wish we could've seen them laughing and running away in this one instead of just hearing them laughing.

When discussing this episode with @luckyshazmrsmonaghansblog we spoke of how everyone seems to be more stupid this season, especially Lip in my opinion. When watching season 8 & 9, I forgot that Lip was supposed to be the genius of the family! I literally forgot! There were easy words that I knew, that he would ask what that meant. And I was like what? How does he, the genius, not know what that means? Even I know what that means! Not to mention remodeling a house he didn't own this season! The writers have really dumbed everyone down. Probably for comedy sake but it's just frustrating.

Other character points:

• Debbie had the nerve to ask Liam if he wanted to ask her what she was doing, after she told him she didn't have time for his shit when he had real concerns about being homeless. She won't listen to him but she expects him to listen to her. Then she tells Lip about Liam's fear! Meaning she knew what was bothering him and she never tried to console him or talk to the others about it.

• I did find it weird that Lip said he and Tami talked about it and wanted Liam to come live with them. I thought when did they have time to have that conversation? Lip didn't even know that Liam was worried about that until Debbie told him. Then I saw a few posts about people even doubting that that conversation even happened and I now feel like that is a real possibility. Lip has spent this whole season lying to Tami and keeping things from her. So, it's not far fetched to think he didn't talk to her about it. If they did, why not talk to Liam about that sooner? Also doubt Tami would be okay with it. Though Liam is just a kid, she never cared for the Gallagher's and only cares when it's her own family that needs something. Like wanting the Gallagher's to chip in on her sisters medical bill. I'm never gonna get over that! I know she was scared but what the hell was that?! You know she wouldn't do the same for the Gallagher's. She's the kind who only cares about her side of the family and not her significant others family.

• I know they're going to sell the house and I would normally be okay with that. But I hate that Lip is making the decision for everyone. He doesn't live in the house, it's not even under his name, Carl paid for the house when they almost lost it, and the rest of the Gallagher's have been paying the bills while he's been out of the house. Lip is not the all mighty one in charge of the house or their lives. He makes me not want them to move out of the house only so he doesn't get his way. Especially after he tells everyone they're not talking about it anymore and he starts tearing down walls to a house his siblings and niece are still living in and when he doesn't even live there anymore. Fucker needs to not get his way every once in a while.

• Vee keeps telling her mom, she's not going to last in Kentucky and she'll be back in a few months. That's a sure fire way to make sure her mom never moves back to Chicago. Could just be me, but when someone says shit like that to me, it makes me want to prove them wrong even more!

• I'm not usually a fan of Frank, but I did like seeing him with Serena. It showed a rare moment of his humanity, hugging her and even putting on his mask before doing so. I thought that was thoughtful of him.

[dreamylyfe-x]

11x04: NIMBY Reactions

Oh my God, that’s the good stuff right there. I’ve been hanging on for the middle of the season, where I have felt pretty certain the tone -- with Gallavich particularly -- might shift and I was NOT disappointed. 

So first thing’s first: though Mickey had barely anything to do with the A Plot (Milkoviches Next Door) I still thought this episode was the best  Mickey-being-Mickey-as-I-know-and-love-him  episode we’ve had yet. (Though fair warning, I thought 11x03 had some quality classic Mickey in it -- just mostly the scenes without Ian.) 

Before we get started on Mickey, though, this is the second episode in a row where I’ve enjoyed the Frank plot? Granted, it was LARGELY Liam that I enjoyed, but I was still watching the Frank plot and that is a major shift from season 10, where I barely bothered. 

But yeah. Ok. Mickey. This episode was such a great Mickey episode from start to finish. One of the things I love about Shameless is the whole thing where normal for kids living in desperate conditions, while very different from most people’s normal, is still normal for THEM. And I really enjoyed Mickey watching the Milkoviches move in while giving the Gallaghers key intel on exactly what they were seeing. And kinda understanding how messed up some of it was in real time. That’s a real experience people have -- being mid-story and suddenly thinking “Yeah. This is way more fucked up than I realized.”  

I also enjoyed the several moments in the episode where Mickey overtly acknowledged that his family is insane, he just doesn’t like the Gallaghers looking down on him. Which: valid. 

Speaking of -- finally we find out the state of the Mickey-Terry relationship. Which is: there isn’t one. Another thing I loved is that Mickey shares the desire to see his family move on, but he’s not going to bother engaging with it. He’s going to work on getting him and Ian out of there, and pay hardly any attention to his family. Love that for him. 

I also love love LOVE that, now that he has a bead on something to do for money that doesn’t fill him with dread, Mickey is taking the same attitude he had when Ian was working and he wasn’t -- which is that he’s going to take care of things. As someone who was baffled at Mickey’s inaction and willingness to let Ian do all the work in the first few episodes, I really loved this. Because it’s consistent and it indicates that his world view just kinda like... Someone has to be taking care of the money part, and that might shift back and forth between him and Ian, but the result of the effort is going to be shared between them. I understand where Ian was coming from -- especially when Mickey kept returning to criminal enterprise -- but it’s nice to see a little more of how Mickey views things. 

Also, I know this is very well observed, so I’m retreading well-worn ground, but the scene with the cereal. Gah. I love it. Ian regressing -- I know they gave us the shot of the bottle of Jamison, but I felt like they were getting their point across with the cereal and the cartoons. And Ian not answering or responding to Mickey right away was extremely evocative of Ian’s history of depressive episodes. I loved how forthright Ian was about how awful the prospect of finding another job was, because it’s covertly agreeing with everything Mickey was saying in the first few episodes, too. 

There are so many little things I like about this scene. Mickey coming down the front stairs instead of the back, like he intuitively knows where Ian is at. Ian watching Harley Quinn cartoons, as both an in-joke AND as a believable cartoon choice. Mickey picking up the bottle, checking it’s weight and then just... moving it a little to the side. Mickey putting himself between Ian the TV. Mickey already having a plan for Ian. Just so much good stuff in there. 

Also, let’s talk about Ian for a minute here. One reason I hesitate to call anything OOC with these two is that the book generally isn’t closed. I really didn’t get the “I’m on my honeymoon” stuff, but after this episode, it folds in a lot better with what is going on with these two. Another thing that folds in better is Ian’s mounting frustration -- which is VERY Ian. He starts out with this forced buoyancy -- we’re going to get out own place, you are going to get a legal job so you can stay out of prison, I am going to make this warehouse gig work, and even though I’m frustrated and losing patience, I’m still trying to talk things out, and touching your hand and trying to ground everything in the fact that we’re together and we love each other -- and then we see that get chipped away at. Ian’s paycheque reveals that he’s being scammed out of a living wage. Mickey takes the road less travelled and immediately brings in more money that he’s every going to be able to get through the jobs he can currently get as a parolee. Mickey isn’t gracious about this, and the tension ramps up and that four episodes later he’s just walking around with a well-established and throughly justified black cloud over his head. 

The Milkovich’s really arrive like they’ve bought a White Trash in a Bag collection from Target. They seem to even have brought mattresses expressly for the front yard. 

OMG, Mickey got a scene with Sandy (and Debbie). But honestly, my favourite beat is the look Franny gives Mickey after he says kids are idiots. I also love how Sandy joins Mickey in just not seeing a point in waging battle against their family.

Lip, this is a little thing, but you aren’t supposed to eat breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner. Brunch ideally REDUCES the number of meals you eat. But the key brunch move is to order something you can’t/wouldn’t make at home. Do not pay $14 for eggs and toast. 

So. Ok. I have seen some people very annoyed that Ian is so focused on Mickey not going back to prison, but I can’t see what is wrong with this. He just flat out isn't wrong to worry about it. It would be devastating if that happened. Mickey and Ian are extremely fortunate that he’s out at all. It’s a truly bizarre turn of events and I do not fault Ian for having a lot of concern about anything happening to jeopardize Mickey’s freedom. I also think this is confirmation that Ian just flat out doesn’t want to be without Mickey. I think he’s depressed -- and therefore extremely pessimistic -- in this episode, but there is far more indication that Ian wants Mickey around than that he doesn’t, so of course he’d be extremely focused on this concern. Also Cam puts some tremor onto “get sent back to prison” that really grabs my heart and squeezes. 

Cam in the towel is just good news. Mickey’s adorable with the gun. This scene is cute. 

This is the episode where I gave up on side-eying the Gemma-is-Superior running joke and just accepted it as kinda funny. Something about third-party confirmation. I dunno.

I enjoy the fact that Debbie apparently doesn’t know Sandy lives with them? Also, that feels like an Ian move. Gets boyfriend, moves in with boyfriend. 

The fact that Mickey is low-key playing Ian to get him to join him in this MUCH more promising venture is my absolute favourite. Bless the director for that foreground Mickey shot. Bless Noel for that nuanced facial expression. Bless everyone involved in that moment. It is one of my favourite things ever. 

I love that Ian’s whole reason for these outfits is so that Mickey will LOOK dangerous and not have to defend himself, thus staying out of trouble. That’s deeply, deeply sweet. 

Another sign that something is even more wrong with Frank than usual when he fully forgets the entire trip to visit the Brotherhood. 

I didn’t love V vs. Debbie but I really did enjoy Kev aligns with Frank, and also has a scene with Mickey. And that they weren’t silo’ed off on their own. 

So the eventual reveal we get that the old lady loves having rough sex with Terry was not a surprise to me because a) Shameless, but b) because of Christian’s face. Christian’s facial expressions are among my favourite on the show right now. 

I love this gif set by @sickness-health-all-that-shit.  What can I say except “look! Ian is smiling!” 

Mickey should be a better liar, but you know. He isn’t. 

I do like that, in this moment, the things they both bring to the enterprise come together to create a new possibility. This is pretty much exactly what I HOPED was going to happen and I love to see it. 

I think I’m going to ignore the Tami storyline because it was gross (not bad, but ... gross.) Also @fiona-fififi already wrote something that is much more comprehensive... I get the frustration, but just no part of me thinks Ian would allow himself to go where Tami did in examining what happened to her. Not at this point in his life. Which is sad, but very much in line with how Ian handles himself. 

Um. Yeah. Carl. Glad you’re not fully participating, Carl. But this is untenable. 

Overall, I am all the way in on this storyline for Ian and Mickey -- and pretty into the idea of V getting involved with politics. I think we’re getting all the seeds of where this show is going to leave the characters. And I haven’t loved every moment, but I do feel like the overall show is working for me better than last season. 

That might be faint praise. But I really liked this one. Best yet. 

[apolloloki97]

“The Angry Guy” Mickey Milkovich x Ian Gallagher

IMAGE CREDIT: SHOWTIME

Summary: The one where Trevor witnesses an angry Mickey after someone tries to hurt one of his family members. However, Trevor doesn't know right away that he's seeing his ex's new husband.

Word Count: 1460

Warning: Swearing

Song I Wrote To: “Chosen One” by Valley of Wolves

Note: Summary kind of sucks, but we'll go with it. This is my first time writing Shameless! I'll need a few to get my groove with it, but God I love GALLAVICH.

------

Trevor was sad to be out of Washington D.C., but being back to walking around the streets of the South Side felt as if he had never left.

After spending time on Capitol Hill trying to convince lawmakers to propose new bills to protect LGBTQ youth, he was exhausted. However, there was something about being back in Chicago that put his mind at ease. The bustling sounds of people, the harsh clanking of the L, and even the blaring sirens that never seemed to stop made it...home.

Then there were the people. He had missed his kids the most and even with daily phone calls and texts, it wasn’t enough. He had to get back to them and continue his work. As Trevor headed towards the Youth Center, he passed by a commotion on the corner. A cop car was half on the sidewalk as a suspect was being pinned down while a shorter man was yelling obscenities at him.

“You fuckin’ go near him again, I ain’t gonna be callin’ the fuckin’ cops, asshole!” the short, dark-haired man was yelling as a tall cop with glasses hauled a handcuffed man into the back of the squad vehicle.

“Fuck you!” the bleeding man yelled as the cop slammed the door shut behind him. The other man simply flipped him off with a smirk.

“Did you need to beat him over the head with a beer bottle?” a familiar voice said, drawing Trevor’s attention.

“Look, I didn’t fuckin’ kill the guy, Gallagher,” the dark-haired man said with a shrug. Another cop, one Trevor instantly recognized as Carl Gallagher came into view from the shop behind the altercation. He was looking at the man in front of him with an exasperated look on his face.

Trevor was surprised to see Carl with a badge. From everything Ian had told him about his younger brother, Trevor figured Carl would be the one in handcuffs rather than doing the arresting. “Gallagher!” the other cop yelled, “you coming or what?”

“Nah, man, I already called Rollins for a ride, gotta take this one’s statement,” Carl said with a point at the fuming man beside him. The other cop nodded and then got behind the wheel to take their prisoner away. Carl then turned back to the dark-haired man.

“You’re on parole, idiot,” Carl said.

“Hence the beer bottle, moron,” angry guy said, as Trevor had come to call him in the short moment of observation.

“Who the fuck says ‘hence’?” Carl asked.

“Me, bitch.”

“Whatever, just don’t do anything else stupid,” Carl continued. “I don’t want to have to arrest you.”

“The fuck did I do?!” angry guy exclaimed. “He was the one who swung first! Motherfucker nearly took Liam’s head off!” Trevor jolted at the sound of the youngest Gallagher sibling’s name. Someone had tried to hurt him and angry guy was clearly upset about it. Carl, however, didn’t seem to be that concerned.

“He ducked,” Carl reminded angry guy.

“You’re a real fuckin’ asshole sometimes,” angry guy said.

“Ah, I love you, too,” Carl said with a roll of his eyes.

“Whatever, I’m goin’ home. Try not to corrupt the fuckin’ city, will ya?”

“You gotta go meet Ian at the hospital!” Carl called as angry guy began walking down the sidewalk towards Trevor. “Debbie texted me, they’re gonna be there a bit longer.”

“I thought you said he was fuckin’ fine!” angry guy said.

“Liam hit his head when he fell,” Carl said.

“Fuck! Alright, I’m goin’. See you at home?”

“Yeah man,” Carl said. “Oh, and Mick!” Angry guy, or rather, Mick, turned one more time and stared at Carl expectantly. It was then that Trevor finally realized who ‘Mick’ was and why he seemed familiar.

Mick. Mickey. Mickey Milkovich.

Ian’s ex.

When Ian and Trevor had heard the news that Mickey had escaped prison, Trevor had watched as Ian’s world was pulled out from under his feet. Trevor had asked around after that, learning as much about the infamous Mickey as he possibly could. Lip was the one who gave him the best answer. Apparently, the two had known each other since Ian was fifteen and had been together on and off. From the way the eldest Gallagher brother explained, Trevor didn’t think they had the healthiest relationship.

However, whenever he heard things from Debbie or even on the off chance, Frank, Trevor realized that Mickey Milkovich was Ian’s, first epic love. That was part of the reason that Trevor hadn’t been surprised when Ian had run off to get him to Mexico to avoid prison. However, considering Mickey was standing in front of him and Carl was yelling about parole, Trevor figured that Milkovich had somehow worked the system and was a free man. Also, he was clearly back in Ian’s life.

“What!” Mickey yelled, answering Carl.

“Ian needs you to pick up Franny on the way,” said Carl.

“Why is nobody just texting me instead of you?” Mickey asked.

“Because you used your phone to smash that asshole’s face the first time, remember?” Carl said and Mickey paused before nodding.

“Right, got it,” Mickey said. “Well, why can’t Ian have you pick up Little Red?”

“I gotta work!” Carl said as another squad car pulled up, Rollins, Trevor figured.

“You’re his brother!” Mickey argued.

“And you’re his husband, start acting like it!” Carl shot back as he got in the car and flipped Mickey off as he sped off toward the station. Trevor was staring at Mickey in shock then.

Husband.

Mickey Milkovich married Ian Gallagher.

“The fuck you gawkin’ at,” Mickey suddenly said, breaking Trevor out of his trance. Trevor hadn’t realized he had been staring.

“Nothin’, man,” Trevor said. Mickey looked at him for a second before rolling his eyes and walking the other way. Trevor watched after Milkovich for a second before hastily pulling out his phone. He had unfriended all of the Gallaghers after Ian and he broke up, but he knew Debbie’s social media were still public.

It didn’t take him long to find what he was looking for. Halfway down the feed on her Instagram was a photo of Ian and Mickey in black and white tuxes, holding hands, as rice was thrown into the air. Ian had the biggest smile Trevor had ever seen on his face. Mickey, who was not only sporting a black eye, but a grin of his own, was looking into the camera Debbie held, but Ian’s gaze was somewhere else. Ian Gallagher was staring at his new husband as if Mickey hung the stars and Trevor felt a pang in his heart because he knew that Ian had never looked at him like that. Two matching wedding bands were on their fingers as they walked towards the car at the end of the walkway filled with friends and family.

Trevor continued to scroll after the wedding photos to see even more photos of Mickey Milkovich around the Gallagher family. There was a photo of Mickey spraying Franny with the hose as she tried to hide behind her Uncle Carl. Another was Mickey holding a small baby as Lip looked on with adoration for the infant. The caption read: Uncle Mickey holding Baby Fred for the first time. Already giving Lip fatherly advice.

More and more, there were photos of the ex-con surrounded by his in-laws. However, there also seemed to be an overwhelming amount of photos taken of him and Ian before and after the wedding. It seemed that Ian and Mickey were Debbie’s favourite subjects to take photos of. There were ones of them laying together on the couch during family movie night, a few taken at the traditional South Side bonfires, and even one of the newlyweds each holding one of Kev and V’s twin girls. Gemma and Amy both beaming up at their newly-married uncles.

There was one photo, however, that Trevor couldn’t stop looking at. It wasn’t anything out of the normal for social media, but for Mickey Milkovich it was historic. The photo was of Ian, Mickey, Debbie, and a girl that Trevor didn’t know. Debbie was kissing the girl in her arms while Ian had his arms around Mickey as the latter kissed him firmly. In the background, a large pride flag flew from the parade that was going on behind them.

“Mickey Milkovich at a Pride parade,” Trevor muttered as he stared at the photo in awe. With a smile, Trevor looked back at a retreating Milkovich, now Milkovich-Gallagher, and shook his head in amusement at the thought of Mickey being protective of Liam, joking with Carl, and kissing his husband at Pride.  “Damn Gallagher,” Trevor said with a sigh, “guess he wasn't that nuts after all.”

[crossovereddie]

Thoughts on Fiona’s Hall of Shame

I’m warning y’all right now that I don’t even want to watch this at all. I only am because Mickey is in it. I also don’t have any motivation to do this recap but I’m getting one out anyway.

Also let me just say: THIS IS GONNA BE LIGHTHEARTED BECAUSE I DONT EVEN CARE ABOUT FIONA! I don’t miss her character. That’s not saying I don’t think Emmy is incredible because I do. But she chose to leave and probably chose not to come back for anything this season. If you’re a big Fiona stan and expect this recap to be filled with me talking shit on the writers and being Fiona defense team, don’t read it. I’m just here to have fun and watch another dumb HOS. (Actually I’m really just here to see Mickey)

“Nobody gives a fuck about you.” He’s not wrong 😂😂

Emmy is so pretty :(((((

Carl😂😂

I’m bored :)

Where’s Mickey

Oh hi mickeys ass

Fiona and jimmy/Steve should’ve been endgame

Lip 😂

My sweet boy

This isn’t even that bad some of y’all are dramatic as hell 😂😂

This is as realistic as shameless can be

Carl and Debbie being “was she a good mom?” Is valid. Remember when Debbie was calling hospitals worried about her because she went missing? Remember when she was in jail for the Liam incident? Remember how lip was taking Liam to college and bringing back food from the mess hall? They saw train wreck Fiona at an impressionable age. Of course they have mixed feelings.

FUCKING LIP LMAO

Give lip the credit he deserves

MICKEY BABY

Ever since someone pointed out the mug I cant unsee it

They both tried their best. They both fucked up. But Lip has his own family now and still stayed.

The chaos junkies

I didn’t know this was a mini Lip HOS

Where’s Mickey

Seriously where is he?

THERES MY BABY

SLEEPYHEAD

LITTLE SPOON

PRECIOUS BOY

I LOVE YOU

Their cute little married room :((((

SEX VIDEO

DOOFUS

Mickey really hates when people nag 😂😂

HES SO CUTE OMG

Ian honey you’re cute too I’m sorry I was distracted by your angel of a husband

I love him so much

This is who Ian gets his nagging from

“Much nicer” 😂😂😂

Remember when she said Mickey would light a match to Ian’s life I WILL NEVER FORGIVE OR FORGET

HES SO BEAUTIFUL

THEYRE MARRIED

How does Mickey sleep with his wedding ring on? I take mine off lol

He loves his husband more than I love mine lmao

Put Mickey in h*rny jail

He’s always thinking about dick

Ian thinks his husband is funny :(

Aw I really did like that mike guy. I felt so bad for him

When V hung up on her 😂😂

Wait she kissed a girl????? And I missed it????

TEXT BOOK PSYCHOLOGY

WHAT AM I A FUCKING SCIENTIST

THEYRE FLIRTING

DONT FUCKING STOP

I LOVE HUSBANDS

THEYRE SO IN LOVE

IAN LOVES MICKEY

MICKEY LOVES IAN

I LOVE MICKEY

I LOVE IAN

They’re all I care about

I miss them already

Just make another Gallavich only episode it would be the highest rating

Bring them back

I’m bored again lol

It was nice to see the Fiona Kev V friendship

They should’ve let Mickey and Ian host the episode

Like go around and interview everyone

Idk I just miss Mickey

Did Mickey and Ian take fiona’s room?

I zoned out during Frank’s thing

Where’s mickey

BABY HIIII

Who are you texting hmm????

The Gallaghers annoy him so much but they’re his family 😭😭😭😭

HES SO CUTE

I love him so much

He doesn’t give a shit good for him

That was meh. Of course I made the whole thing about Mickey. Did you expect anything less? I love him so much bye

[somestansomewhere]

Frank’s Dementia in 11a

Points to discuss:

Moments where Frank forgot.

Things he might be able to remember.

Other characters finding out.

Aftermath...

So to start of, I made a list of every instance in SEASON ELEVEN A, where Frank’s memory seemed a bit off, I’m not gonna analyze the whole series for this but I’m sure there’s more there. Now:

Moments Where Frank Forgot

11x01

1. Frank’s History of Chicago

While this does appear to imply just the opening monologue, there are actually several moments throughout the episode where Frank is talking about the Gallagher’s running Chicago to Alan. And while this seems like typical “Frank being drunk nonsense”, plus a spectacular opening to the season... I now see it in a different light especially after:

2. Frank’s Memory Elixir

Frank LITERALLY has a line asking for “memory elixir”, meaning booze, which Alan hands him. Ironic since he has ALCOHOLIC DEMENTIA. You can’t tell me that wasn’t intentional!

3. He Forgot Bars Were Closed

Now, I may be reaching here... BUT when Frank enters The Alibi for the first time this season (what a grand enterence btw) he says “I heard somewhere all bars were open again”. V responds by saying something along the lines of “three weeks ago maybe” and that the mayor shut them down again. Frank says “Well who the hell can keep track”. And okay, yeah maybe Frank genuinely didn’t know... but this is the bar he goes to EVERYDAY. Not to mention if they shut down less than THREE WEEKS AGO, Frank should know... idk this one might not count but I added it anyway. Kermit is unaware of bars being open/shut down in 11x03 so moving on:

11x02

4. The Alibi’s Secret Enterence

Okay, again REACHING! However, when Frank entered The Alibi through the Keg Zone door he forgot to use the “secret knock” and Kev had to remind him about it. Now in 11x01 he used the front door (and I’m not sure he knew to use the other door in that ep) but still at least he remembered to use the correct door in 11x02.

11x03

This is where it got noticeable.. strap in, here we go:

5. Taking Franny to School

He took her to the wrong school. This is the same person that knows the Southside perhaps better than his kids (lol), like the back of his hand! He not only took her to the wrong school but a middle/grade school. Franny is in elementary/preschool school. You can see in WHM’s face here that Frank was confused...

6. Uncle V and Aunt Kev

Maybe just a comedic slip up, but Frank calls Kev and V “Uncle V and Aunt Kev” as opposed to what they really are. Maybe he forgot? I’m reaching LOL.

7. Debbie Is Not Fiona

Frank talks about one of his favorite MEMORIES with Franny’s mom: Debbie, but “oh no, maybe that was Fiona”. Small moment, typical Frank but... nonetheless, poor memory. The writers are smart by mentioning Fiona in this scene... it’s “a Fiona mention”, we’re going to remember this, and that’s probably why they did it.

8. The Paper Store

Yeah, this was the first red flag for me and if I can recall, the moment EVERYONE knew something seemed off. Frank, walks out of the paper store with Franny and cannot remember where he is, or where they are headed. Once he is reminded of their “goals” for the day (by Franny, a five year old) he proceeds to head to the paper store... Franny once again let’s him know that they already went there and Frank notices the paper already in his (Franny’s) backpack. Ouch.

11x04

9. The Nation of Islam

Ooo this one hurt! After Frank suggests to visit The Nation of Islam in an attempt to get their help to get rid of the Milkoviches, him, Kev, and Liam do. We SEE them go there. It’s a whole scene, so later in the episode when Frank suggests to go ask them for help AGAIN as if it were a completely new idea, we as an audience know they already did that. As Kevin says they “JUST did that”. Frank forgot. Shit.

11x05

10. Mrs.McCurdy

Frank discusses with Kev about murdering Mrs.McCurdy, later he tries to murder her. We see it, we remember it becaue she grabbed Frank’s dick. It was funny, the scene evoked laughter, it forces the audience to remember it. Frank mindlessly walks into The Alibi and Kev asks Frank if he “did the thing”. Now at first Frank is confused. They were using “quotation talk” earlier so yeah I get it, but then when Kevin is more direct with Frank, Frank thinks Kev is implying that he had sex with Mrs.McCurdy... Frank is clearly confused. Only then does Kev point out that he meant MURDER. Frank takes a second, again if you watch he does not know what Kev is talking about, but then it hits him, and he remembers. Thus continuing the convo like nothing.

11x06

11. Monica

Now this one REALLY hurt. Frank’s first scene of the episode is a sex scene between him and Letty. She’s blonde, and Frank calls her Monica. He truly believes he is sleeping with Monica, only Monica is dead, she been since season seven. When Letty mentions that she isn’t Monica (thinking Frank calling her that was only a sex thing), we see WHM’s brilliant preformence once again. Frank doesn’t know what Letty means, he thinks she’s Monica. Then when he realizes she isn’t, he gets this lost dejected look on his face. He’s confused and knows that he keeps getting confused.

Frank says “I gotta get to work”. Letty asks him where he works and Frank is left bewildered.

12. Seven

Okay so remember Frank and Franny’s adventure in 11x03? Frank visits a dry cleaners to get some weed. They make a point of Franny saying that Frank will pay SEVEN for the weed. No offer is made and Frank must get it somewhere else. Throughout the episode Frank refterences SEVEN to Kev & V as the asking price to sell. We as an audience are forced to remember SEVEN. Also in 11x03, as Debbie frantically looks for Frank/Franny, she visits the dry cleaners where they were (retracing their steps). We as an audience have been there twice.

Now, in 11x06 Frank goes to pick up an order but like, we already saw him go there episodes ago. When the woman behind the counter literally tells him she has nothing for him and he argues with her, WE KNOW she is right. Once again, Frank forgot. I’m so sad. Not only that but Kev and V don’t have Frank going on runs anymore. Ian & Mickey are doing it... Frank is legit lost and forgot that he’s not doing that anymore, Kev tells him he’s not in 11x04.

Ms.G even says to Frank that she doesn’t need to write anything down to remember it because the “Mind’s a steel trap”. She doesn’t owe him... she can use her mind to remember where Frank cannot. The irony.

13. Pedestrian, Blue, Handlebar (abc)

a) Frank getting hit in the head results in him having a visit to the hospital where a nurse discovers that Frank has no clue how he got there and more specifically, how he got hit in the first place.

b) The saddest part, when asked his name he remembers FRANK. But has to look down at her sheet to know his last name is GALLAGHER. This is the man who walks around saying “It’s up to Frank Gallagher to save the neighborhood”. He forgot his last name.

c) The scene goes on, the nurse asks him to remember three words: pedestrian, blue, and handlebar. They discuss other things, then she asks him to tell her those words. It’s so abundantly clear that Frank just cannot. He doesn’t remember. He was told like 30sec ago and gets, for the first time ASHAMED. He’s the most shameless person ever (hence the title of the show) but now the tides have turned. He “doesn’t wanna play this game anymore”. Frank can recognize AGAIN that he is confused, only now he is forced to face it. The nurse noticed, she runs some tests and Frank learns that he has early stages of alcoholic dementia. This isn’t his liver, he can’t get a new one, this is his brain.

14. + 15. Letty & Terry

Just two bonuses, Frank wanders aimlessly into the Alibi again (like in 11x05) because it’s routine for him. Letty calls him over. Frank forgot they were supposed to meet there. :(

Frank and Terry on the porch: Maybe it’s just bad writing or they were trying to make a point but like a “Gallagher-Milkovich War” never happened??? We watched the show for 11 seasons... Also are the Milkoviches actually from Poland Frank? I’ll excuse that one cuz Ian mentioned it too, but I thought they wer Ukrainian. These seem like writing mistakes tho so oops.

Things He Might Be Able To Remember

Frank has his and Franny’s name tattooed on his body... he literally forgot his last name at the hospital. And if he forgets a bunch in 11b then that’ll be the payoff for the tattoo... he might not know why the tattoo is there or who the people are listed on his arm, or even what it means exactly, but he will know that Frank loves Franny.

Where he lives. Frank never threw out the paper with his diagnosis. He might remember his home, however the conflict comes in the fact that the Gallaghers might be selling it. He needs to be around people/places that are familiar to him. This could jeopardize his memory.

The Alibi is where Frank seems to just walk to or go to whenever he has no clue where he is or going but it’s subtle. I could see him getting lost and no one knowing where he is and Frank just being at the Alibi beacuse idk muscle memory? He’s on autopilot.

Early stages of ALCOHOLIC Dementia can improve. Like if maybe Frank were to tell someone and if he wasn’t removed from the Gallagher house, and oh I don’t know if Frank STOPPED DRINKING, he could remember. But I don’t think we’re heading in that direction, especially if the house is sold, and let’s face it... it looks that way.

Fiona? Will he forget her... this all feels reminiscent of 4x11.

Other Characters Finding Out

Franny, Kevin, and Liam, are the only people who have REALLY been subject to the possibility of noticing... but think about it. Franny is too young to notice anything, Kevin is not the brightest bulb, he doesn’t seem to realize it either, and Liam was exposed to it once, but at that time he was so scared about the Milkoviches that he didn’t notice it. Maybe if he saw it again, he would. Liam is smart enough.

I wonder if the Gallaghers will just find out the hard way (,like those stills from 11x08 are making me think,) or if anyone will begin to seriously pick up on it. I intially thought they would show Frank forgetting in front of each character until someone was able to notice but scratch that. They seem to be setting Lip up on the “alcoholic path” this season, (and I may go more into depth about that one another time, it’s another big post if I do get into it). But what will the Gallagher’s reactions/feelings be towards Frank’s diagnosis? Mickey and Ian had many Terry/Frank discussions in 11x06 literally setting up for it. It hurt when they all kept dismissing Frank because yup, they don’t know yet. They would have to help him in order to keep his memory maintained, but that’s the thing... Frank’s pride. He might deny their help even if they actually were to give it to him... Either way, I’m “looking forward” to see how this all unravels and how everyone finds out and what their reactions will be, which brings me to my final topic:

Aftermath...

So what happens? Will they sell the house, potentially causing Frank to forget? Will he not know his kids, his history? Will he die? Will Frank finally stop drinking... yeah I doubt that... So what WILL happen? Will the Gallaghers be left to take care of Frank? Will they even do that? Will he remember them?

What if in 1x01 Frank’s narration IS his memory? We see him talking about his kids to someone? It circles back? I don’t know, but either way I expect this whole thing to pull on our heartstrings. When the rest of the regulars find out... it’s gonna get real, and rough.

Interesting stuff coming up in 11b I’m sure. Let’s see how this plays out for our Protagonist and Patriarch: Frank Gallagher.

Omg, if you read through this, you are so cool and I really really appreciate you! Please send me an ask or write a note, I would love to get your take on the matter. 💙

Hope you enjoyed this analysis and I hope it didn’t go on too long.

[loftec]

what do u think about the new episode? because i personally fucking hate it :) i hate shameless, the only thing i care about right now is fic 😔

Same, my friend. I have been thinking about what to say or not to say about this for over a week and every time I've sat down to just type something out, I haven't been able to articulate anything. But I have so much to say, so I will try.

Now, if you (reading this, right now) are one of the lucky peeps who like this season and what it's got going for Ian and Mickey, so far... then maybe skip this rant. I honestly don't want to drag you down with my criticism. It's so ok to peacefully enjoy something without having to listen to people being crabby about the thing you love. Pax vobiscum.

That said.

(Crabby rant under cut.)

But if you're like me, kinda hurt and let down for the very last time, please stay a while. I'll tell you why I'm like this, and why I'm no longer angry, just disappointed.

Here's the thing, the first episode wasn’t any fun for me, but I quite enjoyed the second! It was the kind of low-stakes close-knit family stuff I want from a Shameless episode. Literally all they have to do to keep me happy is cram a bunch of Gallaghers into a kitchen and let them talk to each other for five minutes. I'm very easy to please. I like Sandy, I like what she does for Debbie's character. I like Tami, I like that Lip seems a lot happier. I like Liam, someone please take care of the boy. I like that Carl has a goal, and that he's all grown up. I like that Ian and Mickey are married and that they're a part of this family again. It’s a nice vibe, we’re having a party for Franny and it’s not perfect, but we learned something and we’re having fun. It’s fine.

On the whole, it’s nice. But for someone whose main priority is Ian and his significant other, it’s the same old bullshit all over again.

In seasons 1-5, I'm pretty sure Ian and Mickey only had like three conversations with each other that weren't plot relevant. But it was fine, it's en ensemble cast and Fiona, Lip and Frank got most of the A plots. Ian and Mickey had a lot of serious stuff going on, so the 5 minutes they got to do something each week had to be used dealing with all the shit they had to deal with. It's fine. This is fine. It's fine. I understand how TV works. We cut in on them in the middle of a conversation about Jean-Claude Van Damme, and I understand that they've spent the whole evening together and that they've talked about other things as well. Silly, inconsequential things, things people talk about when they like each other and want to be close and get to know each other. And when we're dropped in the middle of Ian, Mickey and Svetlana playing house in 5x1, I understand that it has been a period of time since we saw them last, and that things have changed. That they have talked about some things, and not talked about some things. And I happily played along and filled in all the gaps, I did the work; I imagined them together on a good day, on a calm evening lounging on the couch, on a lazy morning sleeping in. Quiet breakfasts, lively dinners. I imagined what they would say to each other, what they would talk about and what they still couldn't talk about. I did the work because it felt like it was worth it, because I knew that the story they were focusing on (Ian's illness and Mickey coming into his own) were worth it. That they needed every second they could get to tell the story of a mentally ill teenager and his abuse survivor boyfriend learning to love and support each other, and get better and grow up on their own terms.

I, the fool, kept thinking that one day. One day it would get better and they would get a break and the show would give them a minute, just a minute here and there, to be happy. Have a conversation that we could get in on. Have one good day for us to witness, and not just imagine.

Instead they broke them up for production reasons, for behind the scenes bullshit, for no reason at all, other than the simple fact that the show runners have never once cared about Ian and Mickey as much as we have. As much as Cam and Noel have. They had no qualms about rewriting a whole season's arc to make no sense in the last minute. They had no issues with throwing a beloved character in prison and leaving him there for a season and a half (which could have been good storytelling... if not every single Gallagher to ever get locked up had some lucky thing happen to spring them out again way before they’ve done their time). They had no problem with letting Ian say and do one thing one minute and then the exact opposite the next.

I think the thing that truly made me give up on the show at that time was the tattoo. We had such precious few things to work from when trying to understand these characters and we did our very best. We took the crumbs and we built a whole castle of cake. And one of the cornerstones, one of the first fucking things we ever knew about Mickey Milkovich, was that he could spell the name "Ian Gallagher". And if they wanted to give him a bad tattoo, they still could have. Maybe he did it himself and got it wrong because of the angle. Maybe there was a miscommunication and whoever did it on him got the name wrong. But no, they had to have him sit there and claim that he didn't know how to spell his boyfriend's name. It was so petty, so mean-spirited, such a massive fuck-you to anyone who dared to care and retain the things they'd previously told us about Mickey, I just had to stop caring about canon. I drew a line for myself around the canon I could understand as emotionally consistent, and ignored anything that landed on the other side of it. Perhaps not the best way to watch a TV show, but then I also stopped watching the show. So it worked out.

Anyway, this wasn't supposed to be about the first five seasons. But I'm obviously still bitter, and I wanted to explain why I'm well past the point of chasing after crumbs. Because it’s still the same bullshit, only now they’ve exchanged important, nuanced storylines about coming out and getting better for... I don’t know. Talking about sex and arguing about money.

Here is an incomplete list of loftec’s crumbs of disappointment, so far:

Ian and Mickey have been married for 6 (?) months, and the writers will have you believe they still have not had a conversation.

Ian is still relegated to C-plots (only now he's sometimes allowed in the background of an A plot, which is fun I guess but still not near what he deserves after all these years).

Meanwhile, Lip got two separate extended scenes detailing how he tricks his girlfriend into spending less money, in the first episode. That’s so much airtime spent on one point. In the second episode, he had a casual conversation with his baby! Ian and Mickey haven't had a casual conversation about anything since fucking never! 

Ian and Mickey have talked about sex and money, so far. Nothing else. Important things, I'm sure. But let's compare this with Lip in the same episode. Lip and Tami wake up together, they get to be sweet to each other, talk about their lives and daily routine, they have a chat about coffee and someone they know who is having a hard time, then they get into the subject of their conflict du jour. Ian and Mickey get a weird allusion to how much sex they're having (so much sex you guys, just believe and it will come true!) and then they're arguing about jobs and money. For two whole episodes. Except that one time where they got derailed and accidentally talked about monogamy instead.

Monogamy. Something they haven’t talked about before. And apparently a word Mickey doesn’t understand, or know how to spell.

And it still feels so petty, because it's just. So specific. They could have chosen any of the magnificent character traits of Mickey's that they teased us with in the first five seasons, and this is the thing they pick? And then turn into a main character trait?? Mickey can't spell. Mickey doesn't understand words. Haha ha. And I'm not purposefully misunderstanding this scene, I promise. I understand what they were trying to do. I most certainly understand what Noel acted his ass off to convey. I am not here freaking out about Mickey wanting to be with other people, or Ian saying this or doing that. I'm not worried about them cheating or getting a divorce. I'm just really disappointed that this is where we are now.

That Mickey, who we all saw through and understood to be smart and loyal, quick on his feet and quippy as anything, has been reduced to this. I'm pretty sure he's had his hand down his pants in half the scenes he's been in so far. I don't know what that means, but it's like... a choice. And I don't like this choice. They could have had an insecure conversation about monogamy and money and we could have gone on this journey with them as they struggle with their inability to communicate and I would have been all for it, if it had been written with something more, anything else, something to break through the plump humor and crass approach to this marriage that Ian spent half of the last season trying to have a conversation about! But never got to, because the writers thought it would be funnier to have Mickey punch Ian in the face and run off with some guy, rather than talk to him!

Also, I know this is getting outrageously long, but the fighting. The fighting is another thing. Who here watched that scene in 3x9 where Ian tries to get Mickey to be honest with him and Mickey kicks him in the face rather than admit he's gay, and thought, hey! Guys being guys, am I right? Who here watched that scene in 5x10 when Ian punched Mickey in the face because he didn't know how to accept care from someone who loves him and wanted to feel a feeling, and thought; oh yes, this is just how they communicate! This is fine! I know I didn't. But sure, why not. It's a choice, I guess. They're just manly men, and manly men fight with their significant others. They beat the shit out of each other, no problem. This is not something we need to have a conversation about, not at all.

This is about writing. They easily could have written Ian and Mickey’s scenes differently. They could have had incidental bits of conversation, hinting at their lives outside of this conflict they’re having. They could have been in the background of someone else’s scene, just a quick gesture of something nice that would help flesh out the bits in between. They could have conversations and storylines about pretty much anything, and still bring up the question of monogamy and Mickey’s residual insecurities about Ian’s past infidelity. They could have been subtle about it, instead of writing a clown scene where Mickey acts like a clown and Ian doesn’t remember that he’s done a lot of shit in their past that they maybe need to talk about. Because they still haven’t talked about it? NOT ONCE? THEY WERE IN THE SAME CELL FOR MONTHS! AND NOT A SINGLE CONVERSATION WAS HAD. THIS IS FINE. I’M FINE.

I get it. This is supposed to be a fun show about whacky characters. It's supposed to be outrageous, the show runners and writers are choosing these things to get a reaction. I get it, and I don't like it and if you think this means that I should stop watching the show and shut up, then I agree with you.

But also, I love these characters and this community, and I want to like this season. Our last season. I want to watch it and still hope that Ian and Mickey will get to have a conversation about nothing special, just because they like each other, before it's over.

And if not, there is always fic. And you know I will be making them talk to each other in NTW until there are no words left.

[gallavictorious]

11x01 Reaction Post

Random thoughts on and reactions to 11x01; no careful analysis or anything, just the bits and pieces that's not likely to make it into meta proper but which I still want to make note of so I can go back later and remember what my initial reaction to the episode was (since my impressions are likely to change as the season unfolds). Mostly Gallavich related, because duh, but there's disordered rambling on a bit of everything. Under a cut (God I miss LJ sometimes) because this got long.

Ian looks damned good as the homocidal muscle. I don't do AU:s, but if I did... On the other hand, Frank as a member of the Chicago “Eight” looks like a werewolf. Less interested in that AU. And listen, I get that they couldn't get Emmy Rossum for this, but I really miss Fiona showing up in a few random olden day pictures. She's gone, but she's still a Gallagher dammit! Carl at the slaughter house looked weird – and part of me thought that was appropriate because slightly off editing would be a sweet way of communicating that it's all bollocks, but the rest of shots looked okay (Debbie as a milk maid and Frank as the aforementioned werewolf) or good (everything else) so no.

The sound of a baby crying is a horror matched only by persistent lack of sleep so I feel for Lip and Tami so much. Here's to all parents who managed to get through the first year without murdering anybody! I think that maybe you don't get enough credit... I, for instance, want to kill someone just hearing Freddie cry in the background for half a minute. Not sure it bodes too well for their relationship for them to be so ready to spend every night apart like Lip suggests, but a, what wouldn't you do for a good night's sleep, and b, love the thought of Lip spending more time at the old house. Could see them breaking up during the course of the season, though. Not sure how I feel about that – Tami's my favourite out of Lip's love interests, but having too many of the couples staying together all through the finale wouldn't feel quite right (for Shameless) and I don't see them breaking up Ian and Mickey or Kev and V. Don't really expect Sandy or Debbie to last either, but since it's more of a casual thing it might have more of a casual end.

Do you remember when the promo dropped and there was Concern about That Look on Ian's face after he kisses Mickey, and I tag theorized about it being because Mickey stole his coffee? Turns out there wasn't really A Look in the actual episode, but I sure as hell was right about the coffee, and I want noted somewhere. Maybe there should also be a small diploma? A golden statue seems a little over the top, but I mean, if you insist...

I appreciate that Ian is very adament about it being their money but when Mickey thinks it's their breakfast it's suddenly every man for himself. Do you share or not, Ian? Hmm? (Let the record show that I'm joking, please. Ian is damned right to take his toast back, and I say this as a “person most likely to steal their partner's toast right out of their hand”. I also love that Mickey completely gives up on breakfast when he can't have Ian's toast and just grabs a beer instead.) The kitchen scene is glorious and I just really like their dynamic here; the casual kiss, “I only make breakfast for husbands who have jobs”, how relaxed it is even when Ian's a bit annoyed, Mickey being so... Mickey. I do wonder what went through his head when Ian started talking about their wedding present money, though – he seems worried for a moment, but then shrugs it off, and that could be either bravado or just actual lack of concern. I tend mostly towards the latter, since Mickey quite genuinely figures this isn't a big deal (even though he still recognizes that Ian will probably think it one). Please note that he immediately offers to get money when Ian mentions that they need more of it coming in. Not his fault Ian vetoes his methods, right? (Also love that Ian's objection is due to him not wanting to be separated from Mickey, rather than any moral qualms about robbing stores.)

Okay, the gag ball. Would they really keep it like that if they were actually using it? Maybe either of them just tossed it there after taking it off, I suppose... Yeah, I don't know. Not what I'd imagined them being into, but that might be my own extreme lack of enthusiasm for gag balls and harnesses talking. Either they're into it and if so, you do you, boys, or it was a gift and they're keeping it around and semi-prominently on display for shits and giggles. (But if it was a gift, they did try it at least once, right?)

Mickey in the bath remains stupidly and surprisingly gorgerous. Incidentally, I really don't think his question about the meds is any indication of him not thinking them important, but there's little wonder that Ian bristles at the mention of them. Maybe not be an ass just to prove a point, eh, Mick?

I've already talked about how hard Ian is trying here but let's just take another moment to congratulate our boy on his persistent attempts at mature communication. Though he might have given some actual consideration to Mickey not wanting to save the money if he's really serious about them making decisions together... But he gets there! I think this whole situation – which would royally piss most people, including me, off – is actually particularly difficult for Ian, because he might well see Mickey's behavior as uncomfortably reminiscent of Frank and Monica's destructive habits and yeah, that would fuck him up. And still! He forces himself to calm down! He takes Mickey's hand! He refuses to let himself be distracted by Mickey looking SO INSANELY PRETTY I CANNOT EVEN UNDERSTAND IT! Ian, I salute you!

[starwars_eu_nerd_mode]KORRIBAN! YES! HA! TAKE THAT DISNEY! You take your new so-called “canon” and your “Moraband” and you fuck right off. I salute you, Bitcoin Boy![/starwars_eu_nerd_mode]

Ah, the porch scene... This one I do have a bunch of thoughs on that will probably make it into meta proper one day, so I'll leave it for now. It was the one that took the most thinking about for me to square (still not a lot, it should be noted), but now I'm actually very happy about it. (Full disclosure: none of their scenes feel quite right the first time I see them these days, because I'm just so very on edge about what's to come that I kind of miss the forest for all the trees you know? It's not a Shameless thing – it's always like this when I'm extremely invested in something and have waited for it for some time. Will it fit with how I see the characters? Will it be cringey? Will Mickey suddenly profess a love for hideous Hawaii shirts? Also, what are they saying because English is hard... But then I watch them a couple of times and they sink in and I start to get giddy over them. I guess watching actual canon unfold always requires a little bit of re-calibration if you've been busy fanoning while waiting for it to arrive, and while I love that sort of interpretative work, there’s also the fear that the show will veer off into a direction I cannot easily follow.)

Mickey's insistence that he spelled monogamy wrong does genuinely amuse me. Not to mention the whole “No more parking tickets for me!” - “You don't have a car, dumbass.” Also, Mickey being friendly with Carl kills me, in a good way. Family FTW!

Frank's storyline fails to stir even the vaguest hint of interest in me, as per usual. For all his talk of family in this episode, the lack of interaction with any of his kids is striking. If he's to have any value at all this season I'll need him to get involved in the rest of the Gallagher's storylines (which seems like it might be happening at least for a bit later on, so I'm vaguely hopeful?). I find but faint intrigue in Carl's and Debbie's stuff, but it doesn’t annoy me either so I'll call it a win. Kev and V are (almost) always a delight, but do anyone else feel like their kids are only props, even to them? I don't know... I just don't think there's a connection or sense of realness to their relationship, you know? Maybe it's just me... Anyway, here's to hoping V turning pageant mom changes all that! Oh, and I'll need Liam to have some more screentime and stuff to do.

The Tommy and Kermit thing was weird. Eh. Whatever.

Sandy is so gorgerous. I can't. The Milkoviches really be bringing it this episode.

This is only the second season I've watched episode by episode as it airs (other one was S6) and it's a curiuos experience. I think that by and large, and particularly in later seasons, Shameless works better when you binge it, but I love the delightful anticipation of waiting for a new episode and the feverent discussion that follows. Sometimes I also despair over the ferverent discussion that follows, but... you know. It is what it is. Admittedly, any attempts at meta this early in the season is a precarious venture at best, since we don't have the whole story, and it might be wiser to abstain but it's just so much fun, so I'm not very likely to stop.

All in all, I love the Gallavich stuff, am intrigued by Lip & Tami and Kev & V's lives, okay with whatever Debbie and Carl's got going on, hot for Sandy, bored by Frank, and missing Liam. It sets up a lot of promising things, but as an episode all unto itself it felt a bit empty – probably because there were no real plots and the storylines didn't intersect as much as I would have liked them to. Shameless is best when it's about family, which both the show and Frank seems to recognize, but there's little narrative follow-through on that realization in this episode; everyone is pretty much doing their own thing. Adored the Lip and Ian convo, and that house party scene was wonderful, but so short. Think we'll get more of all of them together going forward, though, and more actual plots too, so I'm very excited about it all. Can't wait for Sunday!

[m4ndysk4nkovich]

fiona gallagher and debbie gallagher.

something i’ve noticed in the shameless fandom is that some (a lot of) people hate debbie and love fiona, and others hate fiona and love debbie. what honestly confuses me is why more people don’t love them both so much?

so, to start off- they both share three important things about their characters. grew up/matured far too quickly, constantly self-destruct, and are the only girls. these three things make it so that they’re more similar, but also make it so that they are always fighting with eachother and the fandom is always putting them against eachother.

in fiona’s case, she had no choice but to grow up too quickly. actually, that’s the case for every gallagher, but especially her, since she was first, and the second that lip was born (when she was 5) she became a mother. she had no choice, it was either raise her siblings, or let them die. she further started self-destructing by having sex at a young age, and once she started doing that she did it frequently, to the point where she connected it to her worth. she got into toxic relationships, and jumped from relationship to relationship without every catching a break (that’s a direct quote from shameless) and throughout the show, fucks herself over whenever things are going well. for example, going on a bender while on probation. and, a lot of the people who hate her (irl and in the show) are misogynist’s or people who don’t bother to understand her well enough to hate her.

in debbie’s case, she grew up too fast also not by choice, except there came a point where she started to mature quicker on purpose when she no longer needed to act 23 at 13. one of her first lines is, “you’re almost nine, carl. you’re going to need to start pulling your weight.” she’s a year older than him so clearly she has already done her part and stepped up, and throughout the first two seasons you see her acting so mature, yet so childish. she goes from kidnapping a child to innocently playing with a baby doll and naming her “gin-gin”. then, there comes a point where fiona has taken legal guardianship of the kids, and has a good job. she has an opportunity to relax, but she doesn’t. debbie is traumatized, and abandoned, and scared, so she confides in the comfort she’s seen work for her older sister, older guys. she dresses a certain way, sleeps with a twenty year old guy (whatever your thoughts are on that situation doesn’t matter in this case), and ends up getting herself pregnant and carrying the child to term. this is all pure self-destruction. then she continues to self-destruct, ruining friendship’s, relationship’s, even her bond with her family members. all of her hurt and trauma from childhood led her straight into the depths of hell. and what’s one of the major reasons she’s hated in the show and in real life? you guessed it! because she’s a woman. and like her sister, another reason she’s hated is because people refuse to read into her character and only see what’s on the surface.

fiona and debbie are two hurt girls who didn’t recieve enough love and so they self-destructed. but, do you want to know the most ironic thing? that’s what every single gallagher ever has done.

frank is a drunk and a drug addict who never bothered to attempt to recover, even when it was for his kids, and even when it was for himself.

lip is an alcoholic who has purposefully ruined his relationships and his schooling just because. he, unlike his father, has tried to recover, but fails.

ian also ruins his relationships to destruct himself, and like his sisters, starting having sex with older guys at a young age. we even see him burn himself “just to feel something”. in ian’s case, though, he gets a happy ending. not everybody really gets that.

carl doesn’t self-destruct as much, but at one point with kelly, he did. he gave up on west point, he gave up on becoming a cop, he gave up on everything and just decided to work at fast food until the alcoholism, substance abuse, and mental illness came to him.

liam honestly didn’t get the time to destruct himself… he was so young throughout the entire show. however, there was that part where he found this potential family for him that were all black and related to monica, and he felt seen by them. but then he robbed them all and ruined it. i’m not sure this really counts as much, though.

but the boys never get as much criticism, because why would they. they’re boys.

fiona and debbie should feel more connected. when fiona leaves, debbie takes on her role and tries to hold everything together, but instead, everything falls apart. debbie has really always wanted to be like fiona, and i always see people on tiktok saying “debbie’s really trying to be fiona💀” and shit, but it’s honestly true, she is like her. just not in the best ways.

anyways, that’s my rant. i have more to say but this is all that’s really important.

[ickeyandmian]

oops here are some thoughts on 11x08 regarding Frank and Terry’s storylines

Spoilers ahead

Please bear in mind that these are my thoughts and interpretations. I understand others may not feel the same, and that the themes in this episode could have been difficult or painful for some, nonetheless I’m going to delve into what I took from it.  

I didn’t come into season 11 expecting to care about Frank but for me, his mental decline has been one of the most interesting storylines of this season, and arguably the most interesting storyline for his character throughout the show as a whole. What sticks out for me mostly is the care that the writers have clearly taken in setting up these final moments of Frank Gallagher’s swan song. This is a hard topic, it’s hard for viewers, who have developed a love/hate relationship with the man over the past 10 seasons, it’s hard for those who may have experienced loved ones suffering from dementia, and it’s a hard topic to write sensitively, especially for a character like Frank who has toed the line between villain and hero since day one.

But I do feel the writers are taking that care. It’s a slow burn, it’s not something that has come out of nowhere. It feels justified, developed, and with every episode we see those clues and those symptoms build and build and we know that there’ll be no lucky escape this time.

Frank has always had strong ties to his environment, he proudly belongs in the southside and that is heavily linked to his own selfhood, as we saw in 11x01 and his ramblings of the Gallagher’s history in Chicago (a questionable topic in terms of its accuracy). But that’s all being taken away from him. We’ve seen the gentrification of the south side, the threat of the Gallagher house being sold and now, in the latest episode, something so small as the renaming of a school is enough to threaten that wavering sense of his identity that Frank has been slowly losing as the series goes on.

Memory is a fickle thing, especially when it betrays you. The smallest things can trigger a stream of thoughts buried deep in the back of your mind and at this point, Frank relies on those triggers, because without them he ends up wandering the streets in the dark, calling out his kid’s names in a desperate attempt to simply find his way home. He talked fondly of his school days and, though he may or may not be fully aware of it, there’s a real fear that that’s going to go too, that he’ll forget.

If the school has a different name, what will ignite those happy memories again?

So he falls into his old ways, it’s political correctness gone too far, it’s a ploy by the woke millenials to specifically target people like Frank, to take away everything from him, to rewrite a history that he’s terrified he’ll one day forget and will be gone entirely. It’s a painful irony to watch his devout duty to remember battling against the inevitability of his regressing mind. Which is why, when it comes down to it and he’s standing in front of the panel of judges, we see that it was never about the naming of the school. It was about the memories he has, the ones he can still pick out of his muddled mind and share with a room full of strangers and about the responsibility we have to remember the past.  

And when Frank says there are ‘Gallagher memories embedded in every inch of that school’, we see the hint at the bigger issue at play here. Selling the house, a place that’s much more befitting of that statement than an elementary school. Without it, will Frank remember his family? His childhood? Will he forget Monica eventually too? The house is the last rickety foundation of Frank’s memories, and I’m equal parts excited and anxious to see what path his storyline goes down should they sell.

Now Terry.

Terry’s was a story about closure. But this is Shameless, and we were never going to get a neat and tidy resolution. It’s gritty and it’s complicated which is part of what makes this show what it is. There’s a lot here that felt significant, though it’s hard to tell if it’s intentionally so or if, as a fan, I’m reaching as always to desperately explain every nuance of what we are given of Mickey.

The driving force of this episode is that Terry Milkovich fucking sucks.

We know that, have known that for 10 seasons, and Mickey knows that, but Mickey is in the unique position of being both Terry Milkovich’s son and the face of a people he hates. Though we all would have loved to see Mickey turn his back on him for good, I’m glad we didn’t.

Family is family, and that is something that has been ingrained into Mickey since he was a child. It’s something that’s been weaved into the show from the start, from Mickey defending Mandy from an alleged assault no questions asked, to Mickey’s brother’s helping him kill Frank, again with no questions asked.

This has been discussed countless times by people much better at words than I am so I won’t labour the point, but we’ve seen the strength of Mickey’s sense of duty, the agony it causes him and how he does it anyway. And in this episode, we got a glimpse at that relationship from both sides.

The exchange between the two of them ‘You’d have made a have decent son…’ Vs ‘You’d have made a half decent dad…’ felt genuine in a way I wasn’t expecting. Not much was said, and what was said was laced with insults but the intent was there. Terry, racist, homophobic, vile, evil Terry in an undignified moment of vulnerability in being taken care of by the person he tortured and abused, is forced to face that fact. I’m not saying he feels remorse, or guilt or anything resembling that, but he’s aware of the situation and he responds to it. All he has left are his scathing words. He uses them, Mickey fights back and they’re left at a ceasefire.

It’s an exchange that sums up their years of history, and the fact that they had that conversation together is so important to the closure of their story because it’s an acknowledgement. It’s Terry admitting that Mickey was useful to him, then and now, and it’s Mickey finally getting to say what he’s always wanted to his father, just the two of them, without an audience. We then see Terry open his mouth and we, as an audience, wonder for just a moment if there is going to be more, maybe Mickey does too until it’s clear that Terry is just ordering Mickey to continue feeding him, to continue to be useful.

It’s interesting that in this small gesture, we see that Mickey’s usefulness in the situation outweighs Terry’s hatred of him, something that’s never happened between them.

And I believe from Mickey’s point of view, he understood that that’s as close to an apology as he’s going to get. But I also don’t think he was looking for one. He said himself, he wants to be better than Terry, and every single action he’s taken since then has proved that he already is.

I think I would have loved if this storyline had been given the time that Frank’s has, if it had been built up gradually, rather than the show treating Terry like a cartoon villain who in later seasons just seems to come and go when necessary, and then trying to squeeze whatever moments of sincerity they could from Noel’s gut-punching acting choices. (The look on Mickey’s face at the end is one I won’t be forgetting soon).

The death was shocking. I’m still figuring out how I feel about it. But it’s interesting to see that it’s Terry’s evil nature that is ultimately what killed him. His racist attitude chased away the first two carers, he bullied and harassed them until Ian and Mickey were forced to find someone white in the hopes his attitude would be different. Had he not driven the first two away, maybe he’d be alive. I would say he was undone by his own fatal flaw, but that would be implying Terry deserves the fanfare equal to that of a Greek hero. Instead, it’s simply an evil old man finally facing the consequences of his actions.

As they say in Oz, ding dong, the witch is dead.

[dramaticviolincrescendo]

Ian and Monica vs. Yevgeny and Svetlana

That’s right. I’m going to do a meta post. Because this fantastic gifset from @sickness-health-all-that-shit got me thinking about something from a different angle. I’m not sure if this has been noted in the fandom before since I’m still relatively new compared to the Shameless veterans, so sorry in advance if this has been talked about to death. 

From the time Ian returns in season four through the last occasion when we see him with Yevgeny in season six, it’s pretty clear that he loves that kid almost as much as Svetlana does and far more than Mickey seems to. Obviously, Mickey has a lot of justifiable reasons for not feeling particularly paternal towards Yevgeny that I won’t get into here, and we do see a bit of a shift in the police station on that front for the first time. However, the fact of the matter is that Ian is more of a father to Yevgeny than Mickey--even Svetlana mentions his help when she’s talking to Kev. In my meta-viewing rounds, I’ve seen a lot about how Yevgeny’s relation to Mickey and Ian being just a genuinely kind, compassionate person play a huge role here. I agree. There is, however, an enormous parallel with his own upbringing that I want to explore at length, and since writing is kind of my medium, I figured I’d do it here. (Again, if this has been talked about before, please continue scrolling and have a wonderful day! :D )

Ian has mommy issues. 

Ian also has daddy issues. 

There. I said it. 

All the Gallagher kids have issues with Frank and Monica, and we see them “act out” throughout the series in ways that would indicate that they suffer from a level of trauma strongly associated with their parents. For now, let’s focus on Ian’s since he’s who this post is ultimately about. 

Frank:

Unlike the rest of the Gallagher siblings, we don’t really see much happening directly between Frank and Ian without the rest of the family involved in the first four seasons prior to Ian meeting Yevgeny. To my knowledge, all they really have is a brief deleted scene conversation and Frank offering “advice” when Ian is trying to warn him that Mickey is upset. Their other interactions tend to be more negative, with Frank beating on Ian or Ian joining the rest of his siblings in getting Frank out of the house. At the end of the first season, he even finds out that Frank isn’t actually his biological father. His speech to Lip and behavior for the rest of the series seem to indicate that it doesn’t matter to him and he still considers Frank his father regardless, but that was a heck of a smack to the face when he was already growing up with Frank’s special brand of manipulation and neglect. 

So, where does that lead him? Places where a child his age shouldn’t have been. Interacting with much older men who preyed on him rather than trying to find him help or just staying away. They had an aura of stability that we have seen time and again is what Ian craves, through ROTC and West Point and these relationships with people who seemingly have their shit together. (In reality, we all know it’s a facade. Kash and Ned absolutely do not have their shit together, and Ian’s demeanor around them visibly shifts when he finally sees that with Kash shooting Mickey and Ned’s family falling apart.) As with Frank, he is willing and able to let them go when he realizes that they are more of the same: another deadbeat. 

Now, let’s table that and come back to it in a moment. 

Monica:

Ian’s relationship with Monica clearly has a greater impact on him throughout the series in more ways than merely their shared bipolar situations. She’s the only biological parent he has, and she’s definitely the only parent that has shown him any real affection from what we’ve seen. (Until the wedding. I’ll give Frank a few karma points for not causing trouble and being happy for Ian.) Monica loves him--he knows that. Unfortunately, he also knows that that love is not enough to keep her around or make her a better mother to any of her children. If anything, the combination of her affection, his grudging love for her, and her disorder render any efforts she does make counterproductive. For example, Frank has never engaged with Ian’s dreams of becoming a soldier, but when Monica finds out that that is his goal and that he’s upset about not having the grades for West Point, she hauls him right over to the recruitment office. To her, it’s an act of adoration. Everybody else knows it’s insane: Ian was underage and shouldn’t have been anywhere near there. Just like he shouldn’t have been anywhere near clubs, being objectified. Monica wasn’t being malicious. She seriously thought that she was doing what was best for him in her own way. Her own way just happened to be really messed up. To a large extent, it seems like Ian recognizes this fairly early on until he gets sick and doesn’t know who to turn to.

Rather than write her off the way he does Frank, however, Ian stays in touch with her behind his siblings’ backs. He knows she isn’t a good influence and that they would be appalled if he told them that they still talk. But he cares. She’s important to him. Fiona is fantastic, but she’s his sister. This is his mother, who obviously loves him even at her worst. He can’t let that go. He has to cling to that one parent in the same way that the others cling to Frank at various points in the earlier seasons before he burns their final bridges at one moment or another. 

Character Foils: Yevgeny, Svetlana, and Mickey

I think Ian’s relationship with his parents is a huge reason for why Ian behaves the way he does with Yevgeny in part based on the timing. It doesn’t begin when he moves into the Milkovich house. It doesn’t start with the obligation if he is going to live with Mickey since Svetlana isn’t going anywhere. Even though his discomfort over Mickey going to the baptism surfaces afterward, Ian starts actively trying to take care of Yevgeny the same day he sees that baby. Why bother? He hasn’t shown any concern for Svetlana before. He even sarcastically congratulated Mickey when they found out she was in labor without actually pushing for either of them to be there. Why does he decide at that moment to get involved, knowing that Mickey wouldn’t be happy about it and that Svetlana wouldn’t accept the charity from him, of all people? 

Well, because it’s a painfully similar situation to what he’s accustomed to, isn’t it? 

Mickey left home, just like Frank. (I’m not saying he didn’t have a good reason: he had a lot of trauma to endure that Frank didn’t. Frank not wanting kids has nothing on what Mickey went through to wind up here.) He didn’t want a baby. He didn’t want to be a father. He is just chilling at the Gallaghers’ house, both of them pretending that things are the way they used to be because the changes aren’t right in front of their faces anymore. When Svetlana walks through the front door looking for him not because they’re married, but because of the baby? When Mickey doesn’t care? Regardless of the reasons, that has to look familiar to Ian in practice. 

Svetlana gives a shit. She’s willing to threaten Mickey with something that could end his life (if Terry were so inclined) if he doesn’t step up to support their child. Again, she’s not asking him at that point to be a husband. She doesn’t ask him to move back in, and when she does later, there’s no reason to believe that Ian knows about it since he wasn’t there. For her, it comes down to love for her child as far as Ian is concerned. She’s got problems--there’s no denying that. But she loves her kid more than anything. She comes to find Mickey for the first time looking frazzled because their kid needs things. When Ian needed to feel better about Mickey going to juvie, Monica was there. When Ian needed to be comforted about his future, Monica was there. By that point, Monica was even there for him when he went into a severe manic episode, ran away from the army, got kicked out of Ned’s condo, and had nowhere else to go. She didn’t stick around, as Monica’s MO tends to dictate, but she was there when he was in need and was gone when he reached a state of what she would define as stability. (We know he wasn’t stable. Dear heavens, he was so not stable.)

It’s not Yevgeny’s fault that his parents are kind of a shitshow (courtesy of Terry, of course), just like it wasn’t Ian’s fault that Frank and Monica were the same. Yevgeny was born into an awful situation he can’t control. Ian must understand that better than almost anybody. By this time, his older siblings have found a sense of control over their lives while Ian’s whole world is bouncing up and down around him, spinning too fast for him to keep up. 

Ian has something that Yevgeny doesn’t: experience. This kid is just getting started, but Ian has already been there. He’s grown up with a dad that doesn’t want him and a mother who loves him, although his own mother didn’t stick around the way Svetlana did. Then again, Ian barely knew Svetlana beyond her occupation, so for all he knew, even that wouldn’t last. Maybe she would go the same way as Monica. 

Nobody would have wanted that for Ian, and it only makes sense that he wouldn’t want it for Yevgeny.

So, he steps up right away. He doesn’t have time to go through the mental process of coming to terms with the fact that this is Mickey’s kid and how he’s going to need stability. That much is obvious when he questions why Mickey is going to the baptism only to be told, “He’s my son, man.” It clearly hadn’t registered for him entirely, they’d been so encapsulated in the bubble they’d built for themselves when Ian came home. 

Tl;dr - That gut-instinct to act? That immediate response to seeing--not hearing--that Yevgeny needed things that parents were supposed to provide for their children? Ian is such a kind-hearted person that I don’t put it past him for an instant to do what he could, but I think his own upbringing played a large role in the decision. He wasn’t looking for praise or to get Svetlana off of Mickey’s back. He saw a newborn baby who was in danger of growing up with a father who didn’t want him and a mother who loved him but perhaps not enough to save him someday. 

Just like Ian. 

[brianc521]

Behind the Bar

Better Late Than Never | Part 2

It’s like time’s frozen around the two while they stare at each other behind the bar. Both in complete shock to be seeing the other. 

“Hadley.” Jacob breathes out, blinking a few times to make sure he isn’t dreaming.

He takes a moment to study her features. Long gone is the girl who used to hide herself behind her hair. Long gone are the baggy clothes she used to hide her body. There’s no book in her hand, and he wonders if she’s breathing okay because of it. The thought has him grinning. 

“Jacob Palmer.” She laughs, shaking her head. She shamelessly checks him out, eyes lingering on his arms for a beat too long. She admires the intricate torch tattooed on his left bicep, the handle etched with a ‘EKP’. Jacob flexes his arms, in hopes of some sort of reaction as he catches her staring, and it makes her blink quickly. She looks back up at him with flushed cheeks and a shy smile. “Never in a million years did I think I’d run into you.” 

He laughs, nervously scratching the back of his neck. “I figured you’d skipped town after high school. Got away from all of us riff raff, went off and did bigger and better things.” 

It’s after the words tumble out of his mouth does his brain register what he’s just said. Her whole face drops, something flashing through her eyes. It’s the same look she would have when someone gave her shit in high school for liking to read. It was a look he read easily. It was hurt, pain, embarrassment. That look doesn’t last long before she clears her throat. She pulls her shoulders back, standing a little taller. Her eyebrow raises at him in an unimpressed way, her cheeks red hot. 

“Wow okay, let me take over this conversation before he sounds like even more of an ass.” Teri interrupts. “I was starting to think you two knowing each other was a good thing, now I’m rethinking who I have Hadley training with.” She eyes Jacob. 

“No.” He blurts. “I’m sorry.” He reaches a soft hand out to Hadley. He touches her wrist, her eyes flicking to his touch and then back up to his face. “I didn’t mean it like that. I swear.” He desperately says, chest tightening in panic. “Wow, I’m a fucking idiot.” He mutters to himself, but both women hear, nodding right along with him. “What I meant was, I never thought I’d see you again. And I’m glad that I am.” He gives a small smile, thumb rubbing on the pulse point of her wrist.

It’s a soft touch, a welcome touch. Hadley can’t remember the last time she felt something like this. 

“Right after high school was a bad time for me.” She says too quickly, gently taking her wrist from his hand. “But I’m doing bigger and better things now. I’m past the bad times.” 

There’s a story there, and it’s got Jacob intrigued. He squints at her for a moment, trying to see if he can read it through her body language. He likes to think he’s always been a good judge of character, but he can’t read her. Something’s off, something is totally different than the Hadley he went to high school with. He just can’t quite tell if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. 

“Okay, well, while I love the reunion, we kind of have a busy house tonight.” Teri brings both of their attention to herself. “So Stevens has been behind a bar before,” She explains to Jacob. “Just nothing to our caliber. Show her the ropes, teach her the drinks, explain the tab system. I pulled Hawkins,” She points to Chelsea, who’s making a drink. “From the floor to give you some backup while you train Stevens.” 

Jacob nods, giving Teri a mock salute. “You got it Captain.” He grins, watching Teri roll her eyes and flip him off at the same time. “At ease soldier.” He teases. 

“Stevens.” She looks to Hadley. “By mid shift I want you on your own. I know you’ll need some more training, but we don’t have time for Jacob to hold your hand all night.” She shrugs. “He’s my best bartender, which is why I let him run it back here, and we’ve got 2 bachelor parties coming in. Also, the college down the road let out on spring break, so expect a lot of frat boys.” She points to both of them. “I want all ID’s checked at the bar, you hear me?” 

Hadley nods, and Jacob gives another sarcastic salute.

“Boy you’re gonna lose your job tonight.” Teri warns him.

“Oh come on Ter, I almost lose my job every night. You just love me too much to let me go.” He winks. 

“Last but not least,” Teri ignores Jacob, turning back to Hadley. “If you have any trouble you tell Palmer immediately. You got me?” 

Jacob nods, turning to face Hadley. “Hads.” He says softly, gently touching her shoulder to catch her attention. Her big brown eyes flick up to his stubbly face, holding all the innocence she’s always had. “If someone looks at you funny, says something that makes your skin crawl, anything that makes you feel unsafe you scream my name like it’s the last word you’ll ever be able to say. I’m not joking, okay?” 

“Okay.” She nods, at both Jacob and Teri. “I got it.” She assures them, although in the back of her head she can’t help but think that no one can be worse than Brody. No one can make her feel the way Brody did. The thought of his name alone makes her want to claw out of her skin and burn it. 

Teri nods at them. Turning on her heels and walking off without another word. She’s off to check in on all the girls working the floor. Making sure patrons are keeping their hands to themselves, respecting her staff. Who needs more than one bouncer when you have Teri running the show. 

“Here,” Jacob hands Hadley a spare apron from the hook behind the bar. “It’s nice to keep like a pen, notepad, straws and shit like that on hand. Usually on slow nights I hide my phone in there too, that way if I need to be reached I can be.”

Hadley watches him intently while tying the apron around her waist. She follows him as he quickly goes up to the bar. 

“Hey man,” He greets a customer. “How are you?” 

“Jake!” The customer cheers. He looks dirty, long hair that’s going gray. He’s skinny, unnaturally skinny. He’s wearing a black Motley Crue shirt, it’s tucking into his skinny jeans. “I was hoping you were working tonight.” 

“Ryan, this is Hadley.” Jacob introduces her. “She’s a new tender,” He explains, slapping Ryan’s outstretched hand away. “Be nice.” He warns. He then turns to Hadley. “This is Ryan, our biggest regular. He doesn’t bite, unless you ask.” 

Ryan sends a flirty wink to Hadley, one side of his mouth lifting into a grin, showing off his yellow teeth. 

“Do I wanna know how you know that?” She asks Jacob, eyes bouncing back and forth between them.

Ryan barks out a laugh, hand coming down to slap at the top of the counter. “That was good. She’ll survive here, seems like she keeps on her toes.” He states, pointing at her but looking at Jacob.

“Well,” Hadley pushes in front of Jacob, pushing a black cocktail napkin on the countertop. “You can speak to me like I’m right here, because I am.” She points to herself. “Unless you’re three shots in, then there might be three of me. You seem like a lightweight.” 

Ryan stands straight, both hands settling on the countertop as he glares at her. Jacob stands behind her, trying to hold back his laugh. “Whiskey sour.” He orders.

“Okay.” She smiles, getting to work on his drink. “So you’re the biggest regular? What’s that mean?” 

“Well when the doors open? I’m the first in. When they close at night? I’m the last out.” He grins, arms crossing against his chest like that’s the highest you can get in life. 

“Oh,” She nods. “Gotcha, well in that case I think I’m gonna call you Gallagher.” She puts the glass on the napkin, sliding it over to him.

“Gallagher?” Ryan asks.

“As in Frank Gallagher.” She explains. “From Shameless.” Nodding to her hand that’s held out for his payment. 

“Put it on my tab.” He points with his chin. 

“Give me something to start a tab with.” She raises an eyebrow at him. 

Ryan grumbles, digging into his back pocket and slapping his debit card into her hand. 

“Thanks Gallagher, enjoy your drink.” She smiles, turning around and running smack into Jacob. “Oh shit, sorry.” She looks up at him. “I forgot you were there.” She blurts. 

“Do I even need to train you?” He asks, a smile bright on his face. He’s highly impressed with the way she handled Ryan. He can get lippy, and try to get away with claiming he’s already paid. 

“I mean,” She shrugs. “I worked at a bar straight out of high school. Needed something to pay the bills. It’s been a few years since I’ve been behind the bar but it’s like riding a bike. Skills never go away, all customers are the same.” 

“Okay, well then, do your thing. If you need anything just holler.” He nods, turning to get started with the group of guys that just crowded the right corner.

**

By the time the bar is closed Hadley has created a spot for herself behind the bar. They had a few learning curves for working around each other but by the middle of the shift Teri was able to put Chelsea back on the floor. It was like they’d been partners working together for years. It just flowed, they understood the others' notes on things, they didn’t argue or have issues helping the others customers. 

Personally, that’s where the awkwardness comes in. They didn’t talk at all during the night. There was never a down moment to talk. So it makes the two of them alone in the back break area very quiet. The tension is thick, and Jacob can’t stop looking at her, and she can’t stop trying to avoid his stare. 

“So,” Jacob speaks up, leaning his back against the lockers. “Did you just move back?”

“Um yeah.” She answers, pulling her hoodie over her head. “I moved to Washington with my boyfriend,” She stops herself. “Well now ex boyfriend. He got accepted to Washington State, and I planned on going to a community college.” 

He perks up, loving how easily she opens up to him. “What’d you study?” He asks, turning to grab his phone and wallet. 

“That’s just the thing,” She grimaces, “He went to school, we got an apartment, but with his full work course who was gonna bring home money to pay the bills? So I got a job, told him I’d start school later, except later never came.” She brushes over her past quickly. 

Jacob can tell there’s a more in-depth story there. That there’s more in the dark parts that she won’t shine light too. 

“What happened?” He asks, following her to the front of the bar where Teri was finishing closing up. 

She laughs in a self depreciating way. “It’s a long story Jacob, it’s okay.” She waves him off.

“I’d like to-” He starts, being interrupted.

“Make sure you have your tips everyone! Let’s go.” Teri calls out. 

They all crowd the door, waiting for Teri to unlock it. Everyone shuffles out, soft mumbles floating through the quiet calm of the night outside. Jacob stays behind, waiting for Teri to lock back up. 

“Make sure you get some good groceries okay? I saw the way those sorority girls were tipping you. Make sure you get fruit loops, she’s been going crazy for them lately.” Teri says over her shoulder.

They walk together to their cars. Jacob always makes sure to park next to Teri, that way he can ensure she gets to her vehicle safely. He’s about to duck into his car when he catches a glimpse of Hadley walking down the sidewalk.

She's holding tightly to her bag that’s slung across her shoulder. Body huddled in on itself as a way to fight off the cold of the night. 

“Hads!” He calls out, watching her jump and then look over at him. He didn’t mean to scare her, but if it got her attention he’d do it again. “The fuck are you doing?” He asks. 

“Going home?” She jabs a thumb over her shoulder, pointing in the direction she was walking. 

“On foot?” He questions, receiving a nod. “At 2:30 in the morning?” Another nod. “Are you out of your goddamn mind?” 

“How else would you like me to get home?” She asks, throwing her arms out to her sides. 

“Get in.” He tilts his head towards his car. 

“I can’t ask you to do that.” She shakes her head, silently hoping he’ll leave her be.

“You aren’t asking, I’m telling you to get in my fucking car. I’m not letting you walk home at 2:30 in the morning alone.” 

She sighs, weighing her options. Does she let Jacob take her home, allowing him to find out she lives in her mother's old trailer? The trailer that housed her most of her high school days? The trailer that her mother so graciously left her when she went on a bender that ended up killing her? 

Or does she walk home and risk that someone else finds her and forces her a ride to god knows where? 

One option is better than the other. The better option leaves her embarrassed and wishing she’ll never see Jacob again. The other leaves her dead in a ditch somewhere. With that revelation she makes her way over to his Camry. He smiles when she starts walking towards him, and it’s a smile that makes her stomach fill with butterflies. The same way it did when she was in high school. 

He quickly gets in, leaning over to the passenger seat and opens the door from the inside. He grins sheepishly when she slides into the seat. 

“Sorry.” He breathes out. “The handles broken from the outside.” 

She laughs, and shakes her head. “What happened to the Jacob Palmer who rode his Harley to school everyday?” She asks, looking over at him. 

“Life happens.” He shrugs, cranking his key three times before he can get the engine to turn over. 

She eyes him suspiciously, seeing how much he’s aged since they graduated. He’s got a story behind his tired eyes, and worry caused wrinkles. It’s a story she wants to hear, and she’s 100 percent sure it’s a story she would have never guessed would be his to tell.

“So,” He turns to look at her once the windshield is defrosted enough to see through. “Where to?” His devilish smirk on his handsome face as her thinking maybe she should have gone with the other option.