Shameless 4×03 Review: Like Father, Like Daughter

This week’s episode showed that sometimes you can be your own worst enemy.  I loved the interesting contrast between Fiona and Mike as to how different social classes will deal with issues like addiction, especially when the addict in question is family.  There were some funny moments, but the moments that really stuck with me were the ones that contained emotional depth.  So let’s jump right in.

Debbie continues to worry me.  My dislike for her “friends” grows with each episode and has me asking the screen constantly, “Honey, what are you doing with them?”  Matty rejected her advances in a sweet way, going so far as to cover her up, which made me very happy.  I think that Debbie is desperate for some stability in her life, and this guy provides that.  In a way, he does for her what her family used to do.  When the show first started, the Gallaghers were doing things together, whether it was solving family problems or sitting down in the living room to watch “Deadliest Catch” and eat burgers.  They were a unit, Gallaghers against the world!  But now both of Debbie’s older brothers are gone, Ian seemingly MIA, and Fiona is starting to spend more time with Mike.  There is no unit anymore, so Debbie is reaching out.  Now do I trust this guy’s motives?  Of course not!  He is in his twenties and has no business hanging out with a thirteen year old.  I feel like there is something more to him, and I hope and pray it isn’t sinister.  I’m worried about what will happen once the others find out Debbie and Matty.  He seems like a very sweet guy, but all anyone will see is “adult male with minor” and try to beat him into a pulp.

Mickey really hurt my heart this week.  He was only in the episode for all of five minutes, but he still managed to pack a punch.  Ian’s continued absence is really taking its toll on him, and as corny as it may sound, the fact still remains: Ian was Mickey’s rock.  With Ian, he was able to let his guard down just a little and be himself.  But now he’s turned into a ticking time bomb.  He’s playing a game of Russian roulette, and eventually he’s going to hit that chamber with the bullet.  Now these are just theories of mine, but if I’m right, I’m curious as to whether Ian’s return will coincide with Mickey hitting rock bottom.  I hate that we have yet to hear anything about Ian in the show, but if you have a Tumblr, you can follow the official Showtime Tumblr for entries by Private Gallagher.

Now onto our troublesome trio!  Props to the makeup department for their work on William H. Macy.  Every time he was on the screen, it just looked like he smelled.  Via her Twitter account, Emmy Rossum shared that during the course of filming this season, Mr. Macy lost over 20 lbs while playing sick Frank.  Now that’s dedication.  I may not like his character, but I love watching the man work.  In regards to the Sammi situation, I’d like to know what makes Frank so sure she is his daughter.  The Joe Dirt moment at the end of the episode where she kissed him had me and my family groaning in disgust.  As an audience member, I can’t help but feel sorry for this woman because I know what Frank is up to and that he doesn’t care about her.  Frank’s number one priority has been and always will be Frank.

Lip’s troubles from last week continued into this week’s episode.  I had a nerd moment for like half a second when I saw that his professor in this episode was being played by Gideon Emery AKA Teen Wolf’s Deucalion.  I hate seeing Lip struggle like this, but at the same time, it is refreshing to see a representation of college that doesn’t involve just keg stands and frat boys.  Anyone that’s a college student will tell you that college is tough.  You have to bust your butt and trying to work at it halfway will get your nowhere quickly.  In the promo for next week’s episode, my heart dropped into my stomach when I saw Lip back at his old stomping grounds.  I hope Mandy gives him a verbal ass kicking back to Boston.  I mean, I want to see an Ed Harris circa The Abyss “You never backed away from anything in your life!  Now fight!” confrontation.  Now I know the saying “college isn’t for everyone”, but I can’t help but think Lip is different.  I don’t want to see him end up like Frank.  He’s better than that.

Last but never least in my book, Fiona…oh but where to start?  Like I stated in the introduction, Mike and Fiona provided an interesting commentary on people deal with having an addict for a loved one.  Some might prefer Fiona’s methods of cutting that person out of their life completely or, like Mike, continue to help their loved one because they’re “family”.  Now we were just introduced to Robby and weren’t given a lot to go on about him, so we don’t know how long he has been an addict.  But from the moment he walked into the dining room with that leather jacket and devil-may-care attitude, Fiona’s interests were piqued.  I love Fiona to death, but I was really disappointed in her this episode.  Exhibit some self-control, female!  My sentiments from last week’s review still remain strong, wanting to reach through the screen and shake her.  If she doesn’t want to be with Mike anymore then fine, break up with him.  But don’t continue to date him while sleeping with Robby!  Fiona loves her bad boys, but I think this time around, it will come back to bite her in the ass.

So another bites the dust.  This was a good episode, Mickey’s scenes being the stand out moment for me.  I’m worried about my Gallagher clan as they continued to grow further and further apart.  What were your favorite moments of this episode?  Comment below and thank you for reading!

Author: Sarah Sue

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