I was pretty impressed that the younger characters took the lead in this episode and knocked it out of the park. Carl has shown time and time again that underneath it all he has a really big heart and will do anything for his family or those he cares about. I also really liked how they once again showed how much he looks up to Ian and follows his direction. Debbie's storyline rang true as I've known some girls who made other girls miserable. I like how this show isn't afraid to show the downside to being a young girl growing up and how it can be riddled with insecurity and the need to feel wanted.
I always knew Frank was going to live so I really didn't give much thought to the liver storyline, plus it was worth it if it meant that we got to experience Frank in a moment of pure regret and heart break over what a crappy father he had been. I seriously doubt that will change anything, but it was nice to see that somewhere deep inside he really does love his kids. It's just too bad his mother screwed him up so much he is incapable of loving his kids.
I didn't know what to think about Amanda at first, but I'm starting to come around to her side. I have to admit that when Lip kissed her it seemed as though it meant something, like maybe he is really starting to fall for her. I know there are a lot of Lip and Mandy fans, but I never had the impression that he liked her as much as she liked him. I always had the impression that he liked having her around doing stuff for him, but that was it.
The MVPs of the episode have got to be Ian & Mickey. Can someone please give Noel Fisher an Emmy, because the performance he's given this season has been one of the best I've seen all year. I was also pretty impressed with Cameron Monaghan. There have been times when Noel overshadows Cameron, but I felt, and not for the first time this season, that he was the perfect match for Noel in their scenes. Mickey's coming out was a thing of beauty and I loved that the show wasn't afraid to go violent with it either. Not that I'm a fan of violence, because I'm not, it just felt right for those characters.
