S06.E08: Be A Good Boy. Come For Grandma.

[ElectricBoogaloo]

Fiona tries to get Sean's son to like her, but when he starts warming up to her, he takes a gun from the Gallagher house.

 

Promo:

 

Clips:

 

Edited February 28, 2016 by ElectricBoogaloo

[WaltersHair]

This episode made me throw up in my mouth. Several times.

An all time High/Low for the series. Yea.

[WhosThatGirl]

Honestly I don't even know what I'm watching anymore. I couldn't care less about Sean's son because Sean despite all intents by the show is never going to grow on me. I also dont get the character it seems they change his character a lot. But I don't care about his son. Also Fiona get to be a better parent tonher boyfriends kid but not the ones who are actually her kids? I know Debbie and Carl have their own stuff but what about Liam? I guess he's with Frank and sammis mom but still.

Well at least Ian is doing something besides starting a new relationship. I'm still never going to like the new relationship but that's the shows own fault for the way they have been writing it. So it's on them and everyone can be mad at me for their reasons but I am entitled. I'm sorry but I didn't like any of the group date scene. And now his secret of being HIV positive, that is probably supposed to one again endear me that both he and Ian have secret diseases but I'm still not on bored with the pairing. I probably won't ever be.

I don't even care about anything with Lip. Or Debbie. Except she is starting a new relationship with Jake from Awkward. Who likes pregnant girls? The hell? I.. Don't get it. Not that funny to me.

However I did like seeing lips professor mentor again and Lip's reaction to Carl's reinvention of the house.

Carl has probably the only storyline i can even care about for a little and even that wears thin at the best of times, like I could do without the Frank of the whole thing, but you know.. I mean Frank hasn't been a good part of this show for like quite some seasons. But thats just another one if my opinions. Also his scene with Fiona.. I have missed her acting like an older sister. Also I did like Sean giving away his things for Carl so he gets points there.

And then he loses them again for yelling at Fiona. I get it Will got a gun from Carl but.. but it makes me hate him more, he's already working from zero and this show makes me want to hate him. Even if fiona bugs the hell out of me and she does, I will always be on her side for some reason if the character shes fighting with is not a Gallagher, Vee, or Kev pretty much. But yeah get the guns the hell out of the house!

I spent a lot of time watching the minutes waiting for the episode and for Girls to come on so i can find a show to laugh and enjoy.

[Tooch]

Fiona officially the worst legal guardian in history. I thought at least when she moved in with Sean that she would at least take Liam out of that hell hole. But no. She left him there knowing what Carl does to get all that money. Honestly, she belongs in prison. I'm sure she'd act completely offended to hear me say that, because she is the most oblivious person ever. God damn. I actually feel pretty bad for Sean. He lost his car and now he's going to lose his kid, all because made the mistake of getting involved with the Worst Person Ever.

 

Loved Carl though. Would like to see a lot more of that. And I can't believe I'm saying this, but I looooved Queenie and Lip! Adorable. Please let this be the last of fucking Helene, and please don't let Lip become a Frank-level alcoholic. Let him be happy, SHOW.

[Primetimer]

And Angela Hamilton can't with any of it, but maybe least of all with Frank's cornrows.

Read the story

[sazzat]

Blech, I hated hated HATED Lip's erectile dysfunction storyline. Particularly as he starts thinking it's related to his, y'know, massive drinking issue--which it should have been--but no, it's Helene and it's magically resolved by some creepy touching just in time for him to star in a foursome. Ha ha, outrageous!

 

Liked seeing some emotion from Carl, but hate how Fiona is still oblivious to responsibility. Fi, you learned two seasons ago that "I didn't mean for it to happen" doesn't hold up in court, so don't offer it up as an excuse to Sean as if his wife would care whether you meant for her son to find a loaded gun or not.

 

Why is anyone deferring to Frank? Like, why is Carl asking for his advice at the beginning? Why are they paying attention to either Frank or the crazy woman he's moved into the house? Why would Fiona leave any of the siblings she's supposed to be in charge of with Frank and Queenie for even two seconds?

 

I'm all in with the previously.tv article: Frank in cornrows is not funny. Frank stepping in as a runner and heavy for the local gang is not funny and not even remotely possible.  And if Carl was supposed to be a subordinate...maybe I shouldn't rely on The Wire, but really, he was pulling in tens of thousands a month as a dealer? That's for the guys at the top of the pyramid.

 

Deb's storyline was a one-episode creeper. Great.

 

I don't even know with Ian and Caleb. Kind of like last week, If I'd started watching earlier this season I would be more into it. At least Ian finally said something that acknowledged his bipolar disorder and gave us some sense that he's got some issues about it; that was a pretty tense "I've got it under control." C'mon, show, can we actually see him coping with it (and see more of him period? Can he please get some screen time that isn't romance or background? Can Fiona and Lip count for this too, please, so their entire lives aren't based on who they happen to be fucking)? Caleb's confession of HIV was unexpected. I'm kind of cynical about it, consider how much positive attention How to Get Away with Murder received for the storyline with Oliver testing positive and Connor starting PrEP last season.  STDs are something that Shameless has ignored for a really, really long time, considering (for everyone, not just Ian, though his behavior is associated with the highest risk). There have only been a few references to condoms on the show for anyone, and we see plenty of sex where it's clear that no condom was used. We've never seen Ian use a condom as far as I know, or even refer to using one. It seems like they're playing catch up on this issue; at the very least they should have made it obvious a long time ago that Ian (and Fiona, and Lip) have been lucky in the STD department, and I'm wondering what makes them introduce HIV now and in this way when they've ignored it for years. I feel like this is a way for them to try to be topical without having to change a main character.

 

Can we please hear that Ian has a GED? Just say he got it offscreen or something, because I can't suspend my disbelief that an EMT doesn't need one and since they made a point of his dropping out of school multiple times.

 

Pet peeve: why does no one ever say anything about the major age difference between Fiona and Sean? Lip got shit from Ian for his "older woman" professor. Dermot Mulroney is in his mid-fifties, and he can pass for younger but not by that much. I guess Ian isn't getting too many odd looks for Caleb since he's dated men older than his own father before, but Caleb's not exactly part of Ian's peer group either. At least one of the friends mentioned how young Ian is, since I was annoyed that everyone else seemed to treat a late-twenties guy dating a nineteen-year-old like it was nothing. It happens, definitely, but people notice and comment.

 

So: either nothing happened that will have any effect or the stuff that happened was same-old, same-old. The only progress was Carl moving away from the thug life and Ian moving toward functionality as a human being again. Four episodes left, Shameless. How about you do something with these characters that makes some kind of sense?

Edited March 7, 2016 by sazzat

[whiporee]

Angela should probably stick with The Good Wife or something, If you're easily outraged, this isn't the show for you.

More Sherilynn boobs. Full frontal of a poor actress glad to have a speaking role. Sorority girls acting out 80s video porn. Fiona getting yelled at by someone she loves for something that's only tangentally her fault. Shamless checklist complete.

While I still like the show, I'm pissed they threw away a bunch of storylines tonight that could have been pretty good. Lip's drinking -- and Queenie's pointing at him like a young Frank -- really had legs. Debbie's new pal was giving me really skeevy vibes, thinking this could be an actual real threat to her instead of just another perv with a pervy pal. I was liking seeing Carl work to get out, but then for a stupid Frank scene or two it's sacrificed.

I don't care much about Ian, but I thought his scenes were sweet enough.

And according to the previews, Gus is now back and wants the ring. More reasons to think Fiona a bad person. Yay.

[CarolMK]

Ugh, Frank naked and having sex. I need brain bleach after seeing that one. Please show, I've been a fan from the beginning, don't make me stop watching because 

of that mess.

Speaking of sex, I think Lip needs a break from it too. The scene where he's trying to get himself off was just sad and desperate. Same with Debbie and the guy who

picked her up at the baby store. 

Frank taking over for Carl is borderline ridiculous. Why isn't Frank running his own stuff to try to make money?

[Dee]

Love Caleb & Ian. The actors have a really sweet, tender chemistry. Glad Ian realized that normal doesn't have to mean better or worse, just different; and that Caleb & Ian as a couple are being allowed to build slowly. The writers will probably destroy them, as they do with every other ship on this show, in the next couple of weeks, but for right now they're pretty great together.

 

Loved Vee & Carl. She's the tough, warmhearted Auntie that every family needs.

 

Over Sean bitching at Fiona. He knew exactly who she & her family were when he trusted her to babysit Will and seeing as he gave Carl sanctuary a couple of weeks ago, he was more than willing compromise his custody of Will all on his own.

 

Lip & Queenie were really gross. It's interesting, if unsurprising, to see him drown himself in sex to forget Helene.

 

Debbie & Larry were even more gross than Lip & Queenie. Glad Debbie was creeped out & left. Dude was seriously giving me serial killer vibes.

 

Frank's shenanigans were a waste of airtime. William H. Macy deserves better.

[Muffyn]

This episode was one big fail.  Sure drug dealers give a brick of coke to Frank to deliver.  Why not?  That's sound decision-making.  Then again, they let Karl out of the gang by taking his clothes and making him walk home.  Sounds about right.  Rather than actually address Lip's issue with alcohol, he gets a foot job from his granny that leads to orgasm.  Yay!  At least now he's free to have a foursome in the sorority house.  Because that happens all the time.  Pretty much every woman who sees Lip wants to fuck him.  And Sean is suddenly father of the year.  How are his track marks?  Healing up or is he still adding to them? 

[ElectricBoogaloo]

Poor Carl. When he pulled his hood over his eyes before entering Frank's room, I was with him. I don't want to see naked Frank either. And of course Frank, being 100% Frank, told Carl he couldn't quit being a thug. What a contrast to Fiona asking if she could say she was proud of Carl and crying when he said he didn't want to see anymore dead bodies. Although part of me wishes that Nick were still around (mostly because Carl obviously loved him a lot), it's about time that Carl realized he doesn't want to spend the rest of his life witnessing violent deaths.

 

I have to admit that when Carl's bosses showed up in front of the house and started chasing Frank, I was kind of hoping they would catch him. I know it's unrealistic of me to think that Frank will die before the show is canceled, but still. A girl can dream, especially since Frank seems to have used up all nine of his lives at this point.

 

The one other moment I really enjoyed Fiona was when she was trying to get Will to stop pouting and she said that they could go try hoverboards but not talk to each other. Even though it doesn't seem like it very often these days, she does know how to deal with kids.

 

I was relieved when Debbie's new friend turned out to be obsessed with pregnant women, but that's only because I thought he was a pimp trolling the baby store trying to find desperate young pregnant girls who he could lure into prostitution.

 

 

 

At least now he's free to have a foursome in the sorority house.  Because that happens all the time.

Mr. EB's friend worked as a sorority house boy but he has not confirmed or denied whether he had sex with multiple girls in the house at the same time (because, yes, I asked!).

 

Despite the episode title, Queenie is more only Chuckie's grandmother. Right now Fiona:Will::Queenie:Lip (for the rest of you are old enough to remember the analogy section of the SAT) aka just the lady that his dad is currently banging. Even so, you'd think that Lip would be creeped out by coming will she was rubbing his foot and crooning about being his grandmother, but nope, Lip was back to fucking like a champ. Instead of taking such a gross route, I wish they'd had had Lip realize he had to lay off the booze AND quit obsessing about Helene in order to get his boners back.

 

I didn't mind the Ian/Caleb secret revealing because when you have significant baggage, it has to come up eventually but there is always the question of how soon to disclose it. One of my friends went on a first date where the other person word vomited a whole lot of baggage right away. I wasn't sure whether she was being upfront and trying to weed out anyone who couldn't handle her history or if she was one of those oversharing people who tells the cashier at the grocery store about her diarrhea, her hysterectomy, and her divorce in the sixty seconds that it takes for the cashier to ring up her items. I don't think you need to divulge your entire history as soon as you meet someone, but there are things that you should not keep a secret once you are dating. Or hey, you can get married and not really mention to the other person that you are the legal guardian for four minors, right?

Edited March 7, 2016 by ElectricBoogaloo

[IntrovertGal]

What the hell happened to this show? I don't even know why I'm still watching, it's such a trainwreck. Yes the show was always about doing shocking things, but at least in the early seasons the show also had an emotional center, which was that the Gallagher siblings had each other's backs. They seemed to have completely dropped that and now the show is only interested in cheap shock tactics, which are neither funny nor interesting. What's even worse is that I find most of the show very boring these days. I honestly wouldn't mind if the show got cancelled after this season because it's just not enjoyable to watch anymore.

 

That said, I did like Ian's storyline in this episode, even if I still don't see any chemistry between Ian and Caleb and hate what they have done to the Mickey/Ian relationship. Still, it was nice hearing that Ian has a new goal (becoming an EMT), although I wonder how that is possible. Didn't Ian drop out of high school? Don't you need a high school diploma for that? I'm not American so I wouldn't know but it strikes me as rather unbelievable. It was also good to learn that Caleb is not as perfect as he was presented until now, not that I expected him to be HIV positive. Ian and Caleb both having a disease may bring them closer together, they seem to be on a more equal footing now and I like that.

 

The other thing I liked in this episode was the scene between Carl and Fiona when he told her he wanted out of the gang life. Both Emmy Rossum and Ethan Cutkosky did a great job in that scene.

 

I rolled my eyes at pretty much everything else in this episode.

[ElectricBoogaloo]

Another great example of good acting this week was Fiona yanking Carl's hair while Carl winced but didn't complain. Neither of them actually said a word but their faces said everything. Fiona was angry and frustrated but determined and Carl was regretful and resigned.

[LuciaMia]

Downton Abbeys final episode completely eclipsed Shameless last night. Now reading these excerpts Im almost afraid to watch it.

And that picture of Frank in cornrows? Sweet Jesus, he looks like Gollum's creepier twin.

[iMonrey]

As messed up as this show is, there were several nice moments sprinkled throughout this episode. First and foremost, Carl's confession to Fiona that he didn't want to see anyone else get killed. That moment felt genuine. I also liked the part where Ian and Caleb were coming out of the theater and Caleb reached over and held Ian's hand. I'm not really buying these two as a couple but it's nice to see Ian in a (more) healthy relationship for a change. I see what they're trying to do with the contrast between the violent, erratic relationship he had with Mickey and what a more normal, loving relationship can be like. 

 

The only problem I have with it is that Ian's bipolar disorder seems to have disappeared. I'm assuming he's taking his meds but even so, it takes a long time to get those balanced out when you're first diagnosed, yet he just seems like he's back to normal. It feel like they just kind of dropped the whole bipolar thing even though he brought it up to Caleb.

 

And while I'm still not too crazy about Fiona and Sean, there were a couple of nice moments there too, when they both told each other they loved each other a little bit. Fiona's another one that's never had anything approaching a normal, healthy relationship, so this could be a first for her. I do agree it's astounding she'd leave Liam behind though.

[dangwoodchucks]

Too much of Frank's butt and Lip's boner issues, not enough Kev & V. Deb looked nice with the toned-down makeup and the unpoufed hair.

 

Do the writers have any idea what direction they're going with any of these characters? This was a horrible episode, I'm so glad I watched DA yesterday and waited til today to watch this mess. Hell, Liam didn't even bother to show up to the family breakfast.

 

ETA: Liam was at breakfast, I noticed him on rewatch.

Edited March 8, 2016 by dangwoodchucks

[Milaxx]

Most of the ep was crap, but a few things redeemed it for me. Vee/Kev just being themselves. Carl finally wanting out. Sean helping him. (really sweet relationship/mentoring happening there). Ian & Caleb. I totally ship these 2. Not to slight Mickey but this feels like a nice dose of normal. Something Ian has never had. I just assume since he is so far along in his EMT training he got his GED at the beginning. Ian may not have been Lip smart, but he was far enough along that he could have taken the test and passed.

[Muffyn]

The only problem I have with it is that Ian's bipolar disorder seems to have disappeared. I'm assuming he's taking his meds but even so, it takes a long time to get those balanced out when you're first diagnosed, yet he just seems like he's back to normal. It feel like they just kind of dropped the whole bipolar thing even though he brought it up to Caleb.

This is the frustration I have with how mental illness is represented on TV.  People are either totally out of control and a danger to themselves and others or they are on meds and totally normal.  At least we had a few episodes with Ian struggling with his diagnosis.  But now he’s suddenly a-okay.  There are so many different types and unique manifestations of mental illness.  And meds aren’t a cure all for everything. With the massive amounts of mental health and addiction issues among the Gallagher clan, Ian is lucky to be breathing let alone being miraculously cured.

[Andromeda]

So tired of Lip being desired by every woman he meets. Every HOT woman. It's ridiculous, since his looks are nothing special. I much preferred his first taste of college when he discovered he wasn't the most amazing thing ever anymore. He went to a frat party and tried to hit on a girl who was interested in a guy across the room. THAT felt real to me, not ridiculous foursomes in his nicely decked out room in a sorority house (yeah, right, what a set-up!). Have we ever seen him do any actual work there?

 

When does Lip have time for schoolwork? Why not get over the Helene crap, and the impotence, by -- you know -- focusing on college, AKA the reason you are there?

 

I did like the foot reflexology scene, until it too turned sexual. In my first experience with foot reflexology, a co-worker pressed a spot on my foot that hurt so bad, I jumped out of my chair. She told me it was my kidneys. I wasn't feeling well, and a visit to the doctor the next day confirmed I had a kidney infection.

 

I loved Carl growing up and giving up crime. It surprised me. His friend's death wasn't really because of his involvement in crime, but I liked seeing him NOT behave like a sociopath, turn out to have hidden depths, and want to do the right thing, despite how his horrible father was upset about it.

Edited March 8, 2016 by Andromeda

[junemeatcleaver]

I still like the show, but God this episode was ridiculous.

 

We were supposed to find Carl's drug dealer bosses scary, but they let Carl out of the gang by taking his clothes and instead of shooting Frank on sight for using all that cocaine, they just chase him around for a bit?  Dumb and not in Shameless's absurd way. 

 

I always thought Lip pulled all those women because of his charm, now he has sorority girls throwing themselves at his borderline ugly, limp dicked, alcohol smelling ass?  Come on.  I agree that exploring Lip's seemingly growing dependence on booze would be a better storyline than Lip wins again.

[sazzat]

What do you think we're supposed to make of the timing of Caleb's HIV status revelation (if anything)? Is having him reveal it after sex supposed to mean something, or is that to be expected/not a big deal? The show didn't treat it like a big deal (the revelation yes, but the timing of it no), and I'm wondering if it's supposed to make a point about his character or not.

 

Personally I would want to know before sex, even with protection and a miniscule chance of transmission; I would want to make an informed decision. In Illinois I believe it's actually a legal issue, though that might be just for unprotected sex (and I don't necessarily think it's a good law, but its existence would indicate that the timing of disclosure might be a reasonable concern). On the other hand, they used a condom, the character is supposed to have an undetectable viral load, and those two things mean the chances of transmission are probably lower than the chance of winning the multi-state Powerball, so is it okay for Caleb to conclude that he's not putting Ian at physical risk and thus doesn't have an obligation to tell him first?

 

If the point of holding off on sex was that Caleb doesn't sleep around/wanted to get to know Ian first/saw potential for a relationship, I would think that holding off on telling him until after sex could damage the trust they were building, but maybe I just don't see things the same way, or maybe Ian's reaction was just meant to show that he just hasn't thought much about HIV, or...?

[iMonrey]

 

THAT felt real to me, not ridiculous foursomes in his nicely decked out room in a sorority house (yeah, right, what a set-up!). Have we ever seen him do any actual work there?

 

Not only that, but - apologies to any sorority girls out there - traditionally, on TV at least, sorority girls are the most stuck up of all the girls on campus. That any of them - let alone four of them - would lower themselves to sleep with the poor house boy is kind of absurd. Just saying.

 

(It is not my intention to offend any current or former sorority members; I'm merely pointing out that's the typical depiction of them on TV.)

[scrb]

Maybe you have to be female but what about Lips bug eyed face is so sexually irresistible?

Or is it the know it all demeanor, which is kind of douchey?

Or is it just about fulfilling Showtime's nudity quota?

[Petunia13]

I have never found Lip attractive and his personality is off putting as well. It's rather farcical every woman who crosses his path wants to fuck him or makes a fool of herself to get his D. And the same applies to Fiona as well it seems every man wants her and her storylines revolve around her sex life.