This episode of Shameless might be called "A Beautiful Mess," but really, the second season of this show has been anything but beautiful.
Poor People are Dumb
Here's the thing. Last season, these characters were mostly likeable. Sure, there were exceptions. Pint-sized but fully formed in his sociopathology, Carl (Ethan Cutkosky) has always been an awful cliché of a character, and the writers have never seemed to know quite what to do with him. Frank (William H. Macy), though, was hateful but fully human. Fiona (Emmy Rossum) and Lip (Jeremy Allen White) might have engaged in some illegal and immoral behavior, but there was always a sense that they were doing what was necessary for their family to get by. This season, they've been both selfish and stupid, and that makes the show less interesting.
Demented and Sad, But Social
Fiona, concerned that Deb (Emma Kenney) doesn't have any friends her own age, goads Deb into having a party. Fiona also deals with the aftermath of sleeping with Craig (Taylor Kinney), whose wife Lucy Jo (Brit Morgan from True Blood) turns out to be a jealous psycho. I understand her anger, but does she have to drag her kids into her over-the-top vengeance? Frank is desperate to traumatize Sheila (Joan Cusack) so that she won't overcome her agoraphobia enough to make it to the Alibi, and find out about him sleeping with Karen (Laura Wiggins). Lip is trying to dig up dirt on Karen's fiancée, Jody (Zach McGowan).
Apples, Trees, and Landing Gear
The wrath of Lucy was annoyingly overplayed, but there were a few minutes during this episode where I perked up. Lip seemed to have a moment of clarity, where he understood how similar his horrible behavior with Karen was to Frank's with Sheila. I mean, he hates Frank, with good reason, and he's a smart guy. It would have been nice if he saw the parallels. Also, Deb, always the sensible conscience of the Gallagher family, somehow falls for Hank (Nicky Korba), Carl's friend who seems to be a taller version of Carl.
The worst moment was the ending, when Frank's lifestyle is saved by a magical airplane part falling out of the sky. If it means Cusack is sticking around, I'm glad, but I guess the Shameless writers are every bit as desperate as Frank.
Best Lines
"Gotta air it out, bro."
--Jody explains his nudity to Frank.
"No, that was just my little brain doing all the thinking while my ass was doing all the talking."
--Lip denies his previously professed love for Karen.
"Nothing but parking tickets. This Jody guy makes vanilla taste like f__king Thai spice."
--Lip complains about his inability to find dirt on Jody.
"Eh, still gay."
--Ian (Cameron Monaghan) responds to Lip showing him a documentary on pole-dancing.
"She's a flighty thing. Actually kind of reminds me of your mother. A beautiful mess."
--Frank offers Lip his opinion of Karen.
Recommendations:
