A 'Shameless' Recap: 'We Become What We ... Frank!' Offers Redemption, Sobriety, And Revenge!
If you have not seen last night's episode of Shameless, I urge you to look away now!
Sunday night, America's most dysfunctional, chaotic family came back with a bang and gave us a peak into what will be in store for this season. The episode titled, We Become What We.. Frank!, offers redemption, sobriety, revenge, and a shocking revelation about one of our favorite characters. Let's get right into it!
We last saw the patriarch of the Gallagher's, Frank (William H. Macy) mourning over the death of his beloved, erratic wife, Monica. During the season 7 finale, he gave an emotional speech at her funeral, reminding his children that she wasn't perfect, but she loved them. Well, it seems now that Monica is dead and gone, Frank has had an epiphany: all of the turbulent, unforgivable acts he's committed in the past thirty years was because he was under Monica's 'spell'. Now that she's gone, he's a free man and can finally live the life he's always wanted. First, he wants a clean slate and begins to make amends with everyone he's wronged. While this may seem a bit delusional, Frank may have a point. The unbalanced relationship he and Monica had did affect him, and he would often lash out because of something she did. Maybe, with Monica out of the picture, Frank can actually become a decent human being? It's only the first episode, so I won't get too ahead of myself.
Next, we see Ms. Fiona Gallagher (Emmy Rossum) slowly coming into her own. She still runs Patsy's Pies and now she's taking on another title, landlord. The eldest Gallagher daughter seems to be making her way into entrepreneurship, but she longs for something more stable, in regards to a relationship. After going on endless, 'Tinder', dates she realizes that she may actually want to give love (or at least a steady friendship) a try again. In the midst of all this, she meets one of her new tenants, Nessa (Jessica Szohr). Immediately, Fiona shuts down Nessa's advances and Nessa in turn, rebuffs Fiona, stating the typical line: "your not my type." Nessa still offers to help the new landlady in renting out one of the rooms in the apartment and scoring a new couple who immediately take the offer. Way to go Fiona!
Lip Gallagher (Jeremy Allen White) is still sober and working part-time as a mechanic and server at Patsy's Pies. It's clear that he still harbors feelings for his ex-girlfriend and co-worker, Sierra (Ruby Modine), as he goes behind her back to pay her overdue bill and offers to babysit her son while she goes on a date. Sierra, however, seems to have her attention focused elsewhere. The single mom is apparently giving her ex-boyfriend and father of her child a second chance. Obviously, Lip will spend quite a few episodes trying to show her that her baby daddy hasn't changed. This may not be a good idea, but Lip is (or was) the smartest out of the Gallagher bunch so maybe he'll figure that out before he hurts himself, again.
Speaking of trying to win back their loves, Ian (Cameron Monaghan) is following in his elder brother's footsteps. The middle Gallagher also failed in his relationship with Trevor (Elliot Fletcher) and now he's trying to find a way to get back into his good graces. Ian's partner warns him that he's wasting his time, but the one trait each of the Gallagher children possess is determination. Ian is determined to win Trevor back, but will it work?
The mother of the Gallagher siblings, Debbie (Emma Kenney) is juggling being a single mom, student, and part-time employer. She still lives with Neil, who she seems to take for granted, and works in a toll booth to keep her and her daughter, Frannie, afloat. In addition to this, the teenage mom is also making friends with her fellow classmates and has her eyes set on the new instructor.
The youngest of the bunch, Liam, is attending a prestigious private school, thanks to his father. The school is taking full advantage of Liam's attendance by using him as a prop to show the school's 'diversity'. Even though he's the only African-American child there. What will his siblings do when they find this out?
Of course, we cannot forget the honorary members of the Gallagher clan, Kev (Steve Howey) and Veronica (Shanola Hampton). Veronica is now working at Patsy's with her BFF, and Kev is still working as a bartender at a gay nightclub. The two are apparently struggling to make ends meet and are still trying to find a way to get their bar back, which has now been renamed, Putin's Paradise, by Svetlana (Isidora Goresther), the couple's mutually shared 'wife'. Veronica goes to the bar to confront Svetlana for her treachery, but Svetlana points out to Veronica that she actually saved the bar from being bankrupt. This, of course, leads to a heated cat-fight. Veronica isn't done though. After Patsy's gets raided by immigration police, Veronica goes to their chief and let's slip that there are illegal immigrants and prostitutes over at Putin's Paradise. The police waste no time busting the place and Svetlana is seen being escorted out with handcuffs. Revenge is so sweet! Unfortunately, this victory may be short lived as it is revealed that Kev has a lump in his chest and needs an immediate biopsy. Say it ain't so Kev!
And how could I forget Carl! The second to youngest son is still in disciplinary mode. When it matters. Carl (Ethan Cutkosky) may have chosen a better career choice, but he hasn't completely given up his ways. Carl is seen handling the 'inheritance' left to the Gallagher children by their mother. Also, he's bought a few valuables around the house with his share of the inheritance; i.e. a jacuzzi that Frank jumps into naked.
Are you looking forward to this season of Shameless?
Catch Shameless on Showtime, Sundays at 9pm!
