Episode Title: “Iron City”
Writer: Davey Holmes
Director: David Nutter
Previously on “Shameless:”
Episode 4.05 “There’s the Rub”
With two Gallaghers in the hospital and one in jail, the opening moments of “Iron City” play more like a crime drama than a comedy. But after the way last week’s episode ended, with little Liam overdosing on Fiona’s coke stash, it’s time for another reminder that “Shameless” can do serious when it wants to.
Of course there are laughs to be had in this hour, but they’re mostly over at Sheila’s (Joan Cusack) house where she’s entertaining Roger Running Tree, One-Eyed Snake, Runs with Pooh and Stinking Wind. Meanwhile, at the Gallagher’s, Chucky is making himself at home, watching porn on the couch while Samantha tries to convince Frank (William H. Macy) to move into a hospice. Oh yeah, Frank’s dying very soon according to his doctor and it’s actually kind of sad.
But like Liam, who is later released from the hospital, Frank will probably continue to cheat death just a little bit longer. In the meantime, Fiona’s (Emmy Rossum) facing some serious charges, but at least she’s out on bail, thanks to Mike (jake McDorman). He never wants to see her again, but the fact that he’s willing to risk his condo to get the ex-girlfriend/employee who screwed his brother out of jail suggests he still has feelings for her. Hate is a feeling, right?
Mike isn’t the only one fuming over Fiona’s reckless behavior. Lip (Jeremy Allen White) holds her accountable for what happened to Liam, even though everyone else considers it an accident. Lip isn’t easy to like, especially when he’s critical of Fiona, but he’s got to take his anger out on someone and Frank is usually M.I.A., unconscious or both.
As for Ian, after a brief reunion last week with Lip and Deb in the gay bar where he works, we don’t hear from him in this episode. The same goes for Mickey, though we do see Mandy (Emma Greenwell) as her father is hauled off by the police. Kev (Steve Howey) and Vee (Shanola Hampton) spend most of the episode worrying about Fiona and the gang rather than their own financial problems with four kids on the way. And with an empty house, Sheila packs her bag and heads to the reservation. After all, she is one thirty-second Minaho.
So far, the fourth season of “Shameless” has been very much about the sometimes serious consequences of being a Gallagher. In past seasons, those consequences were mostly comedic. But this time around, it’s all the broken hearts and near-tragedies compounding that endless aching to belong and be “normal” that’s made this season so great. And there’s still plenty to laugh at. Like Chucky on the couch watching porn and stuffing his face with fast food.
The Gallaghers are a resilient bunch, but it’s hard to imagine them bouncing back quite so easily from nearly losing their youngest member and dealing with the possibility that Liam might have brain damage. And then there’s Fiona’s stint in jail, during which she loses not just her dignity during a strip search but also any connection to her family. We know dignity doesn’t mean much to the Gallaghers, but family is everything. Fiona’s always been there for her brothers and sister and even sometimes for Frank, however undeserving. But when Mike drops her off, she finds no one home. And for Fiona, an empty house might just be scarier than jail.
