Episode Title: “Simple Pleasures”
Writer: John Wells
Director: John Wells
Previously on “Shameless:”
Episode 3.12 “Survival of the Fittest”
“Shameless’” fourth season premiere finds the Gallagher clan spread out and in some cases, completely MIA. While Fiona’s (Emmy Rossum) work and love lives merges together as she gets closer to her boss, Mike (Jake McDorman), Lip (Jeremy Allen White) finds adjusting to college life a challenge. Meanwhile, Frank (William H. Macy) is back home thanks to Tony (Tyler Jacob Moore), who finds him while cleaning out a drug den and Ian (Cameron Monaghan) is presumably at Army basic training.
The Gallaghers may be moving up in the world, or least one is, but “Shameless” is still the same low down and dirty comedy it’s always been. Fiona tries to fit in with Mike’s family and friends at a Bears’ tailgate party by bringing Sheila’s famous artichoke and jalapeno dip, which Carl (Ethan Cutkosky) spit into when he didn’t find it to his liking. Thankfully (?) no one seems to notice.
The season premiere forgoes big bombshells, instead setting the scene for the scattered Gallaghers and friends, though Ian is notably absent from the episode. If there’s a theme to this hour, it seems to be “fitting in,” something Fiona, Deb (Emma Kenney) and Lip all try to do with varying degrees of success.
At school, Lip bristles at the spoiled rich kids and the gluten-free vegan demands they make on him while he’s working at the dining hall. But the ultimate insult comes from a teacher’s assistant who gives Lip a D on a paper. He accuses Lip of trying to be clever instead of going for substance, but as we know, that’s basically how the college freshman has gotten through life, up to this point.
Whether Lip gives up on the class, and perhaps college all together, remains to be seen. But back home he and his brother, Ian are greatly missed by the Milkovichs. Mandy (Enna Greenwell) looks at old photos of she and Lip while in bed with another guy and Mickey (Noel Fisher) asks anyone who knows him about Ian. He later tries to masturbate to a photo of Ian but instead becomes angry, putting his fist into the bathroom mirror, leaving his Russian prostitute bride to wonder what happened.
As for Fiona and Deb, both find themselves in relationships that just don’t feel right, despite all appearances. Fiona isn’t used to nice guys like Mike, who leave flowers on her desk and attend to her sexual needs. As for Deb, the boy she meets at the arcade is sweet and caring but he also likes One Direction and checks out Kev (Steve Howey) while he’s walking up to the Gallagher house.
And what would an episode of “Shameless” be without Frank Gallagher corrupting his offspring? Frank makes up for lost time by convincing Carl to give him a box wine enema. But at least Frank tries to do some good by giving Carl advice on masturbating and how to avoid accidentally impregnating his own sister.
And on the topic of getting family members pregnant, Vee (Shanola Hampton) and Kev struggle to provide for her mother and mother-to-be, Carol’s (Vanessa Bell Calloway) pre-natal care only to find out that Vee, herself, is finally pregnant. Vee has mixed feelings about raising two kids, considering the fact that one is the child of her mother and boyfriend but Kev is ecstatic. Especially after getting hit with the news that Alibi owner, Stan has been dead for several days in the negligent nursing home he was placed in.
Now heading into its fourth season, “Shameless” is still as fresh, foul-mouthed and funny as ever. They may not all be living in the same place anymore, but this premiere is proof that you can take the Gallagher out of the ‘hood but you can’t take the ‘hood out of the Gallagher.
