An Exercise of Love. Retrospective, Shameless, S3 E4 – “The Helpful Gallaghers”

Air Date: Sunday, February 9, 2013, 10 pm ET/PT on Showtime

Rating: ★★★★★

There’s plenty of sex and naked bodies in “The Helpful Gallaghers”—Kev (Steve Howey) and Veronica (Shanola Hampton), Mandy (Emma Greenwell) and Lip (Jeremy Allen White), and Wendy (Galadriel Stineman), the counselor at Carl’s (Ethan Cutkosky) cancer camp. On top of that, the Gallaghers get another mouth to feed (just what they need!), Fiona (Emmy Rossum) goes all Norma Rae on her co-workers, and Sheila (Joan Cusack) enlists Frank’s (William H. Macy) help in dealing with Jody (Zach McGowan) and her sex toys. It’s just another day on Shameless, or is it?

Observations:

“The Helpful Gallaghers” opens with Lip and Mandy having at it in, I must say, quite a strenuous fashion. I was afraid one of them was going to break something! But then they’re interrupted by the voice of Molly (Madison Moellers), Mandy’s half-sister, on the answering machine, begging Mandy to come get her because her drug-addicted mother overdosed. A normal person would have stopped what they were doing but not Mandy. Nope, she and Lip go right back to doing what they do best. The callousness Mandy exhibits disgusted me—until I realized what the reason was. But it’s Lip who surprises me the most when he insists they go to Milwaukee to rescue Molly.

Carl is packed and ready to leave for cancer camp.

Carl is at his evil genius best in “The Helpful Gallaghers.” From nearly inciting a riot over Chicken McNuggets, to stealing pain pills, Cutkosky shines as the mutineer at the cancer camp. But while I was laughing at his antics, provoking the kids to rebel, I couldn’t help but feel sad for all those dying youngsters. What amazes me is how resilient they all are, especially Carl’s new friend, Hanley (Charles Henry Wyson) and how accepting of death Hanley is. But all Hanley wants before he dies is to see “titties,” which Carl helps to arrange with Wendy. Wyson does a fantastic job of portraying a cancer-ridden boy who knows his life will end soon. His matter-of-factness, and the way he portrays Hanley acknowledging his fate is remarkable. I can’t help but wonder if real kids dying of cancer feel the same way. At such a young age, it’s surprising Wyson is able to elicit such emotion from me.

On the other hand, Sheila is bored with her love life. Who would have thought that would happen with someone like Jody? Have you checked out that man’s body lately? As fine as he is, though, I hate how he refers to himself in the third person. You know there’s no way he’s going to let Sheila use her sex toys on him like she used on Frank. Did you see the size of those things?! The way Sheila convinces Frank to talk to Jody is funny. She’s not the first woman to use tears to get a man to do what she wants; I’m just not sure I understand why Frank agrees. I mean, the man doesn’t do a thing unless it benefits him. Cusack’s crocodile tears and the way she screws up her face in this scene immediately took me back to her role in that outrageously funny comedy, In and Out. Had I closed my eyes, I would have thought I was watching that movie.

Fiona tries to convince her co-workers to call a halt to their “Bobby breaks.”

Fiona is guilt-ridden about being the only one not participating in the “sucky-suck” with Bobby (Eric Edelstein) at the supermarket. She’s a smart woman, though, and realizes that sooner, rather than later, the other women are going to find out she’s “getting a free ride.” I love how Fiona goes all Norma Rae at the party, aka “blow job town hall,” she throws, trying to convince her co-workers to refuse their “Bobby breaks.” Or as Jimmy puts it, “United we stand, divided we keep sucking dick.” What I find most interesting is how the ladies react. Were you surprised by the vote, or their reasons for voting the way they do? I was totally disgusted that women in this day and age could feel the way they do. Whatever happened to women’s lib? I wonder what the writers are trying to say here. Could this be a riff on how many people in the Republican Party feel about women these days?

Additional thoughts:

If couples trying to get pregnant had sex the way Veronica and Kev have sex, they’d have a lot more fun. And how about Kev with his hair down? That guy is one sexy dude!

It’s a shame that Frank, when he drops off Carl at camp, doesn’t recognize true affection when he sees it; he certainly could benefit from it. My heart ached for Carl when he hugs Frank and tells him he loves him and Frank just stands there like a statue in a museum. As much as Frank normally disgusts me, sometimes I just feel sorry for him.

I got a real kick out of the expressions on everyone’s face at The Alibi Room when Jody discusses his days as a sex addict. While Frank initially looks impressed, his facial expression soon changes to one of wonderment, while Kate (Kerry O’Malley) and Tommy (Michael Patrick McGill) sport looks of horror. I don’t blame them. Not only was I astounded at how many partners Jody used to hook up with in a day, I was repulsed by his description of what he and his sexual cohorts would do.

Memorable lines:

Hanley: “Yo. I’m Hanley.”

Carl: “Carl. Waddup?”

Hanley: “Not my blood count.”

Carl: “What kind you got?”

Hanley: “The kind that kills kids.”

Frank to Sheila about the baby sleeping: “If ignorance is bliss, then Down’s Syndrome is euphoria.”

Frank to Jody: “I underestimated you, Jody. In a bar full of depraved people, you are the Grand Poobah of depravity.”

Ian (Cameron Monaghan), Molly, Lip, and Mandy cheer Debbie on as she learns to hold her breath underwater.

“The Helpful Gallaghers” is an excellent look at human emotions, particularly what people will do for others in need. From Fiona agreeing to take in both Molly and Lloyd (Harry Hamlin)—who’s just been thrown out by his wife—to Carl helping Hanley and Frank supporting Sheila, the Gallaghers are all about love, even though they may not want to admit it. And that just makes me feel good.

Tune in to Shameless Sundays at 10 pm ET/PT, only on Showtime.

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Linda

Love TV, movies, and books--mostly mysteries, with a good love story thrown in every now and then. I have four adopted dogs who I adore. I love trying new recipes, and enjoy eating what I make. English language perfectionist. Reading in bed, Italian food, warm weather, the beach, all types of games = favs!