Shameless, S2, E8 – “Parenthood”
Air Date: Sunday, March 04, 2012, 10:00 pm ET/PT on Showtime
Rating:
Sometimes, Shameless pulls some real surprises, and “Parenthood” does a good job of it. Not only does Sheila (Joan Cusack) have a hand in Peg’s (Louise Fletcher) death, but Lip (Jeremy Allen White) leaves home when Fiona (Emily Rossum) tells him it’s “school or leave.” She and Lip had made a pact to finish high school, but he gets expelled because of his antics. Mickey Milkovich (Noel Fisher) wants to kill Frank (William H. Macy) after Frank catches Ian (Cameron Monaghan) and Mickey doing the nasty in the Kash and Grab; and Steve/Jimmy (Justin Chatwin) will try anything to get Fiona back.
Highlights and Observations:
Fiona tells Steve no divorce, no relationship. Photo cr: Cliff Lipson
Steve keeps insinuating himself in Fiona’s life. I guess he thinks the more he hangs around, the better the likelihood Fiona will let him back in her life. But there’s a small matter of divorce. Thankfully, Fiona is sticking to her guns. Maybe it will be a little easier now that we know Estefania (Stephanie Fantauzzi) isn’t happy being married to Steve. I think trouble may be on the horizon when we hear Estefania telling her lover he needs to come “save” her from the Gallaghers.
I think Chatwin’s return to Shameless is a good thing. I enjoy seeing the fantastic chemistry between him and Rossum. They play off each other beautifully. Plus, he’s a great big brother to the younger Gallaghers. I can just about see them living like a real family. Most of the time Chatwin is on screen, I have a big smile on my face. Yeah, I’m definitely happy he’s back.
The worst thing that could have happened does, and now that Frank knows about Ian and Mickey, Mickey will go to any lengths to keep his father from finding out he’s gay. Fisher’s portrayal of a psychotic closeted homosexual is spot on; I feel like I need a shower after he finishes one of his scenes. He actually scares me when he spouts off the litany of things Mickey wants to do to keep Frank’s body from being identified. Murder is taking it a little far, though, don’t you think? Although, it’s never a good thing for Frank to have something on someone, even though Ian assures Mickey Frank won’t tell.
Karen tells Lip not only does she not want this baby, but may do it again for the money. Photo cr: Chuck Hodes
I must say, Karen (Laura Slade Wiggins) is quite a piece of work. She wants to put her unborn baby up for adoption, but also wants to be paid for it. Somehow, she coerces Lip to go along with this quest, and they finally connect with a family lawyer (Larry Clarke) who handles this kind of adoption. And what a smarmy character this guy turns out to be! He represents the worst of the worst when it comes to attorneys who only have money on the brain. He’s the sort who gives other attorneys a bad name—he could care less what happens to the baby. The minute Lip asks whether the baby will go to a local family is the minute I know he’s more invested in this baby than he’s letting on. There’s no way he’s not going to be in this baby’s life. I wonder if he’ll be able to convince Karen to keep it. She’s not exactly mommy material though. Especially when she contemplates getting pregnant again. “Who knows? I might just do this every year. Make a mint.” Eww!
Along with this, Lip is also feeling the pressure of going back to school. For some reason, he thinks everyone is depending upon him to support them by getting a good job after graduating college. I don’t get why he thinks that because his siblings have been nothing but supportive, hoping he has a wonderful, secure future. So what’s up with the whole throwing-the-chair-through-the-school-window bit that ends up in him being expelled?
Jody (Zach McGowan) may be a tool, camping outside Karen and Sheila’s house, but he’s very helpful in caring for Peg, who’s in a lot of pain. She really should be in a hospice. There’s something about the relationship Jody and Sheila have that doesn’t seem right to me. It almost looks sexual, even though I know there’s nothing going on…at least not now there isn’t. I know Sheila’s glad for Jody’s help, and Jody is still pining after Karen, but I’m grossed out by the way he and Sheila hug each other. Besides, Jody and Karen are a thing of the past. Sheila shouldn’t be encouraging him the way she does.
Frank seems happy when Sheila tells him his mother is dead while sitting on a pillow on Peg's face. Photo cr: Cliff Lipson
I never thought Peg would be the kind of person to take the easy way out, but she’s hell bent and determined to commit suicide. I guess what surprises me the most is Sheila turning Dr. Kevorkian for her, chanting sweetly, “Go into the light; go into the light” as she sits on a pillow on Peg’s face. That, and the almost childlike way Sheila looks at Frank when she tells him, “Sweetie, your mother has passed.” I love the range Cusack has, going from nutso one minute to sweet, caring, pseudo daughter-in-law the next. This lady is one talented actress.
Memorable lines:
Frank about Peg dying: “God. You know how many years I’ve prayed for this moment? I’ll be free.”
Sheila: “Well, this might not be nice to say but if anyone deserves cancer, it’s your mother.”
***
Sheila: “I heard you have cancer.”
Peg: “Yeah.”
Sheila: “I hope it’s painful.”
Peg: “Your wish is granted. You got two more; don’t waste them.”
***
Lip to his guidance counselor: “At what point in your career did you realize that your name, Dick, had become a euphemism for cock?”
***
Mickey, very cruelly to Ian: “What do you think here, that we’re boyfriend and girlfriend? Sorry, but you’re nothing more than a warm mouth to me.”
***
I know Fletcher signed on to Shameless for a small arc as Grammy Peg Fletcher, but I’m very sad to see her go. I don’t think I need to say what a wonderful actress she is; that’s common knowledge. I’m going to miss the interaction between Peg and Frank, and Peg and the kids. Somehow, Peg made Frank almost bearable. And one more episode with Fletcher would have been nice so Peg could say goodbye to her grandkids. At least she goes out on her own terms though—I expected nothing less of her.
Fiona tells Lip he either goes back to school or leaves the family home. Photo cr: Cliff Lipson
Everyone is in top form in “Parenthood,” including little Carl (Ethan Cutkosky) who plays a nasty game of Pop Warner football. That boy scares me. The dialogue is sharp and witty as always, leaving me with many questions. When will Lip and Fiona make up, if they make up? Will Lip be able to convince Karen to keep the baby? Will Fiona stay in school or take the assistant manager’s job at the night club? How will Frank deal with his mother’s death? From the looks of it, not so well since he goes to his ex-wife Monica (Chloe Webb) for comfort. What’s up with that? I can’t wait to see what happens now that she’s back in town.
Tune in to Shameless, Sunday nights at 9:00 pm ET/PT, only on Showtime.
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All photos © 2011 Showtime/CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Linda
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