Shameless – “Crazy Love” Retrospective. Dilemmas Galore.

Season 5, Episode 6

Air Date: Sunday, February 15, 2015 at 9:00 pm ET/PT on Showtime

Rating: ★★★★★

“Disneyworld…Mojitos, Cuban cigars, Pit Bull, like music…you’re gonna love it. Just you and me against the world. Can you feel that? That feeling is all of our problems disappearing right now. Just…gone. Leave it all behind us. I guess you don’t have any problems; you’re a baby. What do you have, like diaper rashes; is that the worst of it for you? Must be good to be a baby.” – Ian Gallagher

Although there’s a lot going on in this week’s episode of Shameless, “Crazy Love” divides its attention mainly between Ian (Cameron Monaghan) and Fiona’s (Emmy Rossum) story lines. Not only do all the Gallaghers have to deal with Ian’s craziness, Fiona faces one of her biggest dilemmas now that Jimmy (guest star Justin Chatwin) is home. He is determined to win Fiona back, despite her recent nuptials with Gus (guest star Steve Kazee). Meanwhile, Sammi (Emily Bergl), angry beyond belief, moves into the Gallagher household, hell bent and determined to give Frank (William H. Macy) what he deserves, resulting in near fatal consequences. Oh well, it’s just another day in the lives of the Gallaghers, right?

Good Girls and Bad Boys

Ever since Jimmy disappeared in season three’s penultimate episode, “Order Room Service,” everyone has been wondering whether Estefania’s (Stephanie Fantauzzi) father Nando (Pêpê Rapazote) had him killed. Given his appearance in the closing moments of last week’s “Rite of Passage,” such is not the case. This week, Jimmy lets Fiona in on where he’s been all this time, and who Angela (guest star Dichen Lachman) is. I don’t blame Fiona for the way she treats Jimmy, let alone doubting every senseless and outlandish word coming out of his mouth. Although, when something sounds as outrageous as this, it usually tends to be true.

Better get out, Gus, before Jimmy wakes up!

Remember how Fiona never got to tell her siblings about her marriage to Gus last week? Well, Jimmy takes care of that for her when he drops in unannounced. I had a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach when Fiona follows Jimmy outside—much like Debbie (Emma Kenney), Lip (Jeremy Allen White), Carl (Ethan Cutkosky), Sammi, and Chuckie (Kellen Smith) peering out the window whispering, “Don’t do it…don’t do it. No…Fiona.” We all know women who consistently make the wrong choices when it comes to men. In Fiona’s case, she’s been looking for the love and acceptance she never got from Frank. I thought maybe Fiona was past that when she agreed to marry Gus, but with Jimmy’s return, all that is in jeopardy. Of course, this isn’t the first time Fiona has had a good man in her life; remember her boss Mike (Jake McDorman)? I know how hard it must be for Fiona when Jimmy consistently tells her, “I love you…I love you,” especially since he’s so good looking and charming. It would serve Fiona well to remember actions speak louder than words. She has a big decision on her hands; will Fiona come to her senses and realize Gus is better for her than Jimmy ever was?

Road Trip

I wonder what the future holds for Ian.

Monaghan’s portrayal of a young man in a full-blown psychotic break is spot on. From the highs of his road trip to Disneyworld with Mickey (Noel Fisher) and Svetlana’s (Isadora Goreshter) baby Yevgeny, who he steals from under their noses, to the lows of being caught by the police and having his family come to Indiana to bail him out, Monaghan takes you on an emotional rollercoaster ride. I laughed with him when he sings Willie Nelson’s “On the Road Again” to Yevgeny, and almost cried when he tries to elude the police in the market, yelling, “Please don’t take my baby.” I also almost had a heart attack with how high in the air Ian throws the baby. Perhaps the person I feel most sorry for, though, is Mickey. He was never aware of the depth of Ian’s problems and what he was getting into, and not even Svetlana’s ultimatum makes him face the truth of what’s happening. Mickey thinks he’s protecting Ian but nothing could be further from the truth. No amount of love can fix the kind of problem Ian has.

Amanda the Independent

Is Amanda’s painting a foreshadow of things to come given her new roommate?

Meanwhile, Lip (Jeremy Allen White) returns to college, and deals with his first day as an RA (resident advisor). I guess I should be surprised to see Amanda (guest star Nichole Bloom) there too but I’m not. She’ll do anything to get away from her parents. Amanda has a real way with words, especially when she wants to make a point. I got a real kick out of her description of the Rubenesque-like woman she’s painting on her dorm wall in response to Lip’s question—“Renaissance women weren’t forced to starve themselves into an anorexic fashion industry marketing version of female sexuality.” What I truly can’t wait to see is the story line the writers have cooked up for “Muff “(guest star Shelby Steel), Amanda’s new roommate this semester. Since Amanda found her on Craig’s List and she calls herself, “Muff bull dagger,” it’s no wonder Amanda tells Lip she’s interested in her.

“Crazy Love” gives us a bit of reality when Amanda takes an application for a credit card on campus. There are always so many credit card salesmen at freshmen orientation, it’s hard to refuse them. Falling deep into debt when faced with the opportunity to charge anything and everything your heart desires is something many college students must deal with. Amanda, though, has a different idea on how to use her credit card. Bloom does an excellent job of playing Amanda, the rich, entitled college student who does everything to get her parents to notice her.

New Mom or Best Friend?

Check out Debbie's facial expression. LOL!

Check out Debbie’s facial expression and body language. LOL!

Speaking of having a way with words, Frank provides the comic relief for “Crazy Love,” which otherwise is a very serious episode. He cracks me up during his conversation with Gail (guest star Claudia Wallace), the Gallaghers’ mail carrier. But Gail gives me an even bigger belly laugh with the hand motion she gives Frank as she walks away. Things turn serious, though, after Frank forces his way inside the house to Sammi’s consternation. She’s moved in and established a whole new set of rules and regulations, as well as a curfew. I just can’t get over how callous she is when it comes to the pain Frank is in. Frank isn’t the only one pissed off, though—not that I blame them. It’s funny how Sammi, on one hand, thinks she can rule the roost while on the other, tries to be best friends with Debbie and Carl, especially when she warns Debbie of the perils of the first day in high school. I’m pretty sure Fiona doesn’t like the way Sammi has taken over but it’s kind of a blessing in disguise. I just don’t think Fiona sees it that way. I see trouble coming for these two.

Other Observations

Looks like Debbie earned herself a nickname—“Deadly Debbie”—after her fight last week. Problem is, people are gunning for her at school. I like the way Derek (guest star Luca Oriel) handles Marita (guest star Lisseth Chavez) when she tries to pick a fight with Debbie. He’s a true knight in shining armor.

“Crazy Love” contains a very explicit seduction scene between Svetlana’s friend Nika (guest star Illeana Huxley) and Mr. Hewitt (guest star Brendan Ford), the father of Svetlana’s surrogate baby. I’m not sure what purpose the scene serves other than to titillate, which isn’t necessary given the amount of nudity in “Crazy Love.” Hello Fiona and Jimmy!

Overall

Writer John Wells has obviously done his homework to provide such an in-depth look at bi-polar disorder in the aptly titled “Crazy Love.” Cameron Monaghan has too as he steals every scene he’s in. It is incredibly heartbreaking to watch as Ian says goodbye to his loved ones before entering a treatment facility. I hope the therapy works for him.

What did you think of “Crazy Love?” Hit me up on Twitter @SeasideTV, or leave me a comment below. Was it difficult to watch Ian in the throes of mental disease?

Tune in to Shameless Sundays at 9:00 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!