Shameless - "Rite of Passage" Retrospective. Reality Can Be a Bitch.

Season 5, Episode 5

Air Date: Sunday, February 8, 2015 at 9:00 pm ET/PT on Showtime

Rating: ★★★★★

“Gallaghers don’t do announcements at dinner. We do blackouts and suicide attempts but never announcements.” – Debbie

That was some crazy shit in last week’s “A Night to Remem-Wait, What?” when Fiona (Emmy Rossum) and Gus (guest star Steve Kazee) up and got married on the spur of the moment, wasn’t it? Well now, they have to deal with the reality of it all. They’re not the only ones, though, as Mickey (Noel Fisher) is forced to deal with Ian’s (Cameron Monaghan) mental problems, and Frank (William H. Macy) doesn’t turn out to be the father Sammi (Emily Bergl) thinks he is. Speaking of Frank, he’s no different now that he’s received his liver transplant, especially when it comes to manipulating people to get what he wants. Then, there’s Lip (Jeremy Allen White), who has to choose what kind of person he wants to be. It’s another wild and crazy ride in “Rite of Passage,” this week’s installment of Shameless.

Facing the Truth

Sammi is smiling now but that’s going to change real quick.

I can’t believe how disgusting Sammi’s trailer is. Did you see that thing? Frank is supposed to buy her a new one but now that he’s squandered all the settlement money, that’s never going to happen. Not that she’s going to need one now that she knows the truth about the lot the trailer sits on. Not even sexual favors are going to get Sammi out of this predicament. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her as angry as she is when Debbie lays the truth on her. I don’t blame Sammi one iota but does she have to go after Frank like that?

Another Side of Vee

I think Vee’s (Shanola Hampton) hormones are making her do bizarre things. After feeling ashamed of “getting off on some dude’s thigh” last week, Vee decides the only way to even the score is for Kev (Steve Howey) to get a “hand job” from some random woman. I don’t know about you but I am a little uneasy with how quickly Kev agrees. This leads to the funniest scene in “Rite of Passage.” Cheating is never going to solve Vee and Kev’s problems. I hate that Vee is turning out to be one cold-hearted bitch, and I sure don’t understand why she lays that ultimatum on Kev. Many actors have a difficult time doing comedy but Howey is an expert at both comedic and dramatic scenes.

Shame on You, Frank Gallagher

Nitey nite, Frank!

I enjoyed Patrick Fischler, who plays Wayne, the father of Frank’s liver donor, immensely in “I’m the Liver” but I like him even more in “Rite of Passage.” Although, touching Frank’s belly to feel his dead son creeps me out. Fischler does a good job of conveying the emotions the father of a dead child feels. It doesn’t surprise me how easily Frank cons Wayne into letting him stay at his house. Shame on Frank for playing on Wayne’s emotions like that. It’s not so easy to convince Wayne’s wife Laura (guest star Stacey Edwards) though, until Frank empathizes with her over her “loss” as only Frank can. I laughed like a fool when the truth comes out.

Practice Makes Perfect

Debbie may think it’s going to be easy to get Derek (Luca Oriel) into bed by hanging around the gym but she has another think coming. Derek is all about the workout and not even Debbie asking him to teach her is going to work. I got a kick out of Derek joking around, calling Debbie “Kimbo Slice”—she’s nowhere near being the mixed martial arts guy he is. I also like the incentive Derek gives Debbie to practice but I never expected her to take the route she does to look like that. So what’s a girl to do? Go to your big brother Ian for advice.

Two Plus Two Does Not Equal Three

Plotting and planning.

I know none of the Gallaghers—outside of Lip, that is—are very smart but Carl (Ethan Cutkosky) takes the cake. How is he ever going to successfully sell drugs for Jerome (Dante Brown) if he can’t count? Sheesh, the kid even has “crib notes” and he still can’t get it right. Plus, he still owes Jerome money for his screw up last week. With Debbie needing cash for her plans too, she and Carl come up with a reckless, but ingenious, way to earn it. I don’t think Ellie (Teresa Ornelas) or Holly (Danika Yarosh) saw it coming.

Regular Hospital or Crazy Ward?

It’s been a while since we’ve seen Ian in full makeup, dancing at the club. I’m just as curious as Ian is about what the older guy (Alan Blumenfeld) wants from him. What transpires is the breaking point for Mickey, who realizes Ian has gone too far this time. Mickey is not the type of guy to fool around with so it should be interesting to see what happens when he catches up with Ian. Mickey has shown time and again how much he loves Ian so why doesn’t Ian trust him? It’s probably related to his mother’s history, don’t you think?

Time to Fess Up

Fiona’s boss Sean (Dermot Mulroney) always tells it like it is. “Nothing says no regrets like hiding it from those you love.” I know Fiona promised to tell the family she and Gus got married so why is she holding back? Oh right, things just keep happening to interfere with her plans. Or, is it that Fiona is embarrassed by her actions…or better yet, by Gus? I sure wouldn’t be; he is one fine man who just happens to be extremely nice and very understanding. Perhaps she’s just scared. If she’s frightened of anything, though, it should be the person Angela (Dichen Lachman) brings with her to the diner. I want to watch the next episode now to see what’s up with that!

A Friend in Need

Jackie pours her heart out to Fiona.

Fiona knows how to be a good friend, especially when someone needs a shoulder to cry on. She’s always been there for Vee, and even though her co-worker Jackie (Alessandra Balazs) doesn’t ask for help, Fiona provides it. She gives Jackie her best words of encouragement although they don’t seem to help. Jackie has been drug free for months now, has a good job at Patsy’s Pies, and a great apartment to bring her daughter back to—which is why I don’t understand what Jackie does. But Sean sure does in an extremely emotional scene with Fiona, proving why Mulroney is an award-winning actor.

Family Forever

Lip gets a huge dose of reality from both his construction job and his encounter with Mickey and friends. I think I was holding my breath throughout the entire cop chase. Were you as surprised as I was when Lip tells Fiona he’s going back to college early? In a wonderfully acted scene that beautifully conveys the siblings’ true love for each other, Fiona tells Lip she’s married. I wonder how the other Gallaghers are going to take Fiona’s big “announcement” when she gets around to telling them.

Overall

Generally speaking, “Rite of Passage” is a very entertaining episode. Writer Etan Frankel does a good job with the dialogue, especially between Fiona and Gus, Fiona and Lip, and Frank and Laura. I also enjoy how much Debbie and Carl are connecting, working together on their various schemes.

If I have one complaint about “Rite of Passage,” it’s how much Bergl overacts in her scenes. It’s almost like she’s trying too hard to make Sammi fit into the Gallagher mold. Relax, woman! No one does drunk and shameless as well as Macy.

What did you think of “Rite of Passage?” Hit me up on Twitter @SeasideTV, or leave me a comment below. I love talking all things Shameless!

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!