Review - Shameless (US) Season 1 Episode 12 Father Frank, Full of Grace

As far as season finales go, "Father Frank, Full of Grace" isn't much of one. It lacks the pathos of "But At Last Came a Knock," the wild playfulness of the earlier episodes, and even the frenetic pacing found in other Showtime season finales. But it is a solid episode of television, which, while not exemplary by any means, is a fine way to end the season. The episode cuts out most of the subplots, ignoring Kash, Mickey, and Mandy, focusing instead of the problems setup last week, Karen videotaped sex with a drugged Frank and Steve getting run out of town by Tony.

The most important cliffhanger-y event is Fiona not leaving with Steve. While this isn't unexpected, it's clear Steve is still an important character who will be a big presence in the second season even if he isn't present. Steve makes a good case why she should leave--her age when all the kids graduate and how others could take care of the family. But ultimately, Fiona refuses to leave the family, much like she refused to let Monica take Liam, and takes the job with a steady income (though Jasmine has to be up to something, right?). Steve, realizing that staying out of prison is his first priority, takes off. With both admitting they love each other, this is a problem of different priorities, and unless those change there are many boundaries between them. Not only that, there is still Steve's secret life that needs dealing with (assuming Fiona's reassurance to Debbie pertained only to the car thefts).

Meanwhile, Tony basically stakes his claim on Fiona, plunking down money to buy season tickets for the detective to let go of Lip and Ian. Of course, he's only doing this to stay on the good side of Fiona, and hopes that Steve leaving will be the ticket back to Fiona. To me, Tony is really creepy/desperate, continuing to pursue Fiona even when she's unavailable and abusing his power to get her.

Frank remains a real enigma as far as his morality goes. He seemed really out if it due to drugs at the end of last week's episode, so sex with Karen isn't really his fault, and next day he tells Karen it can't continue. Compared to the British Frank, he's practically a saint. But then Frank talks, and talks, and talks, trying to justify what happened. Lip smacking him with the car didn't seem so bad after that, and getting peed on was fair. This is Shameless, after all, and pretty much everything is forgiven in the end, as we see Lip and Karen together again.

The real victim of all this is Eddie, who started the season living with his wife and daughter, got replaced by Frank, and kills himself over the humiliation of his daughter's video.

Score: 8.6/10

Preview of Week 3/27/11 - 4/02/10

Shameless - Showtime, Sunday, March 27, 10:00pm ET

The season finale of Showtime's surprisingly good remake of the British show is tonight and should be a episode, with three characters possibly going to jail.

Nurse Jackie - Showtime, Monday, March 28, 10:00pm ET
United States of Tara - Showtime, Monday, March 28, 10:30pm ET

Showtime's two dramedies return Monday night.



Body of Proof - ABC, Tuesday, March 29, 10:00pm ET

After all their new shows failed, ABC rolls out a medical drama starring Dana Delany.

Review - Shameless (US) Season 1 Episode 11 Daddyz Girl

After all the emotion poured into the last two episodes, it was weird to see Shameless more or less return to where it was, before amping up to another level of plot development. We'll have to see next week if everything will be resolved (that seems like a tough order considering how much happened) in the season finale, and if that doesn't happen there'll be second season, so it's all good.

Fiona meets Jasmine (Amy), one of the moms from Debbie's class who is taking a more than natural interest in Fiona. It's not unreasonable to think that the other moms would look down on Fiona, given her family, but for Jasmine to befriend Fiona and also offer her drugs is very suspect.

I understand that Karen is upset after what her father did to her, but she went way overboard. The writers completely send her off the deep end, as she trashes her fathers room, breaks his car window, and in a creepy daddy-issue scene, has sex with a drugged up Frank in front of a camera.

The new plot for Ian is promising. Instead of the usual sexual identity stuff, he's looking at himself not in terms of sex but who he is a whole and where he comes from. Unfortunately, the Gallaghers aren't exactly conducive to this kind of inquiry and he faces many roadblocks.

Perhaps the biggest development is Tony wholeheartedly going after Steve, catching him in the middle of stealing a car. He gives an ultimatum: either Steve turns himself in or runs away without telling Fiona. However, before we learn what Steve does, he gets Lip and Ian arrested, thinking Steve with in the stolen Porsche.

Score: 8.5/10

Review - Shameless (US) Season 1 Episode 10 Nana Gallagher Had an Affair

Following on the exceptionally strong ending to last week's episode, "Nana Gallagher Had an Affair" continues with the dilemma of Monica and Bob wanting to take Liam. The episode doesn't really have "the scene" as last week's episode did, but reinforces the emotional backbone of the show.

Fiona, after gathering with the rest of the kids, gives an impassioned speech about how Monica should leave Liam behind if she loved them, and at the end of the episode, Monica complies and leaves Liam behind. Now, I'm sure everyone has different opinions on who bares the blame. I say it's almost solely Frank. There are some compelling reasons why Monica left. Monica clearly isn't a strong person and as much as she loved her children, Frank must have been the worst husband ever. If she hung on longer, Frank might have gotten her killed. And then we see Frank, who is not only not apologetic, but almost boastful, taking claim of Fiona's hard work. There's a distinct discrepancy between Monica, who is bawling at the end of the episode, and Frank, who is drunk and being an asshole.

This isn't a big deal, but the plot to take Liam turned Bob into a dumb character. On the British version, I remember her being dykish and brusque, but she didn't have a "cause" other than protecting Monica. But now that she wants Liam, she becomes utterly strange and illogical. However, compared to the whole thing about Liam being the biological child of two white parents, it's actually pretty normal.

Karen's subplot was great this week, funny when describing her sexual behavior in front of the prudes and emotionally potent once Sheila comforts. Simultaneously, it allow Sheila to go outside and maybe her agoraphobic is solved.

The Monica arc is over, but there is still a lot going on. Tony has a close eye on Steve, Ian has to figure out what to do with Mikey, and who knows what Karen will do next.

Score: 8.9/10

Review - Shameless (US) Season 1 Episode 9 But At Last Came a Knock

Wow, those last few minutes were really something. My biggest issue with Shameless (the original and the remake) is that it was never real. Messy situations resolved instantly and pretty much everything kind of gets glossed over. But as "But At Last Came a Knock" shows, it doesn't have to be that way. Shameless can aim for a pure drama approach, eschewing quick heists for thoughtful intensity.

Frank lures Monica, his ex-wife, back to town in order to get some money., leading to a reunion between her and her children. After Monica's big black girlfriend wants to take Liam away and start their own family, Fiona explodes, fed up with her mother. It's awe-inspiring how long Emmy Rossum keeps going with the same amount of fire, excoriating Monica for years of neglect, and at the end of the speech, she dumps the kids on Monica.

Meanwhile, Debbie does some digging around and finds Steve's mother and his real name. She does go further, however, because Steve easily bribes her to stop looking and be quiet. The end result is that Fiona is runs into Steve's arms after her speech, wanting to see the house Steve has for them.

Lip's plot with Karen is still inching at snail's pace, but their is quite big movement for Ian, as Kash finds Mickey and Ian together, and after Mickey attempts to shoplift, Kash shots Mickey in the leg.

Score: 9.2/10

Review - Shameless (US) Season 1 Episode 8 It's Time to Kill the Turtle

Because the original Shameless only had seven episodes in the first season, the writers have to come up with a lot on their own, and while they take a bit from the second season, for the most part, there's lots of new content, which drives the show in another direction.

Things with Steve took a huge turn when it's revealed he has another life--and woman. Debbie is on the case, however, so this should be interesting. Meanwhile, we see Fiona working in sketchy sports bar, struggling to keep up.

The plot this week is that Frank is offered money to be sober for two weeks. We see that sober Frank is actually a good parent and knows to take care about his kids, but he's steal an idiot, pulling the copper wire out of the wall. So we see this other side of Frank, not drunk but still without common sense. And at the end of the day, it's better to have a drunk Frank in the present instead of a sober Frank who'll raise expectations before crushing them.

Kev was really virtuous (relatively speaking), actually caring about the wacko cult girl instead of wanting to toss her out like Veronica wanted to. There are tons of funny things they can do with her.

Score: 8.7/10

Review - Shameless (US) Season 1 Episode 7 Frank Gallagher: Loving Husband, Devoted Father

In terms of bad behavior, Shameless hit a new low last night, as the entire family, plus Veronica and Kev, stole a truck full of meat. Yes, the driver was a little rude, but that surely doesn't justify the theft of so much. The writers want to indulge in it, showing how fun and cool the theft is, but really, who can look brightly on such behavior? Like previous thefts, the episode just rolls along and it soon becomes an afterthought once the next plot kicks in, Frank faking his death. It's successful in the end, and not particularly harmful to society.

"Frank Gallagher: Loving Husband, Devoted Father" has several iffy moments which made me groan and roll my eyes. Now, there's this love triangle between Kash, Ian, and Mickey, while Kash continues to be a loser. Meanwhile, Sheila finally comes out of the house--tethered to blankets--to grab Liam. The scenes between Sheila and Liam were really fun, but then Sheila decides to be more crazy and flush her birth control pills.

The episode also solidifies Steve and Fiona who spend a night at a hotel which gives Fiona some time off before she has to wade back into the house and take care of the kids.

Now that Shameless has 7 episodes, the number of episodes in first season of the British version, it'll be interesting to see what the writers will do. Will/can they create their own stories or will the dip into the second season?

Score: 8.3/10

Review - Shameless (US) Season 1 Episode 6 Killer Carl

I really like "Killer Carl" for the hilarious principal and his off-the-cuff remarks, but the episode manages to encapsulate the show very well. With Carl needing a serious adjustment, Frank is nowhere to be seen--except he's with Karen while Steve salvages the situation. Frank is a deadbeat loser who doesn't care about his family, and as Fiona and the rest of them gather together on one side and Frank and Karen on the other, both parties seem to understand.

Similarly, the episode does a good job showing how bad, or even illegal, actions might not be too bad. Lip helps everyone cheat on the SAT and write papers, but it's a good use of intelligence and he gets good money to support his family. And Carl smacking the football players leg? Well, he had it coming.

The episode also solidifies the relationship of Fiona and Steve, with Steve succinctly breaking down exactly why Fiona is scared of relying on him. She doesn't want to rely on him because she's been reliant on herself all her life. And if she relies on him too much, believing that Steve will always be there, one day Steve may not be there just like her mother and father. I can definitely buy that explanation.

While the Gallaghers are trying their best to survive, some other characters need a serious case of manning up. Could Kash become more pathetic? First, he's committing statutory rape and now we see him unwilling to stop a shoplifter who simply walks into the store, puts what he wants in a box, and walks out. And Sheila continues to be stuck in her house, unable to even be normal in a virtual setting. Unless these characters are supposed to contrast with the Gallaghers, I don't see why they are given such prominent roles and they haven't shown signs of changing yet.

Score: 8.8/10

Review - Shameless (US) Season 1 Episode 5 Three Boys

"Three Boys" doesn't have a stable core, with the main plot involving Kevin and Veronica's wedding (or fake wedding), while there's several other subplots going on. Ian finds himself growing apprehensive of his relationship with Kash--as he should be--Fiona grapples with her attraction to Steve, and there's random stuff with Frank and Stella and Lip and Karen. All together, the episode has a hard time balancing these elements, but it works for the most part because it moves so fast, going from one place to another without stopping.

Regarding Steve, I like the slightly darker tone surround kind, and the darker settings, punctuated by the incredible cinematography and usage of street lights.

Score: 8.6/10

Review - Shameless (US) Season 1 Episode 4 Casey Casden

Plot-wise, "Casey Casden" has nothing new, with plots borrowed entirely from the original. However, they do come from separate episodes, and we get a good idea of what the writers are trying to do. Instead of create their own show, the writers are trying to stretch out seven episodes worth of material over 12 episodes, inserting new but not essential elements--in the case of last week's episode--or simply leaving things temporarily unresolved--the wedding and Karen's thing.

"Casey Casden" gets a bit too silly with the baby plot looking like a Leverage episode, but the episode does get to the heart of the problem with the family, with Fiona calling into question whether the kids are getting hurt. Seeing how crazy Debbie is, I can't say the family is doing too great, although we don't know what more Fiona could have done.

Score: 8.8/10

Review - Shameless (US) Season 1 Episode 3 Aunt Ginger

After three episodes, I'm getting a better idea of what Shameless is supposed to be about. The characters aren't bad people and aren't malicious in intent, but they sometimes have to stoop to a certain level of wrongness to survive. Forcing (or tricking) the old woman to become Aunt Ginger was wrong, but then they wouldn't have money for gas. Likewise, Steve constantly bothering Fiona is a little creepy and wrong, but she does come to him in the end, and he can provide money for bills.

Ultimately, the writers aren't telling us whether we're supposed to like the characters. Everyone lives with a degree of moral ambiguity, some more than others, and taking the sum of their actions, the audience will always have different reactions. Personally, the only character that is really unlikable is Frank, who is wholly irresponsible.

Score: 8.7/10

Review - Shameless (US) Season 1 Episode 2 Frank The Plank

A good part of "Frank The Plank" depends on how much you care about Frank. He's missing, and his sons and daughters frantically look for him. That may be understandable if Frank were useful in some way, but in the first two episodes, he hasn't done anything. Instead of taking care of his kids--or even trying--he gets drunk and is passed out most of the time. He's the biological father, but he's far from the acting father. If Shameless is supposed to be about familial bonds, shouldn't there be an implicit understanding that family goes beyond simple bloodlines? Why is he important?

The other characters try their hardest to survive, whether it's stealing, doing a nude show on webcam, or cutting coupons, but all Frank does is call his disability check and hit the bar, contributing little to the family. Until Frank stops being a useless drunk, there's hardly any value in his character.

Score: 8.3/10

Review - Shameless (US) Season 1 Episode 1 Pilot

If Shameless were remotely realistic, CPA would be swarming the place and the kids would be sent away. The living conditions are horrendous, Frank is clearly an unfit parent, and Fiona simply can't handle everything by herself. However, Shameless is not supposed to be realistic, serious, or aspiring for a greater message. It's supposed to be funny and energetic with a tinge of heart, which the show does well.

Beyond that, though, there isn't much to see. The character drama and subplots aren't innovative, and it's sometimes grating to see the characters behaving badly when the writers still cast them in positive light. Since there isn't much airing on Sundays, I'll watch the next few episodes to see how it progresses.

Score: 8.5/10

Preview of Week - 1/09/10 - 1/15/10

The Cape - NBC, Sunday, January 9, 9:00pm ET

NBC's new superhero show, The Cape, airs tonight before moving to its normal timeslot on Mondays, 9 PM. Will NBC's ploy work, or will The Cape fall by the wayside like every superhero show in the past decade?

Californication - Showtime, Sunday, January 9, 9:00pm ET

The new season of "Sex Addiction, Gratuitous Sex, and More Sex" arrives tonight.

Episodes - Showtime, Sunday, January 9, 9:30pm ET

What happens when British television producers try adapting their show in America? That's question Episodes tries to answer.

Shameless - Showtime, Sunday, January 9, 10:00pm ET

Right after Episodes is Shameless, an adaptation of the British show of the same name. Funny how these things work out.

Lights Out - FX, Tuesday, January 11, 10:00pm ET

A drama about boxing seems exactly the kind of edgy, out of the box show FX prides itself on. We'll see if viewers tune in.

Off The Map - ABC, Wednesday, January 12, 10:00pm ET

Grey's Anatomy in the jungle... sounds like something I wouldn't watch, but I'll watch the pilot anyway.