It may seem like hope is rare, but when you experience it, it’s one of the greatest feelings in the world.
Hope is something that’s eluded a number of Gallaghers this year on Shameless, a year that’s been dark and relentless and, for the most part, unforgiving; this isn’t the same show we saw in the pilot, but it recognizes that even amidst the pain, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.
Shameless has always been excellent when it comes to juggling comedic and dramatic storylines, and this episode proves it; simultaneously heartbreaking and heartwarming, it manages to provide our characters with some much-needed resolutions while setting up for the finale.
“I don’t want to be another Frank or Monica.”
The one thing that might help prevent this from happening is Fiona’s support system: her family. As much as this mistake’s cost her much of the goodwill she’s built up over the years, people like Debbie, Carl, and Lip will always be there for her, much like she was there for them for so many years.
I’m scared for Fiona Gallagher.
Just when you thought you saw her hit rock bottom already, this episode happens. Every single moment in this episode is heartbreaking, especially the subtle ones like Fiona joking with Veronica about flipping burgers or trying to make light of her felony charge.
Shameless, you’re wrecking me.
This is one of the best, if not the best, episodes this show has ever produced, and it brings with it a whirlwind of emotions. If you’re looking for an example of a showcase for the cast, it doesn’t get any better than this; absolute perfection.
Absolutely devastating.
There’s really no other way to describe this episode, which is the culmination of a group of storylines that portray the dark roads the Gallaghers are going down. It’s hard to watch what was once a happy, carefree family struggling like this, but as I’ve said before, it’s a necessary step for the show.
This is going to be a quick review, but I wanted to talk about this great episode.
Shameless has always been a feel good show, one that portrays the Gallaghers as a fantastic team of weirdos who all love each other. Yet, as fun as that is, this season has taken a turn for darker storylines; it seems as if each person is having to deal with increasingly difficult situations.
The Gallaghers are finally back.
Shameless is a show that I’ve loved from the beginning, but season 3 helped it evolve from a great show into a fantastic show, showcasing William H. Macy’s Frank Gallagher in ways that we never saw before. It was a much more focused season with a brilliant finale, and it had me salivating for season 4.
Now, season 4 is here. The show’s much more mature now, delivering its storylines without the usual Gallagher shenanigans; I said a similar thing last week about Community’s premiere, and I think both of the shows are going down some intriguing paths. For Shameless, it seems as if we’ve reached a key turning point in its run; whereas season 1 consisted of myriad entertaining, yet almost childish, storylines, we’re now seeing an increasingly melancholy, toned down take on the Gallaghers. Sure, part of the charm lies in the wacky antics of the early days, but I’m fully invested in these characters now, and I want to see how the writers take the show in a new direction.
A common theme in “Simple Pleasures” is solitary. Frank’s beaten down and teetering on the edge of death, and he’s someone who’s lost pretty much everything; going off on a tangent, this is very similar to Sheila, who’s now sitting at her table alone. Getting back to Frank, the only person who bothers to interact with him is Carl, which is very understandable considering he needs a father figure to help him through puberty. In fact, the two are in a shared situation of solitary; Carl’s trying to navigate the tricky waters between childhood and adulthood, and Frank’s essentially ruined his adulthood.
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