'Shameless' Season 1, Episode 6 Recap

['Shameless' - 'Facts Cannot Be Racist']

Week by week, we gain a deeper understanding of the sprawling intricacies of the Gallagher clan, and this week's imaginatively titled episode took us to new depths of insanity, since it gave us our first real glimpse of the mysterious figure of Carl.

'Shameless' certainly prides itself on dysfunction, but our fish-microwaving, Barbie-electrocuting little scamp is definitely the oddest egg in the nest. We know he has an interest in torturing things and in attempting to bring a baseball bat to school, but until this episode, that was pretty much the extent of our knowledge -- are we any the wiser now? It's hard to tell.

Whether we choose to blame Frank's general lack of parental guidance or call it a case of nature over nurture, it became obvious this week that we weren't the only ones disturbed by Carl's behavior. Fiona's trip to the principal's office provided one of the show's most unexpectedly hilarious conversations yet, since the poor man apparently long ago decided that Carl was the embodiment of Satan himself (probably a fair assessment).

After making the rousing pronouncement that "the sooner Carl is put in prison, the safer the world is gonna be," we discovered there was something that the good principal liked even more than washing his hands of psychotic students: Enjoying a well-earned joint on school property.

Steve was on hand to save the day once more, much to Fiona's chagrin. He took a page out of Kev's playbook and went with the fake proposal to stop the principal calling CPS, but it was the promise of weed that truly saved Carl from expulsion.

One thing Steve seems to enjoy even more than stealing cars is waxing poetic about Fiona's many emotional shortcomings, playing armchair therapist like a pro. Luckily, we were saved from too much monologuing by Fiona's cunning plan to distract him with sex.

Everything that Steve observed about Fiona and her inability to rely on him was probably true, of course, but just because he has a read on her insecurities doesn't necessarily mean that he still won't end up disappointing her. She doesn't want to trust the fairytale that Steve is so willing to offer her, but perhaps with good reason -- it's not often that the handsome prince in the fairytale rides up to the castle on a stolen white horse. ... We think Fiona's more than sensible to keep Steve and his enviable swagger at arm's length.

While we're on the subject of armchair therapists, we have to draw attention to Sheila's baffling virtual reality role-play exercise; while we're all for a therapist who settles down for a session by pouring herself a stiff drink, it's obvious that this particular brand of acclimation isn't doing much to get Sheila out of the door. Surprisingly, though, while Joan Cusack's kookiness is undeniably funny, we were surprised by just how poignant her interaction with Frank became near the end of the episode. Sheila reflected on being unable to provide stability and motherly reassurance for Karen while she was too "pathetic" to go outside, and it's a valid concern -- but we're not sure that dragging Frank into the mix as a surrogate father is the right way to solve the problem.

What's more disturbing, however, is just how well Frank has taken to his new role as a "responsible" parent -- he clearly found it easy to put on a tie (after some "convincing" from Sheila) and sit in a room while Karen's teacher extolled her virtues, but having a poised and perfect daughter that he has no legal responsibility over is much preferable to the ragtag band of miscreants that actually belong to him. But how long can the charade possibly last? Especially after the Gallagher kids came face-to-face with Frank and his facade in the school hall.

Emmy Rossum once again proved how adept she is at making magic out of a single moment -- the tears in Fiona's eyes when she was faced with Frank's failure were gut-wrenching and all too believable, made even more poignant by Debbie's continued faith in her father, faith that is so inevitably dashed week after week.



Though the episode was ostensibly focused on Carl's strangeness, Ian and Lip once again had plenty of moments to shine -- from Ian's smooth handling of a gun after Kash was intimidated into submission by a shoplifter, to Lip's apparent skill at standardized tests, the pair were once again responsible for some of the episode's best lines and most thrilling moments. I'm intrigued to see how far Lip can take his genius -- it's clear that he has the most untapped potential (although the show is clearly illustrating that all the Gallaghers are gifted in their own twisted ways) and certainly has the means to think his way out of the hellish family life, if his loyalty wasn't holding him back, anyway.

My only concern when it comes to 'Shameless' is in wondering how long the show can possibly sustain Frank's heinousness. The UK series is currently on its 8th season, and though I don't watch it (so please correct me if I'm wrong), from the ads I've seen, it doesn't seem as though Frank has ever developed a conscience or displayed any culpability in his original incarnation.

Will audiences be able to stomach a Frank who never learns, never apologizes, never provides a firm bedrock for his kids to build upon? Or will the show allow Frank to evolve, until he actually becomes a redeemable character? All questions I'm eager to see answered over the course of the show's (hopefully long) run.

'Shameless' airs Sundays, 10PM ET on Showtime.

What did you think of the episode -- do you feel like we've gotten a better glimpse of Carl at last (whether we want one or not)? What about the two heavies who were stalking Frank on the hunt for $6000? Will Frank's newfound connection with Karen and Sheila sever him from his family completely? Sound off below!

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