SHAMELESS “Weirdo Gallagher Vortex”(S9E3): Politics, Gallagher Style

This week on Shameless comes the “Weirdo Gallagher Vortex.” As much as I love this title, and I do, episode 3 feels something akin to waiting for the walk signal while you listen to a slightly entertaining but ultimately repetitive song. It’ll keep your attention, but it doesn’t really feel like a step forward.

This week moves with the perceptible ease it always has, but other than hitting a few notes, it had me pining for more.

Decisions To Be Made

Debbie (Emma Kenney) spends some time with her newest friend Alex (Ashley Romans), getting revenge on fellow male workers by welding penises to their vehicles. Shameless has a way of always surprising, not in the fact that they will, but the manner in which they do. By the end of the episode she’s questioning her sexuality when the two end up making out.
After running away from what he started, Ian (Cameron Monaghan) is on a journey of self discovery, or shim discovery, which is god but without a pronoun, as it could be she or him= shim. This takes him through Buddhism, Judaism, and a Catholicism. What he’s searching for is answers, and he hopes shim will provide this. While the idea is compelling, the execution leaves something to be desired.

Meanwhile Fiona’s (Emmy Rossum) biggest contemplation this episode is…prepare for it – what should she wear to her meeting? It works into something deeper when Ford (Richard Flood) gets jealous with her decision to go alone. This is supposed to be sweet, and oh, how I wish I could buy into them, but there’s something inherently lacking between these two. Shameless could benefit from spending some time convincing us of their future, which seems like the clear direction at this point, so that their exit together will feel earned.

Carl (Ethan Cutkosky) is volunteering at a place that euthanizes dogs in disturbing fashion. Instead of relinquishing to this sort of slaughter, he takes them home and lets them die out naturally. It’s all to get him into West Point, but he also needs a congressman’s recommendation. Turns out Veronica (Shanola Hampton) can help him here, since he was a former client in her dominatrix days.

V and Kevin (Steve Howey) are concerned when they see their bar is on a list of the most rapey bars. This is especially troubling for them when Frank (William H Macy) brings in his political candidate Mo White (Dan Lauria). It seems Frank has a knack for his current money scheme as a campaign manager, rolling in the dough which translates to more of a bar tab. That is until he finds out Mo is a registered sex offender.

Don’t Abandon Your Roots

I’ve said something about this before but Frank’s current storyline isn’t as inspired as it could be. It begs the question, will we watch him run through gambit after gambit without criticism because we like the character? He’s the guy who does some very sketchy things, but Macy plays him in a way that, even after he’s screwed everyone in his family, you want him to succeed. I think after nine seasons all of the Gallaghers have paid their dues (and stolen loads more), and you feel connected to their end game, whatever it might be. I just hope the show runners have a plan because my favorite Frank is when he’s doing things his unmistakable way, but there’s a little bit of soul mixed in. Something similar to its earlier seasons.

V and Kevin’s meandering bar gag is also a bit wobbly. They are supporting characters that, more often than not, fill the comic void while others have more opportunity for depth. Give them more to work with!

Liam (Christian Isaiah) is forced into public school and he finds kids aren’t so kind. Fortunately, his ingenuity has him hiring another student as a bodyguard in turn for helping him in class. Liam, out of all of the Gallaghers, seems like he’s destined to not repeat the mistakes of his kin.

Lip (Jeremy Allen White) finds out it isn’t easy taking care of Xan (Amirah Johnson) when he hits a snag. It was only a matter of time, and this week she gets injured and brought to the hospital. This, in turn, gets the attention of the hospital staff wondering where her legal guardian is. I’m sensing a distinction coming soon for them, whether that means finding her mother, or finally committing to taking care of her. Perhaps, Lip will just realize that this is what he wants, but this isn’t the way to get it.

Weirdo Gallagher Vortex: Sometimes You Can Get Too Lost

With commitment to a series such as this, comes the occasional disappointment, and I think longtime fans who know what to expect might be appeased, but shouldn’t we want more than that? “Weirdo Gallagher Vortex,” directed by Kat Coiro, has us waiting for the Shameless we’ve come to love, while providing us some in-the-meantime fun. There’s still time this season to show us more.

What did you think? How is the season fairing so far? Let us know in the comments below!