Shameless Review: Are You There Shim? It’s Me, Ian (Season 9 Episode 1)

Shameless Season 9 Episode 1, “Are You There Shim? It’s Me, Ian,” proves that Shameless is back, and it’s back with a vengeance — and that’s not necessarily a good thing.

Over the last eight seasons, Shameless has established itself as a show that isn’t afraid to go low. The show gets its title from a group of people — and one man in particular — who seem to have little shame.

But Shameless is at its best when the shameless acts of its characters feel truly grounded in their realities. Where the show can suffer is when outrageous storylines appear for no reason other than to shock and amuse and remind us how crazy these characters can be.

Sometimes this works as comic relief when the rest of the episode is particularly intense (think Kev trying to impregnate V’s mom while Ian and Mickey were being caught mid-thrust by Mickey’s neo-Nazi father).

In a season premiere, however, before the intensity ramps up, there’s no need for something as over-the-top ridiculous as Frank being patient zero in a PTA epidemic for virulent strains of three different STDs. For starters, it’s impossible to suspend disbelief enough to think Frank smells decent enough to sleep with.

More than that, though, it takes the clever idea of Frank’s insides giving him away and over Shameless-ed it to the point that it isn’t enjoyable. Frank doesn’t just sleep with one or two of the PTA moms, he sleeps with all of them. The women aren’t just cheating with Frank, they all had multiple partners.

Plus, the reveal that two of the men are having an affair felt more like a joke at their expense than two men who have likely been miserable hiding who they really are. It is all just too much. Not to mention that Frank manages to make it out of there somehow convincing them all that’d done them a favor. WHAT?

This outrageousness may be what some people love best about Shameless. But this show has told some profoundly beautiful stories, and the silliness doesn’t work as well when it’s not being contrasted with that depth.

Meanwhile, after busting her ass to get enough money to bail Ian out of jail, Fiona is excited to give him the good news. Ian, however, tells her that he hasn’t yet finished his mission in prison. Fiona still plans to post bond, but her boyfriend, Ford, tells her he thinks that’s a bad idea.

For the first time, Fiona is grappling with the idea that maybe rescuing her siblings from the trouble they get themselves into isn’t always the right answer. Is Ian taking his meds? Is it possible that he’ll skip town with her money on the line?

Fiona tries to get Ian to confirm that he wouldn’t go anywhere if she put up the money for him, but he can’t promise. He has to follow “Shim.” (Is God a “She” or a “Him?”)

Realizing that she doesn’t know the answers to these questions makes Fiona unsure about her unwavering loyalty to her brother. This is the most compelling seed planted in the season nine premiere, and it will be interesting to see where it leads, especially in light of Emmy Rossum’s impending exit.

The rest of the Gallaghers are each finding their way through their new circumstances.

Lip has somewhat accidentally fallen into the role of guardian for his former coworker’s niece, Xan. He is very dedicated to taking care of her, but raising a tween is not an easy job.

Increased stress in Lip’s life can potentially threaten his sobriety especially as he’s discovering that sober sex is a lot harder than drunk sex.

(Although, I wish someone had been there to point out to Lip that the woman who was so wasted she vomited in the middle of sex might not be the best judge of the quality of the experience)

Debbie continues to make a career for herself as a welder. It is through Debbie that Shameless is tackling the issue of pay disparity between genders. This is where the show uses its comedy to underscore a point, and it works.

Only a Gallagher would MacGyver an adult diaper out of children’s diapers to avoid bathroom breaks during the workday. It is extreme and ridiculous, but it serves a greater purpose in a story worth telling.

Carl is finding great success in military school. He’s looking at a possible promotion except for two problems: a cadet in his unit who fails to perform and his obsessive wife, Cassidy, who has parked herself outside the base and consistently screams and cheer for him throughout the day.

Carl knows he needs to find a solution to these problems if he has any chance of getting the leadership position he wants. But instead, a solution finds him.

The problem cadet in his unit “takes care” of Cassidy for him. “Don’t worry,” he reassures Carl, “no one will find the body.”

If this were any other show we’d assume it can’t possibly mean that he killed her. There must be some other explanation. But it’s Shameless, so it’s likely he means exactly what we think he means.

In a way, Liam’s is the most fascinating of the Gallagher stories right now.

Each of the siblings has had their moments of believing in Frank and his ability to be a father. For the older three, that time was long before the show began. But we’ve had the chance to watch both Carl and Debbie try and bond with their father at different points in time, only to be heartbreakingly disappointed.

Liam has been the most susceptible to Frank in recent years because he is the youngest and the least aware of Frank’s proclivities. But slowly he is catching on and developing a conscience of his own that tells him to distance himself from his father’s activities.

All in all, there is plenty to look forward to as Shameless Season 9 unfolds, as long as they don’t get too tied up in Frank’s nonsense at the expense of the rich storytelling opportunities that exist for the rest of the family.

What did you think of the season 9 premiere of Shameless? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Shameless airs Sundays at 9p/8c on Showtime.

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