Shameless Review: Go Home, Gentrifier (Season 11 Episode 2)

The parallels to early seasons continues with Shameless Season 11 Episode 2, “Go Home, Gentrifier.” This episode is the best comedically since probably Season 1 or 2.

That being said, “Go Home, Gentrifier,” has its positives and its negatives with regards to plot and character growth.

As of right now, Ian is really grating on the nerves with his high and mighty attitude about what Mickey should be doing. It’s like they got married and suddenly Ian doesn’t remember the type of man he married.

Mickey has never held down legal, gainful employment — barring the job his P.O. got him last season — and shouldn’t be expected to know how to interview for a job or even fill out a job application properly. 

To be honest, that whole scene where Mickey is forced into seeking a job at the warehouse because Ian pressured him only serves to put Mickey down and embarrass him. Some might see it as bad writing, but I personally liked what it shows about Mickey.

It shows that Mickey doesn’t know anything about functioning in the “real world.” He doesn’t know his social security number or even how many numbers that is because he’s never had to use it for anything. 

When he lashes out and says his iconic line, it isn’t a regression of his character; it’s actually indicative of how much Mickey can change and still stay the same. Mickey can change and be the type of person who is out and proud about his relationship with his husband, but that doesn’t change who he is at his core — a street thug.

Mickey: F**k you, f**k you, and especially f**k you!

Ian needs to remember that he also came from a family that lied and cheated their way into money all the time in order to make ends meet. Just because he has a leg up by getting a job at a young age doesn’t mean he can turn his nose up at how Mickey knows how to make money. 

At this point in their relationship, money is money and it’s what is going to help pay the bills.

Ultimately, it comes down to Ian being unable to accept that Mickey is Mickey, and that Mickey loves him and his family more than any other person ever has. Ian needs to stop trying to change Mickey and just be the kind of husband who accepts Mickey as he is — the south side trash he fell in love with.

Apart from the Ian and Mickey of it all, one of the best parts of this episode is Frank going into business with Kev and V. Now I — like the majority of the Shameless fandom — don’t like Frank at all.

However, when he’s right, he’s right, and when it comes to pot, Frank is never wrong. The man knows his illegal drugs, as Kev so sagely points out. 

It’s nice to see Frank actually being able to contribute to society in a way instead of being a dredge on it like every other season. Oh, how the times have changed.

It’s all because marijuana is now legal and the pandemic has made way for Frank’s shady business dealings to be seen as acceptable instead of taboo. Who expected Frank would be the one to save Kev and V’s business?

Frank is at his best when he is charming people out of their drugs or their money. Now that he gets to do both of those things and earn a respectable wage maybe he will turn a corner a bit in his life — doubtful, but anything is possible.

It’s going to be intriguing to see how this new partnership changes as their business grows and flourishes. I don’t blame V for not trusting Frank and wanting to cut him out, but this is the only time in life when trusting Frank isn’t going to steer you wrong.

If Frank is anything he’s a survivalist. He is a cockroach that can live through just about anything — during a pandemic, that is the exact partner you want to have by your side.

Something I also never thought I’d be saying is Tami is growing on me. She is officially acting more Gallagher than Tamietti which can only work in her favor.

The whole scene with her, Franny, and Sandy at the dollar store is cute and really solidifies her connection to this family. Along with Sandy, it’s her who kind of calls Debbie out on her behavior toward her daughter’s birthday party.

That is something that Tami isn’t really known for. In fact, during the tenth season Tami complains all the time to Lip about how much he cares about his family over her. 

Now she is setting aside her own stuff to help Lip keep their home “nice but not too nice” in order to ward off gentrifiers and she’s helping Debbie set up everything for the birthday party. Welcome to the family, Tami — finally.

I honestly don’t know what it is about Debbie and Ian on this episode but the pretentiousness about their actual family situation is probably the worst aspect of the episode. Debbie refuses to listen to what her daughter actually wants and insists that sometimes things should be about her.

Okay, Debbie’s argument is valid, but not at the expense of her five-year-old daughter. It’s so disheartening to watch Franny go from over-the-moon excited about her birthday to being disappointed that nothing she wants happens for her. 

Debbie knows how disappointing parents can be in their neighborhood and she has the opportunity to be better than that, but instead, she basically implies that her daughter needs to get over it.

Why didn’t anyone shake her and insist she actually listens to her daughter? Why did Sandy and Tami let her take over and demand that Franny wants a princess party despite Franny saying she didn’t want it?

Debbie has been slowly growing in likeability and then she goes and pulls this crap. We feel as frustrated and let down as poor little Franny.

Other Shameless Thoughts:

• How cute is it that Mickey goes against everything and got Franny what she really wanted? And then her “Uncle Mickey.” Aww.
• Okay, the initial worry that Carl becoming a cop would strengthen the whole “violent cops” image is gone, but now I’m just bored. I’m still debating on how I actually feel about this development in Carl’s path.
• Liam is probably the kindest out of all the Gallaghers. Somehow he avoids all the awful that family has gone through and uses his slight leg up to give back to the kids who have less.
• Enough of the Tommy and Kermit. I’d like to forget that ever happened and yet it seems the writers want to keep reminding us.
• Lip and Fred are hands down the cutest thing. Lip has really flourished in his role as a father.

 

What did you think of this episode of Shameless? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Shameless airs Sundays at 9/8c on Showtime.

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