Shameless Review: Survivors (Season 11 Episode 9)

Things get a little confusing on Shameless Season 11 Episode 9, “Survivors.” While this show has had some continuity errors in the past, there are a few during “Survivors” that make no sense. 

First and foremost, are we really to believe that Frank now has a past of being an art thief? Last season he was kidnapped by a woman who blames him for getting her boyfriend from college hooked on drugs — that is more plausible than this.

This is a big enough piece of Frank’s past that it seems a bit out of touch for it to be brought up now of all times. While it can be argued that Frank is merely thinking he was a thief I highly doubt that is the case. How else would he have plans for a heist they never did?

It just doesn’t really track with who Frank is as a character. He’s a brilliant mind, sure, but a high profile, on the down-low art thief? There are so many other times in the past decade where this unfinished heist could’ve helped him.

There is something to be said for how much it highlights just how far his brain has fallen into the world of dementia. It’s heartbreaking to watch Frank try to round up his old friends and discover that one is in a wheelchair and one is dead, only to have to be reminded of their fates hours later when he tries to start the process all over again.

Another thing that doesn’t make sense is the end shot of the house where all of a sudden a very famous piece of artwork is on their mantle. What does this mean? 

Did Frank actually pull off a heist? Has he been manipulating them all with his mental degradation? Is it a copy?

It’s frustrating to not know in the slightest where Shameless is choosing to take Frank’s story at this point. Dementia is complicated, but after seeing Frank manipulate that woman on the bus it is possible that he is upselling his dementia a bit to throw people off. 

If the show has created this diagnosis to try and redeem Frank and pull at our heartstrings only to turn around and have him use it as a manipulation tool, I’ll be highly disappointed. Frank deserves a true redemption arc and the episode started off great for continuing that.

He pulls out these plans in order to save the house so his kids can continue to have a place to live — despite what Lip wants. However, it just quickly goes downhill from there and we are left not really sure where Frank stands, is he truly demented or is he exaggerating the symptoms to gain the upper hand.

Mickey’s grief is a beautifully written part of the episode and explored perfectly. Terry was an evil, psychotic man who did nothing but torture Mickey his whole life, but he was also Mickey’s father. 

As Ian witnesses early on, Mickey is very conflicted with all the feelings that are brewing within him. It’s a great way to show that grief hits us even when the person who has died has been nothing but horrible to us. 

The only issue I have with that opening scene is that it isn’t longer. We deserve to see Ian meet Mickey halfway and try to at least hold him as he cries. 

Ian doesn’t have to understand Mickey’s complicated feelings in order to physically be there for his husband. Why does it take until the end of the episode for Ian to even embrace his husband in any way?

Between the two of them, Ian has always been more inclined to know what to do emotionally to support someone — especially Mickey. To me, his lack of physical contact with Mickey the whole episode seems a bit out of character for him.

I’m not saying Ian should be constantly touching Mickey because Mickey is never going to be about that. But, a small side hug/cuddle during that opening scene would’ve been better than the emotionally distant Ian Gallagher we did get. 

When they are going through Terry’s things at the house one little line really bothered me and it honestly probably always will. Mickey is looking at a picture of some woman named Rachel and he says to Ian that it could be his mom. 

It doesn’t track with what has been canonically stated on the show over the years. In fact, in Season 1, the Milkovich mother is mentioned as being “upstate” collecting a family member from prison. 

To be honest, that screams knowledge of who the matriarch is, but maybe I’m missing something. Is the mom mentioned early on in the show — as also having died — Mickey’s step-mom? Is that why he says what he does to Ian in this episode?

It just doesn’t add up and honestly, the whole Rachel thing overall could have easily been glossed over or abandoned completely. It does nothing to change our opinions of Terry nor does it add anything to the many questions we have about the guy.

If anything the box of things really just serves to illustrate even further how complicated Mickey’s relationship with his dad is. If his comment about how proud his dad was of him after he caught a knife being thrown at him is any indication. 

Mickey never gave up on the small, iota of a chance that Terry might change his mind and actually care for Mickey in the way he desired. It’s indicative of abuse survivors, Mickey’s trauma has him always seeking to find that moment again where his abuser shows positive attention and care towards him. 

Ian doesn’t know what that’s like, because as awful and neglectful as Frank was, he never abused or tortured his children. In his own way, Frank loves his kids. 

Again, it would have been nice to have Ian be a bit more supportive of Mickey’s complicated emotions than just making jokes and silently judging the things he says. It’s understandable that Ian is making jokes because he doesn’t understand, but in a way, Shameless just keeps hammering in that uncomfortableness, which ultimately takes away from the bond these two men share. 

The best moment for Ian during “Survivors” is when they find Terry’s body and burn it. Taking Mickey into his arms and giving him a signature forehead kiss is beautiful and meaningful. It makes up for all his missteps the rest of the time.

And, as cute and sweet as Ian’s intentions are with singing “I Will Survive” it takes away from the scene. Yes, Ian is trying to get Mickey to smile and take him out of his grief, but that moment is not the moment to do that. 

Leaving it at the forehead kiss and then panning out to show them embracing one another would have been much more meaningful and less awkward. The singing takes us completely out of the moment and causes the kiss to lose impact. 

I will be the first to admit I have a love-hate relationship with Ian Gallagher, but despite that, he’s always had a big heart. Unfortunately, this season is trying too hard to make him funny and so that aspect of his personality has really disappeared. 

Ian Gallagher deserves better writing, and this episode is a prime example of why. 

Shameless Thoughts

• Why are all the Gallaghers terrible communicators? Debbie, don’t you think you could’ve just told Lip ‘hey I feel alone’ three episodes ago and this situation wouldn’t have turned into WW3?
• I have a strong suspicion Kev and V are going to end up in Louisville by the season’s end. V loves her mom too much to not go where she is.
• Really, Shameless? The Godfather theme music as Mr. Baggio is revealed? Really?
• I was not expecting Lip to step up and take responsibility for Liam but I love it just the same. 

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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