“Lazarus”
**SPOILER ALERT**
Looks like the Gallaghers are back on track. With a new lease on life (and a new liver to ruin) Frank is on the road to recovery and already mocking God. “You lost asshole!” he says as he toasts the Chicago skyline with Carl (the enabler) by his side. I was shocked to see Frank drink again. I expected the touching scene by Lake Michigan to be Frank’s farewell to alcohol. Up until the moment he tipped the bottle to his lips I’d have sworn he was going to fling it into the icy abyss. Apparently it takes more than surgery, stitches and an organ transplant to keep Frank from his booze. That’s the defiant Gallagher we’ve come to know and be entertained by. After cheating death once more, Frank must be feeling invincible.
Fiona’s life was hunky dory in the beginning of season four. She had the good job with benefits, a middle class boyfriend, everything was humming along on an even keel. But that all went to hell when she slept with her boyfriend’s brother and partied a little too hard. What goes up must come down, and Fiona did just that. She sunk to an all time low this season, a low that landed her in jail. In this last episode of the season Fiona is released from jail early thanks to overcrowding. She’s learned her lesson and is ready to get her life back on track. Fiona has become a layered character, no longer defined by her older sister/caregiver status. She’s owned up to her mistakes, taking full responsibility, blaming no one but herself. Emmy Rossum has nailed Fiona, lending both vulnerability and strength to her character this season.
Coming out of the closet was such a big deal to Mickey he’s incredulous that no one at the Alibi cares. He’s ready to fight anyone that has an issue with it. Kevin puts him at ease by starting a conversation with bar regulars that reads like a laundry list of gay celebrities. Kev then offers a comical toast to “butt buddies.” Lately the Alibi has been reminding me of Cheers (remember that show from the 80s?). It’s your home away from home where everyone knows your name and no one judges you.
Ever the dutiful whore, Mickey’s wife greats him with nothing on but a robe and a strap-on. Her lurid offer to fulfill him falls flat. Even his wife hints that he’s in love with Ian. Which he obviously is. If Mickey wants to keep his relationship with Ian, he’ll have to shoulder the fatherly duties he’s been shirking. Otherwise his wife might stab them to death with a screwdriver and bleed them both to death in their sleep. I believe she’d do it too. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.
Unfortunately Mickey might be in for the ride of his life with Ian. As it turns out Ian wasn’t high on drugs, but high on life. And now he’s hitting a new low, a deep depression that may require medical attention. Ian is in the pits, he lost the genetic roulette and inherited Monica’s bipolar disease, or at least that’s what we suspect. As the kids said, they’ve all seen it before (in Monica) but Mickey hasn’t. Mickey thinks he can nurse Ian back to health. Your heart’s in the right place, but it’ll take more than love to fix Ian so good luck Mickey.
Despite marrying Frank, Sheila was still unable to adopt her native American brood. They wanted to live with Sheila because their great-grandpa didn’t have wi-fi. Typical adolescents, right? So now Sheila is stuck with Frank and no kids. She and Sammi have had their differences, but if Sheila is that lonely Frank has plenty of spawn that need a loving mother figure. Her house never stays empty for long.
Everything Lip has is because of Mandy and he knows it. Mandy filled out all of his college applications and pushed a resistant Lip into pursuing a better future. While out with his new girlfriend and her sorority sisters, he sees Mandy waitressing at a restaurant harassed by ass grabbing men, it’s her present and possibly her future. Maybe he feels like he owes her something, but Mandy wants nothing to do with him. She doesn’t want his pity and that seems to be all he has to give at the moment.
In a fantastic season closer Shameless pulls a fast one! Wasn’t Jimmy/Steve supposed to be dead? Articles had circulated claiming the character had most likely been killed off. Well, he’s back Jack. But who is he now Jimmy, Steve, or Jack? I can only imagine how his return will affect Fiona. This is bad news.
Top five things I’m looking forward to in season five:
- The return of Jimmy/Steve/Jack
- Lip’s developing relationship with Amanda
- Fiona’s rise
- Frank’s potential developing character arc
- Ian’s battle with bipolar disease
Aurora Snow Says
Episode Rating:
[Rating:4.5/5]