Shameless - General Discussion USA Pace

[Bonobochick]

For those who are watching the USA airings...

[davedoty]

I'm not sure if anyone is even watching the US airings, but I'll start some discussion.

As much as I miss Lip, one of the nice things about his departure is watching Ian's relationship with Carl develop. Watching the similarities and differences between Lip and Ian's ideas of being a big brother is quite interesting. Despite Ian's heavy involvement in Carl's brief boxing career, he was mostly a spectator. Lip was more protective but more controlling, constantly telling Ian what he should do. Ian is more inclined to let Carl make his own decisions, helping where he can, but also letting Carl reap the consequences of those decisions.

[davedoty]

Even though my clip series is running at the UK pace, I realized I can still embed older clips at the US pace. So here is the clip from last week's US ep:

[davedoty]

Okay, I'm determined to keep an attempt at discussion up in this thread, just to make sure that the place is welcoming to any new Sundance viewers.

This weekend: one of the gayest episodes ever! I quite enjoyed Paddy's gay brother. I hope (though I don't expect) to see him back again someday. I could have wished for a little stronger connection between Noel and Mickey, but I suppose you can't have everything.

And a big episode for Ian, though a rough one. For some reason, I found the whole vacuum cleaner subplot gut-wrenching, even more so than the stolen money plotline. There's something horrifying about watching someone get so excited about a new career choice that they hope will transform their lives, and knowing that it's probably doomed to fail before they've even started. I've known a lot of people like this, whether it's Mary Kay, or Amway, or in one case, a literal vacuum cleaner saleswoman like Ian. And their misplaced hope is just heartbreaking. In retrospect, this may have been the episode at which I began to worry that Ian was trapped on the chatsworth. Although I sometimes find Ian a little self-absorbed, so some takedown may have been overdue.

The clips:

[carld2]

Thank you for putting up all these clips. I haven't watched a lot of the earlier episodes so this is a nice treat.

[axelmoto]

Yes thank you

[davedoty]

I'm not actually sure if this is from last week or this week, and the online episode descriptions aren't very helpful. Today is about halfway between the two, so I guess that's a compromise.

[axelmoto]

Episode 7

www.wisevid.com/gate-way?v=5tbvgq8Afqgb

Episode 8

www.zshare.net/video/73521320c9732432/

[carld2]

I was just watching some of the clips from when Ian and Mickey first got together -- it was kind of sweet the way they would look at each other, although Mickey seemed more into Ian. Ciaran plays that tenderness very well. Yet there was also some good comedy, as poor Mickey fell very, very fast.

I know it was played for laughs and I know the dog was a menace but I don't know how Mickey ever forgave Ian for getting his dog put down. I felt stupid for being upset for Mickey because again it was all done as comedy, but I couldn't help it...

[davedoty]

True, but if we're going to look at it seriously, here's the other perspective: remember what the Maguires did to him when they thought he knocked up Mandy, and what they DID do to Lip when they found out it was him. Then picture what they're likely to do to Ian when they find out that one of those "effing Gallaghers" turned their baby boy queer. And all for nothing, since he didn't even want to continue a relationship with Mickey. And since Mickey was already having "the talk" with his parents, he only had moments to stop it, and not a lot of options.

[carld2]

You're right. I was thinking more of the fist-pump he did when Mickey told him the dog was being put down.

Thanks again for all your clips, I've been going through some of them that I forgot or didn't see the first time. I hope eventually the current episodes may pick up enough that you might give us some of your insights into them.