“Jesus, you really don’t remember what happened last year? Pay some fucking attention this time.”—Frank (William H. Macy), opening Season Two of Shameless.
There is nothing quite like Shameless on television today. Its humorous take on a motherless (and essentially fatherless) family’s struggle to survive on the poor side of Chicago mixes bizarrely well with a bit of pathos and an astonishing amount of typically avoided, heavy-duty adult sexuality and drug references, especially for a show starring several adolescents and grade-schoolers. And, as numerous groundbreaking series have proven since the dawn of television, it’s going to take a while for the Showtime series to gather the attention it deserves. (Joan Cusack did receive an Emmy nomination last season for her portrayal of the ditsy, agoraphobic Sheila Jackson.)
Following Frank’s advice, new viewers got a good handle on the first season thanks to a three-minute synopsis. For this year’s first show, we find the Gallaghers and friends doing what they can to earn a summertime buck.
Now that Sheila’s husband has disappeared (he committed suicide by jumping into frozen Lake Michigan) she has one less paycheck to contribute to Frank’s shiftless lifestyle. So Frank “borrows” his youngest son, Liam the toddler, to panhandle some sympathy funds from drivers. In this scene, we witness an example of how the show’s creators sweat the small stuff that you can miss if you’re not paying attention. On the backside of his “disabled vet” sign is a backward-written “Fuck you” that he quickly aims toward a non-donating driver’s rearview mirror.
His plan backfires, however, when a muscle-bound gangster holds Liam hostage for money Frank owes him. Frank unsuccessfully tries every illegal way he can think of (even bathroom fellatio) to raise the money.