The tone of “Killer Carl” plays a tad more sober than previous episodes, but is perhaps necessary to further highlight Frank’s inhumanity as a father. He continues his residency at the Jackson household—the other dysfunctional family—where Sheila dotes on him while her daughter Karen calls him “Daddy Frank”. Real dad, Eddie, lives in the basement now and partakes in family meals while making snide comments about Sheila who, in turn, treats him with venomous hatred. The reason for the disdain of the family patriarch still remains a mystery, as does Frank’s pitiful disregard for his own children.
Eventually, the writers of Shameless will to have to explain the background behind Frank’s behavior. There’s a sense that the Gallaghers, including Frank, were at one time a more normal family that took some sort of horrid turn. How else can one explain these children with exceptional minds and passionate hearts? Their missing mother is rarely mentioned but her disappearance is the elephant in the room. As viewers, we want a reason to like Frank aside from his “drunk appeal.” The writers offer an occasional look of regret on Frank’s face when he hurts his kids, but nothing promising ever comes from it.
This time, it appears, Frank has screwed up his part of an insurance scam and is being pursued by a couple thugs demanding $6000. When they come into Fiona’s house looking for him, it gives Fiona one more reason to hate her father. Another comes when Carl’s principal requests a meeting with his father on Parents Night. The warning signs at home (a penchant for torturing Barbie dolls and goldfish, among others) are even worse at school. (When the kids are asked to make a paper mache that represents the way they feel Carl makes a lifelike pile of dog pooh.)
Frank, of course, refuses to go to the meeting. But unbeknownst to Fiona, “Daddy Frank” does go with Karen. After Carl is saved, thanks to intervention from Fiona’s boyfriend Steve, the family runs into Frank and Karen in the hallway. Frank is clueless about the damage he’s done.