Ian and Lip (Jeremy Allen White), in particular, are often shocked and impressed by what Carl is up to, while his father Frank is consistently proud of his son’s criminality. One of the biggest character twists on the show comes when young, innocent Carl (Ethan Cutkosky) grows older and becomes a drug dealer, leading to a life of crime that actually becomes a running joke with his family members. However, Fiona finally gets out of her own way when becoming a hotelier who finds success. Fiona has worked as a gas station attendant, cashier, housekeeper, and many other positions, but her time cleaning toxic waste marked her absolute low in season 3. With at least 10 odd jobs in eight seasons, Fiona’s employment becomes worse and worse, reinforcing the absurdity of her situation that she even acknowledges is ridiculous. While taking care of her younger siblings, Fiona (Emmy Rossum) often laughs to keep from crying about moving from job to job without much stability. While played for laughs most times, the gag actually underscores how troubled Frank is deep down and how his children are left to pick up the pieces. One time Frank even woke up across the border in Canada and proceeded to rant about the country while in jail. On the street, in the alley, behind a bar, on his kitchen floor: Frank is constantly finding himself rolling around with a painful hangover in the oddest places imaginable. Macy) often waking up in a drunken stupor somewhere he doesn’t recognize.
Sometimes funny, sometimes sad, the most common running joke on Shameless is Frank Gallagher (William H. Later when he finally settles down and marries Ian, Mickey has nowhere left to run and hide. Always in legal trouble and evading the police, the recurring sight gag of Mickey sprinting throughout the streets of Chicago also underscores his lack of commitment and responsibility. Captured perfectly in a YouTube video montage that shows Mickey running for nearly two-and-a-half minutes straight, the gag proves how flighty Mickey is deep down. Mickey The RunnerĪnother hilarious recurring motif that takes place in Shameless is Mickey Milkovich running for his life. It’s a loving term of endearment as only the Shameless characters can express.
Later in the series, the line is stated multiple times by Mickey (Noel Fisher), especially after he marries Ian (Cameron Monaghan) and becomes part of the Gallagher family. The line becomes the catchphrase for both Kevin and his wife V (Shanola Hampton) throughout the series, communicating a shorthand that all of the other characters come to understand as well. Set up in the very first episode of the popular Showtime original series, the exasperated line “F-king Gallaghers” is first uttered by Kevin (Steve Howey) out of frustration with his nosy, needy neighbors who frequently ask for favors without paying them back.