I Am a Storm Recap: Shameless

Now that the Gallaghers all must fend for themselves, they are all off in different directions. So in some ways, most of them found themselves in a storm in “I Am a Storm” (Season 3, Episode 4, 10-23-2016).

Emperor of the Disenfranchised

Frank had to defend his homeless shelter against the neighborhood association that wanted them out. Lisa (remember her from Season 5?) was putting No Homeless Shelters Allowed signs outside and complaining about the disruptions of happy yuppie life that the shelter’s residents were creating. Frank made a new set of rules for his household and also put them to work to clean up the outside. No, he didn’t join in. He was just directing. He did go to the association meeting. Nary a soul there had any sympathy for his efforts to keep things under control, nor were they impressed with his argument that people were homeless because of them. They all voted to demolish the property and rented a bulldozer to do it. We thought that the building belonged to a man off on a cruise so we have no idea how they could legally do that, but, whatever. Frank called the news and chained himself and 3 little kids out on the front porch railings in the pouring rain.

#Speakeasy2016

In her drive to show a profit at Patsy’s Pies, Fiona changed it to an open all-night every night diner. Despite their prime location for the after-hours crowd (right between the clubs and the El), that wasn’t going anywhere until Fiona discovered the competition’s secret: booze being served in mugs so the law wouldn’t know. Lip was still kinda condescending about her ability to make serious money, claiming that he was the one who could and that would help the family. After reminding Lip of the sacrifices she made so he could go to that college he got himself expelled from, Fiona furiously took her belongings and moved to the diner, vowing to put herself before her siblings for the first time in 10 years. She put her kickoff party together faster than you could say “speakeasy” (which Sierra did say), even without V’s help. They went with a prohibition theme, complete with a screwdriver hole labeled “Al Capone’s gun did that– 1925.” The party was a big success. Patsy’s pulled in $1,500 in one night. But we must say we’re disappointed that Fiona resorted to illegal activity to make her big splash so soon. She didn’t have to. One creation from Max, the new cook, a $10 Bourgie Grilled Cheese was already helping to pull in a profit. Fiona thinks she proving herself but she’s potentially putting the owner in a big pickle, and not a gourmet one.

Be the guy who has nothing to run from. ~ Professor Youens

Lip’s change of attitude at his internship paid off in a promotion to senior internship. His replacement as low man on the totem pole was a girl named Melody, who asked too many questions about what was really going on there. Lip didn’t even get to explain the worst aspects of her job to her, nor did she get to perform them. That evening, Lip got into the Do No Enter room and the next day, his supervisor marveled at his temerity, since he must have known that there were security cameras all over the joint. Lip marveled at how they could even think no one could figure out that the code to get in was Tesla. Lip was offered a slew of old iPads and all he had to do was sign a non-disclosure agreement to take them. He signed just when the FBI busted in. Lip managed to get at least one in a bag and flee. Later he talked to Professor Youens who advised him to become one of the guys who rip off the guys who have already ripped off other guys. Lip was less than enthusiastic, envisioning a life on the run, but Youens pointed out that the guys he was working for had tons of money and excellent lawyers and they were not the ones who ran when the FBI showed up. That was Lip.

I Am a Storm Guest Stars and Co-Stars

Ian squared things up at his job as an EMT. When he went home, he ran into a guy named Trevor who was looking for the homeless shelter. They hit it off and made plans to meet up at a club. They did, got drunk and began dancing. Ian was shocked to learn that Trevor was born a girl. Trevor became super angry when Ian described himself as normal and stormed off. Ian apologized and Trevor later took him to meet his crew from the LGBTQIA Center, where he learned a whole lot of stuff about nonbinary genders, including many pronouns he had never heard.

Debbie tried to get a job at a donut place, leaving Franny at home with a sleeping Fiona. A malfunctioning cash register forced Fiona to go to Patsy’s early so she interrupted Debbie’s interview to drop Franny off, costing Debbie the job. It was just as well since Debbie was lying through her teeth about being available for all shifts. Svetlana advised Debbie not to be a strong woman who weathers storms, but to be the storm and find someone “weak, stupid and desperate” and wear bras so her breasts “levitate.” That didn’t work out too well for ol’ Debs. She apparently found a potential mate who wanted to teach her unappealing things like who invented Candyland and Jenga is the Swahili word for build. She complained that Fiona gave everyone else a job, but when asked if she would take Fiona’s orders, she declined.

As for Carl, we never did get to see what happened when the SWAT team broke into the frat house. Instead, we learned that Dominique was grounded but still texting her college boy against her father’s order. Carl was now hanging out at the gun range with Sergeant Winslow who advised him to go to military school to learn how to be a man. Winslow also started life on the wrong path and he believes that military school will help Carl realize his goal of being on the SWAT team. Right now, money is a problem because Carl spent the rest of what he had stashed away on that circumcision operation for that shady little user, Dom. Now she’s mad that her father’s showing Carl all this attention.

Kevin and V didn’t have as easy a time adjusting to the presence of Yvon, Svetlana’s father, as their children did. Yvon had a way with the babies even though he tried to feed them apples straight off a huge knife and said something highly inappropriate that Svetlana was not there to translate. Yvon took the children out for a walk sending V into a panic. She thought he was going to sell them on the black market and called the police. It turned out that he was just getting a picture made to thank them for allowing him to stay with them and watch the kids. Svetlana punished her spouses by making Kevin put on a horse saddle and having V make him trot. Finally, about that argument that V and Fiona had: V was shocked to learn that Fiona was going to throw Debbie and Franny out and she also accused Fiona of only coming around when she needed something. Fiona went off on Svetlana for the advice she gave Debbie and V said they could talk about it later. Fiona said they wouldn’t because V was too busy and split to plan her party. Svetlana said that Fiona uses people: “You have outgrown her.” Ouch!