William H. Macy, “Shameless.” Credit: Paul Sarkis via TNS
Rear View Mirror is a monthly TV show column that examines the cultural influence and societal reflection of the “New Golden Age of Television,” prioritizing shows from the late 1990s to the mid-2010s.
Disclaimer: There may be slight spoilers ahead
“Shameless,” one of Showtime’s most acclaimed television series, is a dark comedy that expertly navigates the fine line between humor and heartbreak.
“Shameless” — which ran for 11 seasons from 2011 to 2021 — follows the Gallagher family, led by alcoholic narcissist Frank Gallagher (William H. Macy), who lives with his six children in a low-income neighborhood in Southside Chicago.
While Frank spends most of his time cashing in fraudulent disability checks and hanging around his favorite bar — The Alibi Room — his 21-year-old daughter, Fiona (Emmy Rossum), takes on the full-time care of five younger siblings.
The first three seasons showcase the characters at their clearest and most authentic — a clan of misfits who will do anything to help their family. Most importantly, they will have a great time doing so.
The Gallaghers, however, never lose sight of their harsh reality.
“Casey Casden”: A shining example
The fourth episode of the first season, titled “Casey Casden,” is one of the series’ best. It opens with 11-year-old Debbie Gallagher (Emma Kenney), bored and lonely, pushing a potato around in a stroller.
The older Gallagher siblings are too absorbed in their own problems to pay her any attention. With no heat in the house, 17-year-old Lip (Jeremy Allen White) and 15-year-old Ian (Cameron Monaghan) are preoccupied trying to fix a broken water heater, all while Fiona is frantically trying to take care of the house and everyone in it.
The episode’s B-plot focuses on Fiona’s friend Kevin (Steve Howey), who is a bartender at The Alibi Room, and his attempt to ward off women coming onto him at the bar, as he is in a long-term relationship with Veronica (Shanola Hampton), Fiona’s closest girlfriend.
In one attempt, Kevin casually mentions that he is getting married, which Frank overhears and takes seriously. Frank then forces Kevin to announce it to all the patrons, including Veronica’s mother — a classic example of him sabotaging his friends and loved ones.
The day takes a dramatic turn when Debbie, either out of restlessness or in an attempt for attention, kidnaps a young boy, Casey, from a birthday party.
This episode represents “Shameless” in its early glory, including a hilarious planning montage that sees the Gallaghers, Kevin, Veronica and Fiona’s boyfriend Steve Wilton (Justin Chatwin) attempt to return Casey without landing the family in any trouble — complete with kitschy title cards.
Eventually, Debbie returns Casey to the birthday party, telling a story that paints her as a hero. Upon his return, the other partygoers actually throw money at her.
Debbie uses the money to buy a new water heater, neatly wrapping up the episode’s C-plot.
In a drunken state, Kevin proposes to Veronica, turning his previous lie into a reality. Nevertheless, by the end of the episode, he memorably reveals to Fiona that he is already married.
Why “Casey Casden” makes for perfect television
This episode works so well for a few reasons, one of which is its fast-paced plot filled with incredibly funny moments.
Take, for example, Carl (Ethan Kutkosky) — the second-youngest Gallagher at 9 years old — calling in a false tip to the police in order to further the Gallagher’s get-off-scot-free plan. When the police start asking him questions, he hangs up and promptly mutters “a******” under his breath.
Similarly, Veronica bribes the local dry cleaner owner with marijuana in exchange for borrowing her phone, which she then uses to call in another false tip. But after they start asking questions, she brands the cops with the same insult.
This parallel is not only humorous, but also enriches the growing narrative of the Gallagher family and their community. To them, police are useless scum. This notion comes up frequently throughout the series, as the Gallagher children are regularly on the run from the law.
Underneath this episode’s comedy is also tragedy — a term used deliberately, albeit dramatically, to align with the show’s overarching themes.
The family is often strapped for cash and has to concoct new, brilliantly hilarious schemes to get by, and this episode is an early example of that dilemma.
What’s more, Debbie’s boredom and questionable behavior might stem from Fiona’s inability to give her the attention she needs, along with the absence of her parents. With the family’s financial struggles, Debbie cannot have the same items other kids do, like a baby doll, so she kidnaps a real child instead.
This situation makes for a hilarious plot point, but also a sad reality.
“Casey Casden” is similar to many of the early seasons’ episodes in its ability to tug at viewers’ heartstrings, highlighting how the world is set up against those with poor financial and family situations. Simultaneously, it weaves together moments of comedy, providing watchers with relief at every turn.
“Shameless” ultimately explores societal truths without being overly explicit, and though its scrappy cast of characters are often crass, the show’s writing features refreshing depth that can be appreciated by any TV enthusiast.
