When his father Terry (Dennis Cockrum) used them, it was obvious that he was the villain of the scene. Mickey was the most famous user of the taboo f-word, but it was used to symbolized his own internal hatred. The same goes for homophobic slurs used on the show. Shameless Sneak Peek: Fiona Is Throwing Down with Her Tenant's Girlfriend The exchange was crass, but educational instead of insulting.
He was able to guide Ian away from the invasive questions about his genitals and teach him what the accepted conversation points were. However, Trevor still maintained the power in that conversation. So the show scripted the bold, unapologetic line of questioning that someone like Trevor would experience from a high school drop-out from the hood of Chicago. Shameless knew that Ian doesn't spend his time watching I Am Cait or reading GLAAD guidelines for talking to and about transgender people though. Last season, Ian had a very frank discussion with Trevor about being trans that was far from what would be considered the politically correct guidelines. That's just how they talk, haven't you seen this show before?" starts - this instance is different. There's no objection to humor here, but it also just feels like another stab at a marginalized group who doesn't deserve it.īefore the chorus of, "Don't be so sensitive. It's supposed to be a joke to lift the serious banter that just occurred between the two siblings, as is the show's way. Shameless: Sober Lip Still Has Some Growing Up to Do "I think you're a freak for crying in a fat man's arms." "I don't think you're a freak for being sad about Monica," Fiona says in comfort.
He confides that he cried in the arms of a "fat furry" because he's so messed up about Monica being dead. Ian's next scene is him in the Gallagher hot tub baring his soul to Fiona ( Emmy Rossum), who is concerned about his emo choice in music. Trevor's trick worked, but it was still tainted. The intimate gesture pushes Ian to break down in tears, likely because it was a touching moment he would never experience with his mother again. Ian gets a pick-me-up blow job and prepares to leave before his one-night-only paramour demands he stay and cuddle. Together, Ian and Trevor find a pair of men to hook up with. Does the sick irony not strike anyone else here? Trevor, the trans man who works at a non-profit that advocates for the rights of displaced trans youth (and who is played by a trans actor), enjoys fetishizing fat gay men to uplift his own self-esteem. When Trevor feels rejected by the guy he really likes (Ian), he hooks up with fat men to make himself feel better because he knows they'll worship him for his more conventionally attractive figure. Like, let's say there was this guy that I really loved, and he deserted me for three days to go to Mexico with his escaped convict ex, I would come here to find a chub to worship me.Ĭameron Monaghan and Elliot Fletcher, Shameless PAUL SARKIS, PAUL SARKIS/Showtime Trevor: It's not like I go for them all the time, it's just when I need someone really nice in my life. When the two almost-boyfriends show up at bar, the following exchange takes place. It gets disturbing when Trevor also shares some problematic views about frequenting this particular bar when he's sad. It's obviously gross in Ian's eyes, but Ian has been problematic before.
Trevor decides that the best way to cheer Ian up is to take him to a "chub bar." Ian is shocked and appalled that the dude he's trying to reunite with could have a sexual attraction to larger men. It starts when Ian reveals to Trevor ( Elliot Fletcher) that he's feeling bummed out about saying goodbye to his meth inheritance from Monica ( Chloe Webb).
GAY BARS IN CHICAGO LIKE SHAMELES SERIES
In the second episode of Shameless' eighth season, the series goes fat shaming with no real purpose except to expose Ian's ( Cameron Monaghan) deep grief over his mother dying and to make him feel better - and that's not good enough. That's why it feels weird when the show takes a misstep and feels like it's beating up on a marginalized group instead of giving them the space to tell their story, however unpolished that might be. It does so by pushing boundaries and not being afraid to say things in a way that aren't politically correct, but honest at the same time. Shameless does great work in depicting the gritty side of life without getting preachy.