SHAMELESS 4.03 ‘Like Father, Like Daughter’

Episode Title: “Like Father, Like Daughter”

Writer: Sheila Callaghan

Director: Sanaa Hamri

Previously on “Shameless:”

Episode 4.02 “My Oldest Daughter”

In “Like Father, Like Daughter,” we learn that Frank Gallagher’s (William H. Macy) eldest child is a lot like him, even though she has no idea who he is. Perhaps the same can be said for Fiona (Emmy Rossum), who despite being in a relationship with a great guy, can’t help but screw his jerk brother.

This season seems to be all about the Gallaghers “moving up the food chain,” which they prove to be quite capable of. But Mike’s (Jake McDorman) black sheep brother doesn’t find satisfaction working in an office nine to five only to end the day watching bad television. And he suspects that deep down Fiona is the same. 

Robbie puts his hunch to the test after he and Fiona take a very drunk Mike home from dinner. While Mike is revisiting the scotch and wine he downed earlier over a toilet, Robbie makes a move on Fiona and she doesn’t resist.

Fiona has a history of choosing bad boys like Jimmy (or is it Steve?) when perfectly nice guys like Tony wish she’d give them a chance. That pattern is repeating itself with Mike and Robbie, but the difference here is that someone is going to be extremely hurt and Robbie’s made it clear he doesn’t care. Fiona genuinely cares for Mike, but there’s more at stake than their relationship. Screwing the boss is one thing, but screwing his brother? No matter how many cups she sells, Fiona’s going to have a hard time making up for this one.

While Fiona wrecks one relationship, Frank works on another with his daughter, Samantha. After a not-so-chance encounter at a playground, Frank starts wooing his daughter. That might not have been his intention, but with so much in common (they both hate butterscotch, avocados and squirrels) she quickly becomes “smitten” with Frank and offers up her liver when she learns of his condition. It sounds like Frank is going to taker her up on the organ, which means she’ll probably learn the real reason why he was such “a gentleman” in her trailer.

At least Lip (Jeremy Allen White) is still at school, though homesickness, a tough professor and an even tougher boss aren’t making freshman year much fun. Ian (Cameron Monaghan) is still missing in action and Mickey (Noel Fisher) has resorted to getting hip-humped by a skanky redhead at the Alibi to deal with missing Ian. Meanwhile, Deb (Emma Kenney) decides to make a move on Matt, but he claims work and a sick cat have soured his mood. Instead he snuggles up to her on the couch to watch “Eraserhead.” She may not have lost her virginity, but it’s a night she won’t soon forget.

In other news, Carl (Ethan Cutkosky) keeps busy dog-napping pooches in hopes of getting ransom money, but no one bites, Sheila (Joan Cusack) entertains a Native American man she met on Christian Mingle who is apparently “DTF,” though she has no idea what that means and Vee (Shanola Hampton) starts unloading her medicine cabinet at the Alibi in order to make a little extra money.

“Like Father, Like Daughter” is serious game-changer for Fiona and Frank, as both are pretty reckless with some important relationships. Meanwhile, the rest of the gang continues to find new and inventive ways to survive but it’s the choices Frank and his two older daughters make that could have the biggest impact on the Gallagher clan and friends.