unsolicited 11x11 thoughts…
the opening was precious and snuggling husbands is everything i want and need in this life
it’s difficult watching mickey feel so out of place and uncomfortable in their new apartment and neighborhood. there’s something boyish and gut wrenching about him sneaking out to go sleep at the gallagher house, and keeping it from ian at least at the beginning. it’s also interesting to me that mickey went into the boys’ room and slept in the top bunk vs. going into their old room like he does later in the episode
shoutout to lickey nation—i hope that exchange brought you all joy 😆
quick little chaste morning kisses between husbands? yes
it’s always fascinating to watch ian navigate social situations. it seems, to me, that there’s this noticeable tension within him where he wants to meet new people and explore life beyond the south side, but something just doesn’t quite fit to no fault of his own. it feels like there’s a part of him that wants to be part of these hipster-y, bougie-adjacent groups/spaces then once he’s in them, he’s underwhelmed? or uncomfortable? or both? like it simultaneously falls short of his expectations and doesn’t feel right. there’s more to say here, i’m just struggling for words
liam is precious, which we already knew, but his capacity for kindness and caregiving is well beyond his years. liam operates in this world and within his family so thoughtfully, and he takes on so much more than he should have to. i really hope someone shows up for him and he’s able to step back from this caretaker role
lip’s storyline is sad and it reminds me of fiona/cascading failures. is he arrogant? yes. is he stressed? yes. does he overstep? yes. but he’s doing his best and making decisions that he thinks will benefit the entire family. i feel for him
mickey and the hoa/manager person kicked up a lot of shit for me. he’s never lived in a situation where you can’t just alter your space however you want. he’s never viewed an apartment and thought about what it means to be furnished or unfurnished. also, for the record, neither has ian! he didn’t say anything when mickey was like i’m gonna find out when he furniture’s getting here. mickey’s thought process makes perfect sense! why wouldn’t that shit be there? of course there are class issues between how they grew up and what they know vs. the space they’re in now, and the manager laughing, calling him cute, felt so realistic. it’s demeaning and embarrassing, making it seem as if there’s something wrong with him for not knowing these things when how the fuck could he?
i really enjoyed carl this episode and i wish we had seen this earlier in the season. the robinhood vibe suits carl and that renegade dance was funny and amazing. he’s still goofy little carl and we love to see it
fuck debbie for engaging with anyone who threatened to shoot her child?! and fuck them for using so much screen time to introduce a new (unnecessary) character with one episode left? debbie is not the root of all her problems, this is true, but it’s her responsibility to fix them
the bedroom conversation between ian and mickey was perfection, full stop. i loved how ian approached mickey and actively listened to what he was saying, which allowed mickey to be vulnerable. i think mickey could sense that ian was being genuine and not trying to manipulate him into living where he truly doesn’t want to be, which is ultimately why he agreed to go back. he felt seen and heard
also, mickey’s yup to being asked if he’s serious about pissing in the pool was so hilariously aggressive
the ending the was a lot and i wrote about it here
and finally, not a hot take, but i’m going to say it anyway… the whole ian is a levelheaded slut who has to manage mickey and mickey is a dumb thug who can’t do anything dynamic is real fucking old. it didn’t ruin the episode for me, but it’s really tiresome and reductive of their character’s growth
Unsolicited reply to excellent unsolicited thoughts...
Re: Ian and social settings... Ive long felt like Ian has inherited a bit of Monica’s ooooshiny syndrome (not taking about full on mania here) wherein he gets drawn to experiences that are new and different and afford a perspective other than being a poor Southside Gallagher. So when an opportunity to explore drops into his lap he can do impulsive things and often attempts to kind of shapeshift to fit into new surroundings. As it progresses he can go too far, get caught up in it to his own detriment. But he’s always gonna fall back on the old Southside values, it’s a formative part of his life, core really, and he’s also not actually ashamed of where he came from and the people he loves, even if he needs Mickey to remind him of that sometimes. So it’s a push/pull but I think chasing these new experiences WITH Mickey is going to be healthy for both of them in the long run. Thanks to Ian’s gentle nudging Mickey will maybe become a little less set in his ways and with Mickey to ground him and continue being that guy with zero tolerance for bullshit, Ian won’t lose himself and get in over his head. I mean I agree 100% that sometimes certain writers went too far in selling it with cartoonish cringe, buuuuut at least the season finally landed on the message that despite some natural friction, Ian and Mickey are actually really good for each other. And I’m glad to see it.
