You mentioned being "out of step" with much of the Shameless (Gallavich?) fandom in one of your last posts, and this fandom lurker felt strongly enough to actually ACTIVELY RESPOND. I can't speak for the fandom as a whole, but there is at least one fan (hint: she's showing up uninvited in your asks this very second!) who truly appreciates your takes.
(Pt 2, because brevity? Never met her.) There seems to be a swell of Ian hate as of late, as as someone who is an Ian fan, it can be deflating and frustrating in equal parts. He's fascinating and sweet and ABSOLUTELY flawed, but that's part of what makes the character interesting. It's getting hard to see the double standards in regards to some of those flaws, though. Everyone has rights to their own feelings, obvs, and normally I scroll on by - but it's hard to avoid it entirely these days.
(Part 3 - now this is getting embarrassing.) Point is, I've really appreciated your takes on some of these... touchier topics. I love that you defend Ian as a whole (he just wants to heeeelp people!) while still acknowledging his faults. It's lovely to see someone with such thoughtful, articulate takes on the character and on Shameless stories in general.
You shouldn’t be embarrassed at all! This seriously made my day to read (and is the first multi-part ask I’ve ever gotten)! 🥺🧡 Before joining this fandom, I’ve pretty much always been a lurker myself. I write my fics and reblog beautiful gifsets and keep my thoughts in tags that I can be confident no one will read. This is the first fandom where people did and encouraged me to turn my tag whispers into more active engagement, and it really does mean so much to know that my own analysis can contribute in any way, unpopular as much of it may be at times. (I tried to lurk here too, but @luckyshazmrsmonaghansblog and @gallavictorious wouldn’t let me 😉)
My posts lately haven’t been quite as...tactful as I normally attempt to be, and I truly hope that I haven’t offended anyone with my interpretations of these touchier subjects or mentions of this double-standard we’ve noticed. The sheer volume of those posts and asks, both directed at Ian and to the show in general, are just so disheartening. I’ve seen a lot of instances where Ian is repeatedly called a “himbo,” referred to as stupid, and ultimately just reduced to “muscular man with no brain who selfishly hurts his cute, small, helpless husband’s feelings so often the latter should have left by now to find his better life and who he truly is.” Then the writers are blamed when these interpretations seem to be predominantly rooted in fanon—in fanfiction stereotypes that transcend this fandom and are reproduced in all the others I’ve been part of regardless of canon characterization.
As you said, everyone is entitled to their opinion and interpretation. If you prefer fanon to canon, there’s nothing wrong with acknowledging that! And it’s certainly true that nobody has to like Ian. I just wish that he (and really anybody on the show who isn’t Mickey, whom I also love, just for the record) could be viewed as a complex character who will do the right things, do the wrong things, and do all manner of things in between without there needing to be that element of taking sides.
What I love about the show and especially their relationship is that, from start to finish, it’s been rooted in their imperfection. It’s real. That’s why I’m more invested in this romance than I ever have been in other fictional pairings. They’ve both hurt each other, intentionally and unintentionally, and their flaws as people have had as much of an impact on their relationship as their strengths. They chose each other, fully aware of their shortcomings and loving those too. That’s how I approach my understanding of the show—of any media I consume—and these characters, and I really am so glad that it can mean something even to just a few people besides myself. I’m so happy that you enjoy them and that they help! 🧡
