I may forever resent the writers for the emotional games they played with this arc, but I will always appreciate Noel’s and Cam’s dedication to the emotional integrity of this scene. This scene nearly drives me to tears every freaking time because you can see Ian’s heartbreak at leaving, the hesitancy and regret. How he’s now afraid that he’s lost Mickey forever because surely after this, Mickey would hate him and this would be the final straw. But he just needs Mickey to understand why he can’t go through with it and that he will always love him and always carry him in his heart, even if he knows he won’t be able to show it back home.
You can see Mickey’s heartbreak and see that wall slam down immediately. That wall Ian tore down brick by brick demanding Mickey allow his feelings to come through is going back up because Mickey can’t believe this is happening--but at the same time he can. Almost like, how could he have not seen this coming? And Mickey sees Ian’s pain, Ian’s heartache at letting go, and Mickey decides that this isn’t a goodbye for forever, only until things get safer and he can figure a way back to this idiot. So since this is a goodbye afterall, it better be a goddamned good one, and so we also get the mother of all Gallavich kisses.
Hey Mick, when did u first realize u were gay? Did u panic?
Holy fuck! You wanna know my social security number too? Jesus. Alright, fine. Guess I figured I was into dudes first time I went to juvie and I blew a guy for a packet of smokes. Shot my own fuckin’ load right there with his dick in my mouth.
I didn’t panic or nothin’ cos I ain’t a pussy. Was just a lot happier with Terry in the joint, is all.
Hi again. It's not really your job to do this so you can ignore me if you want but I'm wondering if you can explain why everyone hates Trevor. A trans guy who helps homeless kids seems like an interesting character. Plus, I didn't realize till today he's played by an actual trans guy and that's super cool. (As someone who is nb afab it's really awesome to see!) I still haven't watched passed 5x8. He makes me want too but I don't wanna hate him. Also... can I just skip season 6 and be okay?
Hey love. I’m really hesitant to explain just because I don’t want to influence your opinion before seeing for yourself…
but I’m procrastinating hard so I’ll write my experience with Trevor’s character below the Keep Reading thing and if you want to read it now, go for it, and if you want to meet him yourself first then my opinion will be waiting for you after you finish season 7 :)
On the surface, Trevor is an amazing human. He’s trans and open about it, (and played by Elliot Fletcher who is also trans and in my opinion is a beautiful soul and talented actor) as you said he helps homeless LGBT+ youth, and he educates Ian on LGBT+ stuff that he is still ignorant about.
BUT
He is a serious ass and hypocrite. Trevor is sexually and emotionally manipulative, has a hair width temper, explodes at Ian for literally no reason, and is overall a really negative representative for the trans community. People online have said really disgusting things about the trans community because of Trevor. I, and other fans, have corrected people online who made nasty judgements about the trans community based on Trevor’s representation. They mostly say they don’t even WANT to understand queer gender identity/gender dysphoria because they assume that they are going to have their heads chewed off for making a mistake or have anxiety from fear that they are going to say something accidentally insensitive from their ignorance, because Trevor bites Ian’s head off multiple times sometimes for making insensitive comments and other times for no reason at all.
Now, Trevor isn’t always that bad. There are a few times that he provides some gentle guidance when Ian slips up, but a lot of times, he is that bad. And mostly he was chill when he was trying to get in Ian’s pants (so was being a smooth operator in my view), was an asshole when he wasn’t getting what he wanted, and didn’t chill out again until after they did fuck. And when they did finally have sex, Ian was so uncomfortable. Trevor asked him what his boundaries were and Ian said “my boundary is not getting fucked in the ass.” He had to smoke weed before having sex. No one should have to be inebriated to have sex, and I personally think that shows Trevor in a bad light for allowing Ian to go through with something he clearly didn’t want, and for not holding himself to a higher standard and simply finding someone who wanted him as badly as he wanted them. It’s not as though Trevor couldn’t pick up someone else. He even said as much when Ian freaked out at learning he was trans; Trevor said, “I don’t need your cis-gendered ass, I can fuck any guy here!” Well, what happened to that? Having Trevor incessantly pine after Ian, and be sexually manipulative about their friendship, painted a bad image of how desireable Trevor actually was and contradicted his claim that he could fuck whoever he wanted (which also paints a bad image on the trans community imo). A more positive message would have been for Trevor to go find someone else, be friends with Ian, and maybe be a little caddy and be like “yeah, see, this is what you’re missing out on!” We could see Trevor being desired, he could be in a healthy relationship to show that these kinds of relationships are possible for Trans people and are normal, and would have given Ian a true friend (and maybe even a chance for him to be like fuck! look at what I missed out on!)
Basically, Trevor wanted to prove a point to Ian that he was sexually desirable (which is fine) except that he took it to this level of ‘we can’t even be friends if we aren’t fucking.’ And Ian doesn’t have any friends, let’s remember, so he’s desperate for just about any friendship he can get now that Mickey, his best friend and lover, and Mandy, his best friend, are gone.
Had Trevor allowed their friendship to naturally evolve into more, I may have been on board. All he had to do was offer Ian some gentle guidance, keep being a shining light for the LGBT+ homeless, and be there for Ian when shit hits the fan… But he went the total opposite direction. There are several moments where I beg him to stop while he’s ahead and then there’s that one statement or one action that makes me genuinely dislike him because in those situations, had he stopped at X point in a scene, I would have been okay but then there’s always that point of no return that he crosses that makes me dislike him.
I’m sorry this turned into a rant. I have a lot of feelings about this character because the representation offends me as a trans ally. Not all trans representation is good representation and I think we have to be careful and picky about what kind of representation is accepted. I love that he is played by a trans actor… but reportedly, even Elliot Fletcher himself doesn’t like Trevor or the way he represents the Trans community (that’s what I’ve heard, at least. Some people have told me they saw him say as much on twitter or tumblr, I can’t remember which).
I think you can probably skip season 6 and be fine. There are still some important developments in season 6 and there are some good moments in there, but for the most part it’s my least favorite season and you can probably catch on to what happened from the season 7 recap and context of 7x01.
Much love, dear! If you do continue on with the series definitely send me your thoughts as you go! You know I love them! <3 <3
"prison visit scene in 6x01 was so complex because even with the script having Ian act like he didn’t give a shit" that's not fair. There is an extremely high chance that in the script there's direction (for the actor, in this case CM) to say the dialogue but in a way which implies he doesn't really feel that way (so, doesn't really not give a shit).
I mean based on the other scenes it appears that the writers were instructed by JW, or themselves wanted for Ian to get over Mickey ASAP. True, the script could have direction calling for Ian to avoid eye contact, look longingly at him, respond a certain way; but based on future scenes and the way the script made him talk about Mickey, I really don’t think that’s the case. As BeautifulRuiner pointed out, if they wanted to make it clear that Ian didn’t mean what he said or that he missed him, they would have found a way to explicitly show it. Considering how minute the details are, and considering there wasn’t really a scene that contradicted Ian’s behavior, I’m still inclined to believe it was Cam who added the details he could where he could to keep the integrity of Ian’s character.
I’ll eat my words if I ever get a copy of the script for that scene (or any of the following scenes where Ian talks about Mickey), but until then I really do find it hard to believe because even the docks scene was changed a little bit from the way it was written. There were no instructions for how Ian was to look as he delivered the “I have a fucking boyfriend line” but Cam delivered it like he was grasping at straws rather than adamantly stating that he couldn’t be with him anymore. I would also love to see the script to the bleachers scene because Cam had Ian looking like he was stumbling into temptation and loving every second and I’m fascinated to know if that was in the script as well.
At this point it’s all conjecture and as I said, I’ll eat my words if I ever get my hands (or mouse) on a copy of that script. But based on the rest of season 6, I am inclined to believe Cam had Ian hold on tighter than the writers intended.
What do u think about Fiona? I don’t really see why ppl hate Fiona? I mean she’s done some stupid shit but all of the Gallagher’s have and she had to sacrifice everything to care for her siblings?? She’s done some selfish things but honestly I feel like she deserves it bc she’s put her siblings before her pretty much all the time.
Fiona is a tough one for me…
I loved her until the back half of season 5. Fiona gets a lot of hate for season 4 and while I get it, I personally don’t agree with it. I’ve actually tried to defend the whole situation with the coke several times but most people say they don’t feel any sympathy for her; but for some reason I still do. She made a TON of mistakes in season 4 that were frustrating, but I feel people forget just how young she is and that she never got to get much of her crazy out because her crazy (while certainly more wild than anything I’ve ever done) was tame compared to what she is surrounded by or what her siblings were capable of doing. Then season 4 comes around and it seems like one thing turns into another and everything snowballs for her until suddenly she’s left coke out on the counter and her baby brother got into it and finally Fiona realizes that she needs to take better care of herself and needs to figure herself out; figure out why her life was capable of spiraling the way it did when she used to be so in control. And I’m all good with that, everyone needs to figure out ways to better themselves. The problem with that though is the way she handled trying to better herself, basically left her siblings out in the cold despite her adopting her siblings. The judge even reminded her that this responsibility would be until Liam reached the age of 18. And her behavior in season 5-7 indicates that she has completely forgotten or has decided to ignore that she legally asked for responsibility of these kids.
But here she is in season 5, completely neglecting her family at home, throwing the “guardian” card around when it suits her but not actually doing much to assert her position as guardian or doing anything to make sure her siblings are staying out of trouble because she’s gone all of the time! I mean, Carl turned into full-blown thug and Debbie got it into her head to trap a boy she liked with a baby and this is definitely in-part, if not completely, due to Fiona’s absence.
Also, she has always been hateful towards the Milkovich family since the start of the series, but yet has no problem with Ian shacking up with a Milkovich despite the fact that he clearly has no idea what mental illness/bipolar disorder is? She has never felt positively towards the Milkoviches, never recognized the good either of them tried to do for their respective Gallaghers (Mandy encouraging Lip to go to college and even filling out the application that got him into school; Mickey bringing Ian home when no one else could, being a friend to him and getting him to lay off the drugs, etc.) but will allow Ian to move in with both Milkoviches and trust that they are actually going to keep an eye on him? That makes absolutely no sense and in this situation, Lip is no better. How are you going to hate on a group of people, but decide that while they aren’t good enough to hang around your family when they are dating your sibling, they are good enough to take care of your mentally ill sibling while you sort your own life out and act like you care from afar, conveniently butting in when things go to shit or after the dust has already settled?
Now fast forward to season 6 and Fiona is turning into mega-bitch. Granted they put a lot on Fiona that season, but Ian and Debbie definitely had a point when he called her out for being a bitch. Season 6 Fiona didn’t really do much to piss me off in particular, though her getting involved with Sean was annoying. Like, had she learned nothing from her experience with Gus?
Season 7 Fiona however, I have a HUGE problem with. As I already mentioned, Fiona agreed to be the guardian of these kids but now is saying “pay rent, or get the fuck out.” NOW, I understand that is her right, but she seems to forget that Debbie and Carl are still minors (15/16 and 14/15?). She can charge Lip and Ian whatever the fuck she wants because Ian has a full-time job and Lip isn’t in school and is an adult. But she was being completely unfair to Debbie and Carl.
Yes, I agree Debbie needed to pay for the baby stuff herself and maybe even pay a small rent with the house if only to teach her financial responsibility with the baby. But how can Fiona expect Debbie to get a job while in high school and with a baby without offering any assistance or even ideas for where she can get assistance? Of course she’s going to turn to stealing or prostitution or scams! I just feel like Fiona set Debbie up for failure and while some people may not feel sympathy for Debbie, and I don’t, not really, I do feel concern for the child Fiona is effectively kicking out onto the streets if Debbie can’t cough up the cash. If Debbie can’t get a job or pay $300 bucks a month living at home how the fuck is Fiona expecting her to get a job and live on her own?! Then pretends to care when Franny is stolen by the paternal family which wouldn’t have happened if she’d at least tried to work something more reasonable out with Debbie in the first place. Fiona was 110% setting her up for failure.
What I would have liked to see would be Fiona mentoring Debbie so that she learns a lesson about what she did, but also recognizing that the baby is here now and punishing the mother is punishing the child who is 200% innocent in this situation. I would have liked to see Fiona telling Debbie to get someone to watch Franny three nights a week so she can work, maybe Ian or Lip offering to watch her; you know, helping your siblings out like you’re ideally supposed to. But Fiona is basically punishing Debbie for having this baby despite her warnings and their fights, and I don’t think it’s right.
Then the whole “don’t call me, put me at the bottom of your emergency contact list” thing was bull. shit.
She is their guardian. Period. For the adults, sure, ask that they call someone else if they have anyone else. But do NOT put YOUR responsibilities on another sibling who did not ask for these responsibilities so that you can get your life going when you AGREED to put your life on hold until the youngest was 18. There were so many different ways Fiona could have handled this and I was not a fan of how she handled it. I get trying to make a point to Lip that she can make something of herself despite her situation, because Lip needed to be put in his place for being the elitist prick he always claims to hate. But don’t then take that out on the rest of your family to make the point to one. And the rest of the season she had a disgusting “all for one”, “me for me” attitude. I’m proud of her for finding ways to make something of herself and for doing well, but why did she have to be such a bitch about it? Why did she have to push her other siblings (namely Debbie) to doing dangerous things to care for themselves when it is literally her JOB to care for these kids? She’s lucky that Carl had Luther to guide him in season 6 and 7 or else he probably would have gone back to the gang for money. She’s also lucky that Frank was there (oh dear God did I say that?) for Liam because she wasn’t there to find out that the school was closed! So Liam found Frank who was surprisingly there for him in a way he’s never been there for any of his other kids before.
She turned into a serious pragmatist in season 7 and it just honestly tainted her whole character for me. I really hope that turns around in season 8 because it does look like the whole family comes together for something, but I’m also seeing some spoilers to indicate otherwise, so we’ll see I guess.
Anyway, that is my very LONG explanation of my very complicated feelings on Fiona. Season 1-4/5 Fiona, I love. She is my baby. Season 5.5-7 Fiona? Can seriously rot.
Thanks for the ask, anon! :)
P.S. I know it gets colorful and probably a little heated, but it’s towards the character and the events, not you! <3 Feel free to send me another anon to argue or ask for clarification :)
what was the guy (7x11) talking about with mickey and the girl falling for him or something? what was that about?!?
He was referring to how Mickey escaped. The assumption is he charmed a guard into letting him and Damon escape. It was actually based on a story that happened in real life around the time they were writing this season.
Hi, I'm the anon who sent that ask about the blanket scene. Just saw the post on someone giving up on the show and I feel kind of guilty about it. I feel like I've been too negative about everything in season 7. I'm still pissed that the writers did what they did but there are good parts too. Like Noel and Cam's chemistry that is just. Absolutely. Mind-blowing. And the jeep sex lol. It's not too late to fix Ian's character, right? I don't really know what my point is, sorry if I'm annoying
Not at all, love; I promise that you, nor anyone else, is bothering me or ever has bothered me or annoyed me 😙
And don’t feel bad. Some people don’t have the energy to devote to a pairing that at this point may not get a happy ending, and I understand that. It also sounded like there were other things from the show that were wearing on them, then finding out that they aren’t together right now was probably just that final straw, and I get that too. This show is not easy to watch at times.
I know lots of people who can’t watch even from the first episode because Frank rings too true to their own alcoholic/flighty/abusive parent and I understand that, some other people just can’t get over “glorifying” illegal activities to make ends meet, and though I think it limits their moral perspective to what they know and understand, again, I understand.
For those of us that have watched it’s absolutely okay to express our criticism because that’s the only way to make media better. Unfortunately it doesn’t look like the writers receive the criticism well, but that may also be because some of the “criticism” comes across as full-blown attack on social media. It is true, though, that the quality of the writing seriously downgraded between season 5 and 6, and while season 7 was better it still wasn’t on par with what season 4 and season 5 brought, not by a mile!
And season 7 absolutely brought some good moments (especially the Gallavich ones). I try to focus on those more than the negative aspects if only because I think it’s the only way I won’t grow too resentful against the writers or the show. But yeah, Jeep sex, the dock scene, the spiderman kiss, “Never thought I’d say this, but I’m glad I finally found Jesus,” returning to their old routine and dynamic as though nothing had changed... those are all beautiful things and even if the writers tried to pull a few stops/fast ones on us, Noel and Cam absolutely saved it by being true to the characters even when the writers weren’t.
What bothers me is that it’s absolutely not too late to fix Ian’s character and bring Mickey back. They can have Mickey come back despite the risks, have them start back where they left off with Mickey’s legal troubles to drive his plotline for a little while before they figure out what to do with it, and then from there they can have Ian being 110% supportive, and they can bring Gallavich back stronger than ever. Will they do that? I have absolutely no clue. From what I’m seeing from the folks who have been with this fandom for years, my indication is to not get your hopes up and that’s why I definitely understand that person’s decision to stop while things are already getting sad, and hope to hear of Mickey in the future.
Don’t feel guilty that someone decided to stop. I respect that decision as much as I respect your criticism. On one side of the coin, it’s super important to talk about media and especially when media isn’t doing a solid job at telling a quality story or is misrepresenting someone/something; on the other, it’s okay for someone to unplug because life is entirely too short to fret over a fictional world unless that is entirely what you want. That’s another great thing about media, you can choose what media you want to consume (for the most part) and if you don’t like it, shut it off :)
Much love, anon, and please don’t be afraid to send more thoughts! I’m all for talking about media, even the sad/bad parts! <3
