Weirdo Gallagher Vortex

Frank really likes being a campaign manager. The man knows how to hustle and he’s really good at it when the idea is his own inspiration and it means getting money from other people. He’s out and about town with Mo White and just the two of them are managing to get some traction with the locals. Mo is friendly enough and “South Side Pride” is an effective slogan. And then Frank finds out that Mo is wearing an ankle monitor because of a minor he had a relationship with (she was 15 when they met and she lied about her age, they were together for 5 years). He’s in the final 6 months of wearing the bracelet but this is a mountain of a problem for anyone looking for work, let alone someone trying to get into politics. Frank soldiers on but Mo lets it slip at The Alibi so now the secret isn’t so secret anymore. Campaign Manager Frank’s job just got more difficult.

Deb has reached a crossroads. Fighting against the patriarchy, she’s become friends (and partners in crime) with Alex, a gay woman who’s a welder just like Deb. They have a lot in common, have a good time and they end up making out. This throws Deb’s sexual identity into question. She’s had some experience with women in the past but this is largely new territory for her as she’s now emotionally engaged in this budding relationship. She turns to Ian for advice. He doesn’t think she’s gay, or bi-sexual and he doesn’t offer her much help. When he tells her he’s as lost in life as she is, she  responds with “at least you know you’re gay.”

Ian’s at a loss with what he’s lost. “Shim” aka God, has stopped talking to him (or has Ian stopped listening?) since he got out of jail. He has no direction in life anymore and the first one he runs into about his problem is Frank. Always the sage, Frank tells him to stick to the classics: Buddism, Jewdism, and Christianity. Ian seeks out representation for each one and doesn’t get any answers.

Carl isn’t looking for answers, he’s looking for results. He pops into The Alibi and fills V in on the community service he’s doing to try and get into West Point. The big hurdle is that their congressman’s office blew him off for a recommendation. Then V hears his name and realized that the congressman was a client of hers in her dominatrix days. Carl guilts her into helping him and she busts out the leather gear and pays a visit to her old friend’s office. Carl gets the recommendation.

Lip has another crisis with Xan. While he is her guardian, legally he has no power. Xan breaks her arm at school and that puts Lip’s relationship with her under the microscope. He does his best not to totally lie, telling the staff that he’s not her parent or legal guardian…but her brother. They can only release her to a parent or guardian and there are insurance issues that need to be addressed. Lip can’t do anything about any of this. He’s just trying to take care of Xan until her mother comes back (more like, maybe, hopefully, shows up out of nowhere). He tries to get Brad to say he’s Xan’s father and he shoots that down immediately. He has no desire to get pulled into the weirdo Gallagher vortex. This one is a powerful vortex as it has to do with a minor. Brad keeps telling Lip to back away from this whole thing. Xan isn’t his responsibility and if she needs major help, like she does now, he can’t really help her. The staff sees Brad leave in a huff and asks Lip if he was Xan’s father. He says yes and that move raises too many red flags for them. They call DCF, which Lip has been trying to avoid this whole time, so he panics. After creating a diversion, he scoops Xan up and runs out of the hospital with her. This is probably going to make Lip a wanted man. I’m not sure what the consequences of this are legally, but Lip needs none of it.

Fiona is in a good mood, having invested in an empty lot of land that is going to be developed into a senior living facility. With 100k invested in the LLC with the guy that Ford doesn’t like (she’s looking at a 30% return pretty quickly) Fiona feels like she’s got a lot to look forward to. Ford doesn’t think so. He doesn’t like that guy so much he not so subtly throws shade every time they talk about it. Ford doesn’t trust him at all and that makes Fiona feel like Ford doesn’t trust her in both a romantic and professional sense. This has brought up a lot of insecurities in Ford and Fiona doesn’t know what to make of it. Ford’s essential problem is that he’s jealous. When the conversation of what their relationship is comes around, it throws Fiona off more. She’s happy with how their seeing each other and is more occupied with the career side of her life so she doesn’t know where this is coming from. She goes to V for advice who tells her, if you leave your relationship– your intentions–with Ford up in the air, it leaves too many questions open.  That causes problems. Communicate people! It’s important for healthy relationships.

Liam is in public school for the first time and the environment is less than ideal. Low standards would probably be the best word for it. He’s far and away the most advanced student in his class and now he’s got a bully breathing down his neck. Liam is quick to adapt though. There’s a monster of a boy in his class and after letting the kid cheat off his quiz once, Liam gets the idea that he’s found his protection. Looks like it’ll work.

Finally, Kevin stumbles across an article about the worst bars in the city and The Alibi is ranked as the most “rapey.” He takes offense to this and then looks around the bar and seemingly for the first time, notices the not so subtle objectification of women motif that’s plastered on every wall. Frank isn’t the only one with a mission now as Kevin works to clean up the bar, and their patrons, image. By far the funniest aspect of this week’s episode.