By Alyssa Ciciriello
The Showtime drama Shameless has portrayed a dysfunctional family on Chicago’s Southside for nine years. Tackling everything from race and class, something that has stood out for viewers is “Gallavich:” the ship name for characters Ian Gallagher and Mickey Milkovich. Watch out for some possible spoilers ahead.
Their relationship is shown early on in the series. Ian is comfortable with his sexuality and is accepted by most characters but Mickey on the other hand isn’t. Mickey comes from a strict family and has a strongly homophobic father so he’s constantly denying the fact that he might be gay. The two share an on-off relationship early on and would leave fans begging for reunions at the end of seasons.
As the show progresses, their relationship is filled with drama as they come to terms with their relationship. The end of season 4 features Mickey openly coming out in a bar full of people which pushes his father over the edge. A physical fight ensues between him and his father as well as other members of his family who disapprove. Ian doesn’t fully understand how hard it is for Mickey to come out as he has a more accepting family. It also sees Ian going through his first bipolar disorder episode, which comes to characterize the middle seasons. Once Mickey comes to terms with Ian’s illness, it is almost too late as they go their separate ways after a fight over medication.
The two are reunited quickly in season 7 when Mickey plans to flee the country and wants to say a last goodbye to Ian. After this, we don’t see a reunion until season 9… in prison. The show, while following the rest of the family’s life on the outside, also gives us a decent look into how they spend their time locked up. They’re compared to an old married couple by the other prisoners who can hear their bickering. The most recent season, season 10, gives viewers even more Gallavich content (which I won’t be spoiling for you) and features another hateful display by Terry, Mickey’s father. Everything turns out alright in the end, however.
Shameless tackles the ever-present issue of homophobia in America while also showing us this loving relationship. Terry isn’t the only homophobic character in the series but he is the most destructive. With him unable to accept his son’s sexuality, he takes steps to try and “turn him straight” while also meddling in their relationship. Unrelated to the two’s relationship is Ian’s radical idea of a Gay Jesus in which he and his followers stand up to homophobes in their city.
Throughout these ten seasons, the writers at Shameless have covered so many of today’s issues including racial identity, religion, gender equality, class struggles. The real-world interpretations of this issues have helped the made the show successful. This relationship has given fans something to identify with, from struggles with their sexuality to the very real struggle of mental disorders like bipolar disease. They have been through so much and yet that makes their relationship so much stronger.