The pair resort to making their twins pretend to be the same person just to secure a single slot at a local daycare. The Verdict: Two Steps Forward, One Step Back
To bolster his West Point application, Carl "volunteers" at a dog shelter. When he can't stomach the euthanizations, he begins smuggling dying dogs into the Gallagher basement to let them pass with dignity.
The highlight of the episode is the unexpected partnership between Fiona and a newly homeless (educationally speaking) Liam. Liam’s time with the elite has rubbed off on him; he acts as Fiona’s sharp-dressed "consultant" as she scouts commercial real estate. Using Ian’s $50k bail money, Fiona ignores Ford’s cautious advice and forces her way into a high-stakes deal for a retirement home, marking a major "first base" moment for her professional ambitions. Lip and the "Gallagher Shackle" 9x02_Shameless
Nine seasons in, and Shameless still finds ways to crawl further into the muck. In the second episode of Season 9, titled , the South Side's favorite degenerates tackle everything from local politics to real estate tycoons, proving once again that a Gallagher can find an angle in just about any situation. Frank's Political Pivot
After getting Liam kicked out of his prestigious private school due to a massive STD outbreak among the PTA moms, Frank finds himself broke and in desperate need of a drink. Naturally, he discovers that local politics is the ultimate "get-sloshed-quick" scheme. The pair resort to making their twins pretend
"Mo White!" received mixed reviews, with critics from Entertainment Weekly praising Frank's "shameless" new arc but others on Reddit questioning the realism of Liam’s sudden expulsion. While the show occasionally leans too heavily into the zany, the emotional growth in characters like Lip keeps it grounded.
Lip is arguably the most "improved" Gallagher this week. While struggling to keep track of Xan—who steals a wallet and leaves Kev and V’s twins at a park—Lip ultimately decides to step up. He breaks the family unspoken rule ("Gallaghers don't sponsor") by agreeing to mentor a fellow alcoholic, signaling a significant shift in his journey toward maturity. Other South Side Shenanigans The highlight of the episode is the unexpected
Frank starts by playing both sides of a local election—taking money to pull down signs for one candidate and then charging the other to put them back up. Realizing the real cash is behind the scenes, he rallies the Alibi regulars behind former Congressman (played by Dan Lauria) under the questionable slogan, "Let’s make Chicago white again". Fiona and Liam: The Power Duo