Absolutely perfectly said, thank you!

Isn't it obvious? After 5x09, Ian and Mickey were replaced by pod people. I'm pretty sure that was included in the 'last season on Shameless' recap.

Classic "Shameless" plotting — bring in a new character (bonus points for Nick not being white, because then the show can claim ~diversity~), tie them to a Gallagher, give them no scenes without that Gallagher, develop their character only to the extent it relates to that Gallagher, use the character to teach that…

"Ian is sitting in a restaurant with a busted lip, showing that some things never really change"

Fuck I miss Mandy. I refuse to accept the way she was written off, I'm just gonna pretend she's hanging out with Karen and Sheila, busting Mickey out of prison, and then joyriding across the country in that RV. (Still more realistic than most of Shameless????)

Came here to say exactly this. And this episode having the same writer as 5x10 is just baffling — 5x10 romanticized Ian's abusive behaviour (name-calling and punching followed by sex and a planned date at Sizzlers) and this episode decided to blame Mickey for Ian's sudden ignorance about dating/relationships? I have…

Completely disagree. Ian DID want to date in "traditional terms" — constantly wanting Mickey to confirm they were a couple, being deliriously happy 'playing house' with Mickey in season 5, asking Mickey out on a "real date" ("y'mean like a Sizzlers?") in 5x10… Ian wanted "traditional" (but Mickey's life didn't allow…

Let's not forget that the last scene of Ian and Mickey together (before the out-of-the-blue breakup scene in 5x12) is in 5x10, where Ian asks Mickey out on a "real date", and they go inside the Gallagher home and Ian tells Sammi "we're going on a date!" and Mickey crows "fuck yes we are!"

Agree. Mickey was always treated as an accessory for Ian, never really given a chance to stand on his own, and that sucked. I just wish the show had realized what a great actor/character they had and used him to his full potential, instead of that awful ending they gave him.

Triple same.