GayTV Recap: Shameless (Episode 10x3)

Episode 3 of the tenth season of Shameless found the imprisoned Gallagher, Ian (played by Cameron Monaghan), getting more antsy inside his jail cell which he shares with his boyfriend, Mickey (played by Noel Fisher). Just as his annoyance reaches a peak, he gets a delivery. Mickey wonders what's in the envelope and Ian reveals that it's a notice for his upcoming parole hearing, surprising him. He figured he would be there a lot longer before being up for parole. Mickey clammed up, not having much to say about the prospect of Ian getting out.

Ian showed off his parole letter to two of his fellow gay prisoners (played by Catero Alain Colbert & Reynaldo Gallegos), who revealed to him that they heard the prison was trying to dump lots of their non-violent offenders to make more room for the violent ones. Ian mentioned how torching a van got him into prison and his fellow prisoners then told him about the murders that they committed, making his crime seem much less criminal. They wondered how Mickey took the news and Ian told them that he hadn't said much. They asked if he had the talk with Mickey about what will happen with one of them on the outside while the other is still in prison. They encouraged him to have the talk, as they considered him failing Prison Gay 101.

Alone in their prison cell, Ian told Mickey that they needed to talk. Mickey grew instantly uncomfortable. Ian said they needed to figure out what they were going to do when he gets paroled. Would they have a long-distance relationship? Mickey immediately declined that idea, knowing that Ian would have sex with other people once he's out and Mickey would do the same. Ian said they could wait for each other, but Mickey didn't see the point. He said that he wasn't sure Ian really cared, since he was glad to be getting out of prison, despite Mickey risking his life to be put into prison to be with him. He suggested that if Ian really cared, he would sabotage his parole to stay with Mickey. Ian agreed since it was what Mickey wanted.

Later, Ian tried to call his brother Lip (played by Jeremy Allen White) but got only his voicemail. He called their sister Debbie who told him about Lip's baby being born and his girlfriend Tami still being in the hospital sick and Lip struggling to take care of the baby on his own. They got cut off before Ian could ask more questions, leaving him upset given his close relationship with Lip. Back in his cell, Mickey wondered what was bothering him. Ian told him that things went bad with Lip's baby but he didn't have many details. Seeing how upset Ian was left Mickey feeling conflicted.

Mickey sought some advice of his own, consulting a prisoner who was friends with his criminal father. He told the older man about his issues with Ian and his parole. The older man brought up them having the talk. Mickey told the man about how he got Ian to agree to throw his parole to stay with him. The older prisoner told him that he couldn't do that to Ian, because he would just resent Mickey in the end. He told Mickey he couldn't force Ian to give up his freedom for him. He figured Mickey knew that and was already being haunted by his conscience.

Later, Ian prepared to go through with his plan to get his parole hearing revoked. His prison pals armed him with a shiv and pointed out his target. Ian was nervous, but glanced over at Mickey and resolved himself to go through with the plan. He marched over to the other prisoner, only to be grabbed by Mickey and two other prisoners, dragging him back to their cell. Mickey couldn't believe Ian was going to shiv some guy. Ian lashed out, saying this is what Mickey wanted. Mickey told him that he was wrong to ask him to stay in prison and they were going to make sure he got parole. Ian didn't want to leave him, but Mickey told him he had no choice. Ian told him he loves him. Mickey professed his love and the two shared a kiss.

That night, Mickey was in his cell when he got a visit from a prison guard, who had a package for him. Mickey handed off some cash, as Ian woke up in bed, seeing him. Mickey handed him the envelope. Ian discovered a cellphone inside. Mickey told him that he got it for him to Facetime with Lip to see his baby. Ian's heart warmed over Mickey's gesture. The guard warned him that he had five minutes, starting now.

Ian made another call to Lip using Facetime. Lip answered, wondering how Ian got his hands on a phone. Ian told him that he wanted to check on him and see the baby. Lip introduced him to his son, Freddy. Ian was extremely happy to see the little boy, still finding it hard to believe that his older brother was now a dad. Ian introduced himself to the infant, putting a smile on his face and the overwhelmed Lip's.