Church of Gay Jesus

Last updated
"Church of Gay Jesus"
Shameless episode
Episode no.Season 8
Episode 10
Directed by Anna Mastro
Written by Sheila Callaghan
Produced by
  • Terri Murphy
  • Jinny Howe
Cinematography byKevin McKnight
Editing byRussell Denove
Original release dateJanuary 14, 2018 (2018-01-14)
Running time57 minutes
Guest appearances
Episode chronology
← Previous
"The Fugees"		Next →
"A Gallagher Pedicure"
Shameless season 8
List of episodes

"Church of Gay Jesus" is the tenth episode of the eighth season of the American television comedy drama Shameless , an adaptation of the British series of the same name. It is the 94th overall episode of the series and was written by executive producer Sheila Callaghan, and directed by Anna Mastro. It originally aired on Showtime on January 14, 2018.

Contents

The series is set on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, and depicts the poor, dysfunctional family of Frank Gallagher, a neglectful single father of six: Fiona, Phillip, Ian, Debbie, Carl, and Liam. He spends his days drunk, high, or in search of money, while his children need to learn to take care of themselves. In the episode, Fiona runs into a problem with one of the residents at the building, while Ian accepts the "Gay Jesus" mantle.

According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 1.52 million household viewers and gained a 0.55 ratings share among adults aged 18–49. The episode received mostly positive reviews from critics, who considered it as an improvement over previous episodes.

Plot

Fiona (Emmy Rossum) visits Nessa (Jessica Szohr), who reveals that she had a miscarriage. She leaves her to go shopping with Ford (Richard Flood). Frank (William H. Macy) is hopeful that he will finally get to retire, but learns that he does not meet the annual criteria to apply.

Kevin (Steve Howey) and Veronica (Shanola Hampton) help Svetlana (Isidora Goreshter) with her situation by finding a sugar daddy for her. They find an old rich man, but Svetlana punches him when the man makes it clear he only wants sex. Kevin suggests using an earpiece to help her, but Svetlana deviates from their plan. Fiona discovers that Rodney (Michael Gambino), a man who fell off the roof while fixing it, has no home for his family. Trevor (Elliot Fletcher) can give him a place in the youth center, but it will take two days, so Fiona allows him to move in with his family to the vacant apartment rent-free. However, she is dismayed when Rodney rents the apartment to more people.

Lip (Jeremy Allen White) visits Youens in prison, but is shocked when an officer informs him that Youens died a few days prior. He visits his house and meets his estranged daughter Tabitha (Fiona Dourif), who reveals that Youens died of a seizure due to his alcohol withdrawal. Later, Lip attends the memorial service, but is disheartened to learn he was not the only student to have had a close relationship with Youens; Lip crumples his eulogy and abruptly leaves the ceremony. With Ian (Cameron Monaghan) accepting the "Gay Jesus" mantle for his protests, Frank decides to seize the opportunity to sell merchandising. While Ian initially refuses, he agrees to let Frank do it if donates 95% of the profits to the youth center. Kassidi (Sammi Hanratty) wants Carl (Ethan Cutkosky) to marry her as soon as possible, refusing to let him go to military school before they are officiated.

Debbie (Emma Kenney) returns to welding, but discovers that the property is run by non-union crews, and some end up arrested. She finds a more legitimate job, but suffers an accident when a pipe falls on her toe. Lip returns to Youens' home and consoles Tabitha. Kassidi fakes a suicide hanging to pressure Carl into an impromptu wedding; Carl reluctantly agrees to get married. Ian delivers another speech at a church to his followers, which is met with ovation. Fiona arrives home to talk with Veronica, when a man gives her papers. Fiona is shocked by learning that Rodney is suing her for $6 million for the injury.

Production

Development

The episode was written by executive producer Sheila Callaghan, and directed by Anna Mastro. It was Callaghan's 12th writing credit, and Mastro's first directing credit. [1]

Reception

Viewers

In its original American broadcast, "Church of Gay Jesus" was seen by an estimated 1.52 million household viewers with a 0.55 in the 18–49 demographics. This means that 0.55 percent of all households with televisions watched the episode. [2] This was a 8% decrease in viewership from the previous episode, which was seen by an estimated 1.65 million household viewers with a 0.65 in the 18–49 demographics. [3]

Critical reviews

"Church of Gay Jesus" received mostly positive reviews. Myles McNutt of The A.V. Club gave the episode a "B" grade and wrote, "while the plot has certainly thickened, neither of those stories sound particularly exciting to me, and it's still frustrating to see a character like Frank just tagging onto Ian's story instead of doing something significant like earlier in the season. It still feels like a lot of what the show set up earlier in the season — Liam's trouble at school, for example — has dissipated, creating an absence of momentum even if this week registers as an improvement over the past few outings." [4]

Derek Lawrence of Entertainment Weekly wrote "Over its eight seasons, Shameless — aside from William H. Macy and Joan Cusack — has been largely ignored by awards voters. Most of the outrage in the early years was in regards to the annual outrageous tradition of snubbing Emmy Rossum. And while she's still the anchor and helps carry the series, Jeremy Allen White has slowly become an absolute force and is more than deserving of being the next great Shameless actor the Emmys and Golden Globes completely ignore." [5]

David Crow of Den of Geek gave the episode a 4.5 star rating out of 5 and wrote "All of these threads were woven seamlessly tonight, and came off for a funny, heartbreaking, and most of all purely entertaining episode of Shameless. Put more of the Gallaghers together to join forces in the next two episodes, and we might have a finale worth taking to the county clerk office." [6] Paul Dailly of TV Fanatic gave the episode a 4.5 star rating out of 5, and wrote, ""Church of Gay Jesus" was an excellent installment of this Showtime drama series. It successfully set the wheels in motion for a thrilling conclusion to the season." [7]

Related Research Articles

"Hope Springs Paternal" is the eighth episode of the fourth season of the American television comedy drama Shameless, an adaptation of the British series of the same name. It is the 44th overall episode of the series and was written by producer Sheila Callaghan and directed by Mimi Leder. It originally aired on Showtime on March 9, 2014.

<i>Shameless</i> season 6 Season of television series

The sixth season of Shameless, an American comedy-drama television series based on the British series of the same name by Paul Abbott, premiered on January 10, 2016, concluded April 3, 2016. Executive producers are John Wells, Andrew Stearn, Nancy M. Pimental, Davey Holmes, Christopher Chulack, Krista Vernoff and producers Terri Murphy and Princess Nash.

"I Only Miss Her When I'm Breathing" is the first episode of the sixth season of the American television comedy drama Shameless, an adaptation of the British series of the same name. It is the 61st overall episode of the series and was written by series developer John Wells and directed by executive producer Christopher Chulack. It aired on Showtime on January 10, 2016, but it was available online on January 1, 2016.

<i>Shameless</i> season 7 Season of television series

The seventh season of Shameless, based on the British series of the same name by Paul Abbott, is an American comedy-drama television series with executive producers John Wells, Christopher Chulack, Krista Vernoff, Etan Frankel, Nancy M. Pimental and Sheila Callaghan. The season premiered on October 2, 2016, the first time the series has debuted in autumn. Showtime premiered a free preview of the season premiere online on September 23, 2016, ahead of the October 2 broadcast.

<i>Shameless</i> season 8 Season of television series

The eighth season of Shameless, an American comedy-drama television series based on the British series of the same name by Paul Abbott, was announced on December 19, 2016, a day after the seventh season finale. The season, which premiered on November 5, 2017, consisted of a total of 12 episodes.

"We Become What We... Frank!" is the first episode of the eighth season of the American television comedy drama Shameless, an adaptation of the British series of the same name. It is the 85th overall episode of the series and was written by series developer John Wells and directed by supervising producer Iain B. MacDonald. It originally aired on Showtime on November 5, 2017.

"God Bless Her Rotting Soul" is the third episode of the eighth season of the American television comedy drama Shameless, an adaptation of the British series of the same name. It is the 87th overall episode of the series and was written by executive producer Krista Vernoff and directed by Michael Morris. It originally aired on Showtime on November 19, 2017.

"The (Mis)Education of Liam Fergus Beircheart Gallagher" is the fifth episode of the eighth season of the American television comedy drama Shameless, an adaptation of the British series of the same name. It is the 89th overall episode of the series and was written by executive producer Sheila Callaghan and directed by supervising producer Iain B. MacDonald. It originally aired on Showtime on December 3, 2017.

"Ouroboros" is the ninth episode of the seventh season of the American television comedy drama Shameless, an adaptation of the British series of the same name. It is the 81st overall episode of the series and was written by executive producer Sheila Callaghan and directed by executive producer Christopher Chulack. It originally aired on Showtime on November 27, 2016.

"Are You There Shim? It's Me, Ian" is the first episode of the ninth season of the American television comedy drama Shameless, an adaptation of the British series of the same name. It is the 97th overall episode of the series and was written by executive producer Nancy M. Pimental, and directed by co-executive producer Iain B. MacDonald. It originally aired on Showtime on September 9, 2018.

"I Am a Storm" is the fourth episode of the seventh season of the American television comedy drama Shameless, an adaptation of the British series of the same name. It is the 76th overall episode of the series and was written by executive producer Sheila Callaghan and directed by main cast member Emmy Rossum. It originally aired on Showtime on October 23, 2016.

"Frank's Northern Southern Express" is the eighth episode of the eighth season of the American television comedy drama Shameless, an adaptation of the British series of the same name. It is the 92nd overall episode of the series and was written by executive producer Nancy M. Pimental, and directed by main cast member Emmy Rossum. It originally aired on Showtime on December 31, 2017.

"Order Room Service" is the eleventh episode of the third season of the American television comedy drama Shameless, an adaptation of the British series of the same name. It is the 35th overall episode of the series and was written by co-producer Sheila Callaghan, and directed by Sanaa Hamri. It originally aired on Showtime on March 31, 2013.

"Sleep No More" is the eleventh episode of the sixth season of the American television comedy drama Shameless, an adaptation of the British series of the same name. It is the 71st overall episode of the series and was written by co-executive producer Sheila Callaghan and directed by Anthony Hemingway. It originally aired on Showtime on March 27, 2016.

"You Sold Me the Laundromat, Remember?" is the eighth episode of the seventh season of the American television comedy drama Shameless, an adaptation of the British series of the same name. It is the 80th overall episode of the series and was written by executive producer Krista Vernoff and directed by Allison Liddi-Brown. It originally aired on Showtime on November 20, 2016.

"Icarus Fell and Rusty Ate Him" is the sixth episode of the eighth season of the American television comedy drama Shameless, an adaptation of the British series of the same name. It is the 90th overall episode of the series and was written by co-executive producer Mark Steilen, and directed by Zetna Fuentes. It originally aired on Showtime on December 10, 2017.

"Occupy Fiona" is the seventh episode of the eighth season of the American television comedy drama Shameless, an adaptation of the British series of the same name. It is the 91st overall episode of the series and was written by co-producer Molly Smith Metzler, and directed by supervising producer Iain B. MacDonald. It originally aired on Showtime on December 17, 2017.

"A Gallagher Pedicure" is the eleventh episode of the eighth season of the American television comedy drama Shameless, an adaptation of the British series of the same name. It is the 95th overall episode of the series and was written by co-executive producer Mark Steilen, and directed by supervising producer Iain B. MacDonald. It originally aired on Showtime on January 21, 2018.

"Sleepwalking" is the twelfth episode and season finale of the eighth season of the American television comedy drama Shameless, an adaptation of the British series of the same name. It is the 96th overall episode of the series and was written and directed by series developer John Wells. It originally aired on Showtime on January 28, 2018.

"The Fugees" is the ninth episode of the eighth season of the American television comedy drama Shameless, an adaptation of the British series of the same name. It is the 93rd overall episode of the series and was written by co-producer Dominique Morisseau, and directed by Jeffrey Reiner. It originally aired on Showtime on January 7, 2018.

References

  1. ↑ "Shameless - WGA Directory". Writers Guild of America West . Archived from the original on June 1, 2024. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
  2. ↑ Metcalf, Mitch (January 17, 2018). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 1.14.2018". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on January 18, 2018. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
  3. ↑ Metcalf, Mitch (January 9, 2018). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 1.7.2018". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on January 10, 2018. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
  4. ↑ McNutt, Myles (January 7, 2018). "A solid Shameless can't fix the season, but it's an improvement nonetheless". The A.V. Club . Retrieved July 19, 2024.
  5. ↑ Lawrence, Derek (January 14, 2018). "Shameless recap: 'Church of Gay Jesus'". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved July 19, 2024.
  6. ↑ Crow, David (January 15, 2018). "Shameless Season 8 Episode 10 Review: Church of Gay Jesus". Den of Geek . Retrieved July 19, 2024.
  7. ↑ Dailly, Paul (January 15, 2018). "Shameless Season 8 Episode 10 Review: Church of Gay Jesus". TV Fanatic. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.