Ep 2. My Oldest Daughter

In Shameless season 4 episode 2, entitled "My Oldest Daughter," we see the Gallagher family continue to struggle with their various personal and financial issues. The episode largely centers around Fiona's attempts to regain custody of her younger siblings after being deemed an unfit guardian by social services.

Fiona is understandably devastated by this ruling, and spends much of the episode trying to figure out how to rectify her situation. Despite her best efforts, Fiona quickly discovers that the legal system is stacked against her, and she becomes increasingly desperate as the episode goes on. Meanwhile, her younger siblings are understandably upset about being taken away from Fiona, and they begin acting out in various ways.

At the same time, the other members of the Gallagher family are dealing with their own problems. Lip is struggling to balance his academic responsibilities with his job at a chop shop, while Ian is still grappling with his sexuality and the stigma that comes with being gay in their neighborhood. Debbie is also having a rough time, as she's becoming increasingly aware of the fact that her family is not "normal" and that she's not able to live like other teenagers her age.

Throughout the episode, we see the Gallagher family coming together to try and support each other as best they can. Although there are plenty of fights and arguments, there's also a real sense of love and loyalty between the siblings that's heartwarming to watch.

One of the standout moments of the episode occurs when Frank, the patriarch of the Gallagher family, decides to get involved in Fiona's custody battle. Although Frank is usually more of a hindrance than a help, in this episode he unexpectedly comes through for his eldest daughter in a way that's both surprising and touching.

Overall, "My Oldest Daughter" is a great episode of Shameless that really highlights the show's strengths. It's darkly funny, emotionally poignant, and features some excellent performances from the entire cast. If you're a fan of the series, this episode is definitely worth watching.