SPOILER ALERT: If you haven’t watched season seven episode ten, I highly recommend you read this at your own risk. I once walked into the living room while my roommate at the time was watching season four episode seven. Instead of going straight to my bedroom, I stopped, sat down next to her and asked, “What the f*ck are you watching?” This is the question that would spark my super (not so) secret sexy love affair with Shameless. If you asked me to pick a favorite character, season, or episode, I couldn’t. That being said, Mickey Milkovich and Ian Gallagher reduce me to a ball of useless mush. She told me, “You’ll love them together.” And love them I did.
While Mickey may not be the perfect boyfriend, he is perfect for Ian, and after everything they’ve been through together, they’ve proven time and time again just how perfect they are. Here’s 13 of the (million) reasons I ship Gallavich—
1. They’re from the same neighborhood.
South side is forever.
2. They’re not traditional.
They put the fun in dysfunctional. Mickey's dominant personality butts heads with Ian's determination and scrappiness in the most satisfying way.
3. But they can be.
It's few and far between, but Mickey and Ian have experienced movie-marathon moments of normal-ness that make my heart happy.
4. In spite of everything they've been through, they're just normal guys.
They drink, they smoke, they f*ck. You can't get more American.
5. They balance each other.
Mickey's a (slightly) psychopathic criminal who does everything-- and I do mean everything-- fiercely. Ian's a bipolar, charismatic, promiscuous man who fights tooth and nail for what he believes in. Their particular brand of crazy keeps the other in check.
6. They’ve made it through unimaginable obstacles.
From discovering (and admitting) their sexuality, their feelings, a wedding, the army, a mental institution, and prison, the pair have dealt with more than many of us ever will.
7. They’re real.
You know what I mean. You can feel the chemistry, the tension, and the pull they have to one another. It's not all sunshine and rainbows for these two, and it has never stopped them from connecting.
8. They take care of each other.
Whether it's Ian taking care of Mickey after one of his father's beatings, or Mickey taking care of Ian during a depressive episode, they're always caring for one another's well-being.
9. They’ve both made sacrifices.
Ian gave up the idealistic version of the perfect relationship in his head and embraced the unique, thrilling, and terrifying Milkovich family. Mickey gave up on the hate he carried for himself and gays and embraced his feelings for Ian.
10. They don’t give up on one another.
They've gone through some pretty heavy sh*t, and still they stand by each other.
11. They’re in sync.
They're the kind of in-tune you become after seventy years of marriage, the kind where you connect so completely with another person that you may actually share the same soul. You know them better than you know yourself.
12. They make you feel all the feels.
The first kiss, the wedding, the voluntary commitment, the break-up...they've all made me cry. I'm not talking a little sniffle into a tissues either; I mean ugly sob-into-your-pillow, wipe-the-snot-on-your-sweatshirt-sleeve cry.
13. They always find their way back to each other.
They wait patiently for each other. Mickey's been to juvie, jail, and prison a handful of times. Ian's run off to the army, voluntarily committed himself to a psych ward, and disappeared during manic episodes.
When I watched season seven episode nine I actually whooped out loud for joy and screamed, "F*ck yes, bring Mickey back. I'm so pumped!" (Much to my best friend/roommate's boyfriend's dismay). After tonight's episode, I am so excited for what's to come. While Bri sits and worries about how much trouble Mickey's going to get Ian into, I sit and fantasize about it. After all, there's two sides to every story and love-- true love-- is ride or die.
I get it: Mickey’s a convicted felon who broke out of prison and Ian’s a hard-working EMT with a transexual boyfriend. Mickey’s a hot mess right now (literally and figuratively), but unlike Fiona, who thinks Mickey’s going to, “set a match to it” all, I haven’t forgotten when the tables were turned and Ian was the hot mess. And Mickey didn’t give up. Here's the thing: true love-- real, raw, all-consuming love-- is ride or die.
