season 6 is terrible
I'm trying to claw my way through season 6 of this show, after barely making it through season 5. Here's what I've observed so far:
1.) Ian no longer has any personality. In the early seasons he was one of the more interesting characters, but for some reason they seem intent on making him a totally different person now that he's bipolar. There's no trace of his former personality. I get that mental illness has a profound impact on people, but bipolar isn't like schizophrenia, where the former personality is simply lost. Maybe if the actor (and writers) had allowed for some warning that this was coming earlier on it would be more believable, but as it stands his storyline is just annoying. And the firefighter thing is absurd.
2.) Debbie's character has just been destroyed, and at this point should probably just be written off the show. I haven't liked her since she was trying to get medication for Ian and was screaming at an ER doctor, "I see knives!" I really hate that there's not a single female character on the show with any ambition beyond boyfriends and babies. While her wanting to be a teen mom is somewhat believable, her willingness to be manipulated and coached by Frank is not. Overall, this is just dumb, and non-stop cringe.
3.) Am I the only person that has a hard time with Fiona dating an elderly junkie? I know this actor from My Best Friend's Wedding, which came out like 20 years ago. I have a hard time believing that a ridiculously hot 20-something would pick a 60-something junkie for a husband. And why is she always looking for a husband? I just don't understand why they never allow her to think or dream about anything else. At least in the early seasons she thought about her career occasionally. And she constantly bitches about the burden of having to raise kids on her own, but she's barely been home since season 4, since she's too busy with marriage proposals and relationships with losers. She has a GED, has she never even considered a class at a community college, or an art career, or just going to Burning Man for god's sake? Why can't she have a thought or interest?
4.) Lip's storyline is atrocious. The whole thing with the professor is just plain bad. I can't even write any more because it's just so frustrating.
5.) Frank should be dead by now. Maybe I've been emotionally drained by HBO, but I get frustrated with shows when they never let characters die. Frank should have died in season 4, and the fact that he's still around now is starting to feel like beating a dead horse. We should get to see what happens to these kids when they can't blame Frank and Monica for their problems anymore. I love William Macy, but his character needs to die.
I don't know if I'm going to make it through this season. I'm on episode 6, and I just can't stop cringing and wanting to fast forward through things. I barely made it through season 5. Please tell me this gets better, and isn't yet another instance of Showtime beating a show to death.