'Shameless' season 9 episode 8: Kevin and Veronica Ball invest their energies into yet another social cause

Kev and V have finally adopted a son and he is an immigrant adoloscent boy from an ICE detention center. Intense much?
PUBLISHED JAN 23, 2019

This story may contain spoilers for 'Shameless' season 9, episode 8: 'The Apple Doesn't Fall Far from the Alibi'.

Ever since the beginning of its ongoing season 9, Showtime's hit dramedy 'Shameless' has upheld two of its secondary characters, Kevin (Steve Howey) and Veronica Ball (Shanola Hampton) as patrons of social causes. From going about the show's own form of the #MeToo movement through making their bar The Alibi 'less-rapey' and a woman-safe zone to now fostering an immigrant teen, over time, the raunchy, freaky couple who once used to indulge in cam-porn for fast cash, have come a long way. However, from time to time, it does come off as if the showrunners are trying to use Kevin and Veronica - no matter how spicy the storyline is - as props for social issues, probably to balance out all the degenerate debauchery the rest of the characters get up to. 

And in the latter half of season 9, the mid-season premiere itself was able to establish that the majority of Kevin's and Veronica's storyline was going to be invested in yet another social cause; this time focusing on the struggles that immigrant children and their families undergo while seeking asylum. The fact that the couple went ahead with these plans in the first place was purely because Kevin wanted a son to play catch with was slightly ridiculous to register as he emerged to be the pro-women's equality/feminist hero of the first half of the same season.

GET THE BIGGEST ENTERTAINMENT STORIES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

While FX and Hulu haven't officially greenlit Season 2 of Ryan Murphy's anthology show yet, these are the couples it could be based on.
39 minutes ago
The miniseries was filmed entirely in New York and used several real-life locations from the couple's lives to add authenticity to the drama.
2 hours ago
The latest episode of 'The Pitt' sees Samira help an elderly couple, Eddie and Frida Cohen, who visit the ER
6 hours ago
The latest episode covers the last hour of the day shift, as Robby’s worries grow ahead of his upcoming sabbatical
8 hours ago
‘Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette’ ends on a tragic note as a flight to Martha’s Vineyard changes everything
9 hours ago
The new animated spin-off series is set between the events of Seasons 2 and 3 of 'Stranger Things'
11 hours ago
Season 2 will feature Lucy Boynton, Babou Ceesay, and Peter Mullan in key roles alongside Dexter Sol Ansell and Peter Claffey
12 hours ago
'Running Point' draws inspiration from the real-life tales of Lakers owner and president Jeanie Buss, and is set to return with Season 2.
22 hours ago
'Something Very Bad Is Going To Happen' finale reveals the deadly soulmate curse twist that proves Rachel's doomed bond was never meant to last.
23 hours ago
'Harry Potter' TV show's debut season will chronicle Potter's first year at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
1 day ago