#1x10 analysis

So because apparently I need to defend Ian now too, I’m going to go ahead and start dividing these posts between Ian talk and Mickey talk.

Ian first:

We open the episode’s Gallavich plotline with Ian checking up on Mickey via Mandy who hasn’t been to visit him in jail.

I think it goes without saying that Ian is concerned about Mickey and probably misses him, not to mention feels guilty that Mickey got shot basically due to him. These thoughts are clearly taking a lot out of him because he can’t seem to get Mickey, or what happened, out of his head.

While no one has ever argued Ian’s dedication to Mickey, I definitely still feel it’s worth mentioning. 

Now, to provide a bit of a segue between our boys here, I would like to point out how Ian perfectly sums up Mickey’s situation at this stage in the show.

Mickey would rather be shot in the leg and sent to Juvie than to admit he’s gay. Let that sink in just how freaking deep in the closet Mickey is. How much denial do you have to be in to accept jail before admitting to what happened and that your sexuality is a key factor that would help him avoid jail time? Think about it, had Mickey owned up to his sexuality and explained why Kash actually shot him he could have at least gotten some time off if not walked on the theft, but Kash could have been arrested for statutory rape at the very least. 

That is some pretty deep denial and even self-loathing when you’d rather go to jail (Juvie) than admit your sexuality.

Later, Ian goes to Juvie to see Mickey after his sentencing. Mickey thanks Ian for putting money in his commissary, but it wasn’t Ian.

The fact that Mickey mistakenly assumes Ian was the one to fill his account when it was actually Kash reveals something pretty huge: Mickey automatically assumed Ian did it. He assumed this before he believed it was his own parents, his sister, his cousins. He went straight to assuming it was Ian, and while Ian was responsible, it still wasn’t even technically him. 

Let’s think about that a second. This kid knew the money had to have come from his friends with benefits side-guy because he also knew it couldn’t have come from his own family. Whether this is because he knows they are too broke or if there is a family policy that those incarcerated are on their own or something else, we don’t know. But the fact is, Mickey and Ian are already starting to take care of each other and Mickey has just been given a huge reason to trust Ian even more than he can trust his own family. Sure, his cousins are there for him a lot when he’s about to go do something illegal and sure Mandy loves him (though their dynamic is so dysfunctional we don’t know how much of that love actually comes through in a way that satisfies either of their needs for familial love), but when it comes to actually caring for him, financially, emotionally or otherwise? That job has pretty much been taken up by Ian at this point. This right here shows how little he can actually depend on his family. And notice, even when Ian admits it wasn’t him, but that he tricked Kash out of the money...

^Look at that look on his face. Tell me that isn’t him trying to hide how much it means to him. In his own twisted way, Ian has done what he had to do to help Mickey out and Mickey, I argue, is genuinely touched that Ian would do that for him. Look at him trying to hide his smile. Then beyond that, he’s amused because this adorable little puppy of a boy has just pulled a Mickey move. A typical southside “gotta do what you gotta do” moment where Ian seized an opportunity to help out his friend.

What Ian just did for Mickey is like their south side version of a romantic gesture, and it also puts them on an even playing field because this is absolutely a move Mickey would have made if the roles were reversed. It also advances their relationship just that tad bit more because now there is a trust building. First, Ian ran to Mickey when he needed him, and now here Ian is making sure Mickey has some money in juvie and visits him when his own sister won’t (at this point).

So now I suppose we return to one of the main arguments I hear against Gallavich that Mickey isn’t invested or is mean to Ian.  

Out of context, obviously this is not a good thing to say to someone to put it mildly. Keep in mind, and I’ll just keep this reminder brief, that Mickey is DEEP in the closet and his wall is slowly coming down. 

So let’s start with the being mean to Ian. Look at this face. He finds Mickey’s sarcasm and rudeness amusing! Some people probably don’t understand why that is and that’s fine. Not everyone can handle a relationship dynamic like this. I’m sure I couldn’t if it was the constant communication style. But this is what Ian is used to and he finds it amusing because he knows that Mickey doesn’t mean it.

He sees right through all of Mickey’s defenses which is the number one reason he keeps pushing.

And it’s little details like this ^ that keeps Ian persistent. Despite Mickey’s attempts to keep strong against the charms of this kid he can’t help but be amused by him too. He is resisting this bulldozer of a kid as hard as he can, but let’s be honest, we all knew that Ian was eventually going to break down that wall. You can see it even now. When Mickey is trying to be so tough and not feel anything. Look at how he tries so hard not to smile and so instead looks away when yet another brick is knocked away.

I think that the Gallavich haters must have missed these little details that make up the magic of Gallavich. They must have! Yes, their relationship dynamic is a-typical, but even not coming from a background similar to theirs I know plenty of couples (happy couples) who communicate in similar ways and that’s because they think it’s funny and they are on the same page. Obviously there is a boundary and a certain line that is not crossed, but to me relationships are so individual that as long as both parties understand the dynamic, like the dynamic as it is, and it isn’t harming either party, then we on the outside have zero room to judge.

The final part of this scene (which was actually improvised by Noel and Cam btw) is a great wrap-up to re-establish where they are at this point. While Mickey’s defenses are breaking down, the fact remains that he still doesn’t want to admit to himself that he’s gay and so any touchy-feely action Ian tries to bring to the table is denied because to Mickey there is still a firm line (though we all know that line is blurring more and more each episode.)

And in this case, he isn’t being mean to Ian. People pay attention to shit like this in jail and Mickey has to look out for himself and make sure no one is noticing that he’s talking to a boyfriend (or anyone who could be perceived as a boyfriend). This is why Mickey keeps looking over his shoulder at people, to make sure they aren’t watching or listening. He can’t show weakness in a place like this and he already is on crutches! He can’t give the other boys any reason to pick on him because he is all alone in there, at least before he gathers any friends.

So lovelies it looks like this is all I have to say about 1x10. Next week we move on to 2x02! Until then, if you have anything to add or anything you want to counter-argue send me an ask!