Anna Daniels
Now, if you’ve been following Debbie and her increasingly brazen acts over Shameless‘ run, you’ve probably got a firm appreciation of why her relationship with Neil (played with pitch-perfect naiveté by Zack Pearlman) was the very definition of “shameless.” But if you’ve been checking in with the show a little more casually, you’re likely wondering exactly what it was the made her relationship with Neil so despicable.
First things first, Neil turned up in the seventh season of Shameless as brother to supporting player Sierra (Ruby Modine). His story is a bit of a tragedy in and of itself, and not only because he’s been confined to a wheelchair since a sports-related accident in his youth. Seems the same accident left him slow-witted due to a serious brain injury — one that also causes him to frequently blurt out whatever is on his mind, even if it’s wildly inappropriate.
Combined with his wild beard and awkward looks, Neil’s general state of being is initially quite off-putting to Debbie. Neil’s accident, however, also left him with settlement money that ensures he’s reasonably comfortable and independent in life. That last fact ends up making him quite enticing to Debbie, who seizes an opportunity to saddle up and move in on Neil’s apartment, Neil’s money, and even his heart — even though she’s still quite open about being repelled by him. As if shamelessly taking advantage of a kindly, mentally-challenged, wheelchair bound man for his money and apartment weren’t enough, Debbie actually took matters even further by frequently using Neil as a babysitter for her infant daughter so she could go out partying with her friends.
Written by: Looper
