‘Shameless’ Season 9 Episode 4 Spoilers: Political Tension Heats Up, Riot Erupts in 100th Episode

As “Shameless” season 9 episode 4’s title suggests, the series’s 100th installment is all about election day. However, political tension seems to intensify, leading to a riot. And in the middle of it all (quite literally in the video trailer) is Frank Gallagher (William H. Macy).

One of the most interesting snippets in the official “Shameless” season 9 episode 4 trailer involves Frank and his eldest, Fiona Gallagher (Emmy Rossum). The trailer shows Frank and Fiona getting caught up in a political riot between two contending candidates in their area.

“Shameless” season 9 episode 4’s official synopsis also clearly hints that the 100th episode will show Frank and Fiona going in a “head-to-head battle.” Not so surprisingly, the father and daughter are supporting different candidates and are both dedicated to winning the election.

However, it is also important to note that Frank and Fiona have different motivations in supporting their respective candidates in “Shameless” season 9 episode 4. It can be recalled in an earlier episode that Frank is involved in Mo White’s (Dan Lauria) campaign primarily for the money.

A lot is happening in every character in the 100th episode. For one, it looks like Lip’s (Jeremy Allen White) struggle to keep Xan (Scarlet Spencer) in his life will hit its peak in “Shameless” season 9 episode 4. The synopsis hints at Lip making an “important choice.” In the trailer, he hands over a folder filled with documents to a woman.

In previous episodes, it was shown that Lip is willing to go to great lengths, to the extent of sacrificing a man’s life, to keep Xan. That incident could also be a premise for Lip to be charged with kidnapping in the future. But the cryptic scene in “Shameless” season 9 episode 4’s trailer seems to suggest that he is giving up either on something else to focus on Xan’s welfare or on the idea of keeping Xan.

Ian’s (Cameron Monaghan) trial is happening but he still does not know what he will plead to. Meanwhile, Carl (Ethan Cutkosky) who is hoping to get accepted to West Point, could be in another trouble as the synopsis hints his “killer instinct is put to the test.” “Shameless” season 9 episode 4 airs on Sunday, Sept. 30, at 9 p.m. ET on Showtime.