Finished the series last night and the lack of resolution for anyone but frank in the final episode sent me into a 12 hour depression binge

I think that the whole point of it ending the way that it did with no unrealistic happy endings is kinda the point. To us as viewers it may feel like these characters DESERVE happy endings but that’s the point in real life they wouldn’t get them no matter how much they deserve them. A lot of the criticism seems biased in the way that we want to see these characters we’ve grown up loving succeed but in the end they got an ending befitting their life and situations. Though Lip had incredible potential that means very little growing up in poverty with a dysfunctional family dynamic. I feel like most of the storylines were tied up rather optimistically considering that the entire show centers around poverty and dysfunction and the inevitable gentrification of their beloved neighborhood and they live to see another day. They’re all left still battling their background in the end leaving it open ended and optimistic like even though we can’t see it the fight continues another day.

Fiona not being there was explained over and over again. She wanted to but she was in another part of the country with Covid restrictions and she also became pregnant so she could not do it

I do like how the ending was like the beginning, as in; In the first episode we just get thrown into their daily lives, and now we just as suddenly get thrown out of it. It felt to me like we got a 10 year glimpse into their lives. I like that it is open ended, but i do agree however that some storylines were very unsatisfying, in particular Debbie's.

The last season was full of loose ends . We should all be writing to showtime to bring shameless back and do right by the character's and us

This review is so spot on it's sad. I agree with everything you said. Just like the big overarching feeling making your way closer to the end of the last season is like "IS THIS REALLY IT? LIKE YOU GUYS REALLY DOING THIS FOR THE END?"

I wish this season we had brought back every old characters Sheila Fiona that Russian girl Sammy everyone mandy

The Gallagher kids all leave the "Chatsworth Estate" in its UK version 'cos none of them want to be stuck in the dead end place with Frank's boozing and schmoosing. Lip leaves after season 4 for University, and Debbie becomes the matriarch and one of the best characters overall, until she leaves after its 6th season. Even Liam leaves to live away with Monica. Carl leaves in season 9 to join the Police, which is the only real thing that the US version keeps regarding the Gallagher kids. Ian and Micky only hook up once when they meet, but stay friends. I am a huge fan of both versions, and I think its fascinating how the UK and US Gallagher's changed over their time onscreen. The UK Gallagher kids all have good endings in that regard. They got outta their shitty situations by leaving home and town to better themselves, but the US Gallaghers ended as they were from not moving on and out overall.

I agree with your point. I know the lead writer came out and stated something along the lines of "we didn't want any of these characters to have a fairytale, happy endings" similar to how most shows and movies do. I felt personal they had another ending in mind, but covid may have interfered and made them rewrite a significant amount of plots around the pandemic. Being from the UK. I watched the Uk version first, so was very curious when this show aired in 2011. The very first season mirrored the first season of the UK version (almost scene by scene) even franks actor stated they wanted to pay homage to UK version. That version ended with frank lighting the car on fire and walking away as he narrated his farewells to his family (similar to the US) but instead adding franks death. I very much wish we got concrete endings for these characters we spent 11 years with. It made me emotional because I wanted to the conclusions, but I think they will do a spin-off, or possibly a movie, detailing what the characters did after the finale of the show.

The writers wrote the end episode very strategically, they left many cliff hangers giving the reason for us to fight to get more . What would be wrong is if the last episode of 11 is infact the last episode. I feel Frank deserves a funeral , Monica got one and her character was much much less . I think if done just the right way which I know these writers can do .. micky and Ian could have thier own series but it will need John Wells and the same writers . Not a big fan of Debbie but she has done 11 seasons and deserves some kind of future path .. The bar ... with every shot taken the Alibi can't just be closed and maybe even demolished for a condo or such ..it's a thread that brings the characters together ..hopefully kev and V stay for its sake ... I can't see it becoming a bar for cops . Wouldn't it be nice if Ian and micky got a child ...the stories that could come from that ..but what would be there employment ? We need to find out if Carl is a father ..hope not Tami is too moody to give the 2nd child to Ian and micky it should be a milkovich I am hoping the writers wrote the last episode of 11 so we would demand MORE It would be believable Fiona would make an appearance to settle the fight of selling the house as it remains in her name - never signed it over nor did she leave rights of guardianship for lip to care for Liam. She should join her siblings one last time to say good bye to frank and to tell us if she got her act together . A spin off would be great but we need at least 2 seasons to make it happen . I want to believe the house does not sell and they fix it for all Gallagher s to stay in it . It's clear the west side is not for micky or Ian

The Lip breakdown was spot on but overall I really liked the finale. It was so raw and palpable that the characters didn't all have their happy endings. That's life and catharsis is something to crave but would have been disingenuous to the franchise and core of the story.

Ill never get tired of rewatching this show

I get Emmy Rossum not coming back for the last episode, but why isn't she mentioned in Frank's voiceover?? Really dissapointing ending

I think the finale could’ve been a lot better! Here’s how: Debbie: Debbie realizes that she needs to be single for a while before she can find a partner. She finds a new apartment for her and Franny . Carl : Carl still hasn’t found the right partner in police department. He finds out that his ex girlfriend Domineque’s dad is now a Private investigator . Carl convinces Dom’s dad to be his partner. Ian and Mickey: after moving to the west side of Chicago, they are discussing whether or not to have a baby . They also celebrate their 1 year wedding anniversary. Lip : he’s still finding a job after the bike shop closed . Lip delivers food for a tech entrepreneur, who needed help. Lip impressed the tech entrepreneur was offered a job. Liam: Liam worries that he wouldn’t have any to go after the house is sold. Lip and Tammy have agreed that they would take him in . Fiona : Fiona comes home because her name is on the dead to house. She catches up with everyone and tells them what she’s been doing she’s been gone. Fiona is in Florida and has been going back to school for real estate. After Frank dies, the family decides to have one last family dinner before saying goodbye to the house.

Hopefully they do a reunion episode or some type of spin off where we get clarity on what happened to the characters, I do agree that the ending was kind of odd and it left more questions than answers

This show wasn't a Hollywood fairy tale. The show was a real life depiction of life in places like Chicago's South Side. The vast majority of people living in those environments never move on or get closure.

I agree that the end isn't perfect. Not because it isn't 'satisfying', but because this sense of unfufillment doesn't seem to be intended. It felt more like the directors are just done with the show rather than ending it with purpose. The lack of Fiona in the final mention by Frank as he flows into the sky really breaks the immersion

The ending with so many question marks still floating around is the beauty of the ending to the show. You knew Frank was going to die just because no one can put their body through all of that without dying. The southside of Chicago, as is life, is an open ended question. We don’t know what’s going to happen to our own lives day-to-day let alone a family which has had an endless cycle of chaos, uncertainty, loyalty issues, discombobulating circumstances, and so many wth moments, the only plausible ending is to keep you guessing.

It's life, sometimes we don't get closure or a good ending. I invested a lot of time in the series and agree, the endings were not so great but then again, how great can things be when you live day to day.

I loved Shameless but I did not like the ending. It was open ended which I didn't like. I wish Fiona never left but I was happy that at least she got a happy ending. Ian, I was happy for him being married to Mickey, but the rest of them, I wish they put closure on them.

V becoming ultra woke is what killed the show for me. It got to a point where every scene she was in she couldn’t help but talk about white people and how she deserves more than everyone else because she’s black. Shit just felt so forced.

The ending felt disappointing, after Fiona left, the show was pointless to watch, frank is pushed to the side while the rest of the family barely evolve as people. The way the writers handled Franks overdose was atrocious, I get he was horrible useless father to the kids but at least give frank some dignity. At least have some of the Gallagher kids raise shot glasses up and say " To frank! You lived your life to the fullest", Something like that it would've been poingnant. Liam was the only that actually cared about Frank's well being, it was such bullshit.

I respect and understand your opinion, but I thought it was a great ending and I'll even argue that characters were concluded but not in a conventional sense. The theme of the show is mostly the struggles of poverty and how there is always going to be shit, it's always going to be unfair. I know it's a cop out to say "Well that's just realistic, people don't get nice tight endings to their arcs", but not only does the finale leave plots open, but it even adds scenes to hammer away that there's no real out for these guys and there's always going to be either something in the way or some larger sacrifice. There's two big ones that stand out for me: Lip when he goes to the rich guys house and Kev when he sees the girls in non-chicago sports jerseys. Lip is especially huge because he goes into this rich guys house, solves a problem for him and as an audience member you think (at least I did) "Oh, Lip got this dude 4000 dollars, he is going to be recognized for his tech savy and be offered a great job to get a new place and have a good life for him and his family!" But nope, and I felt like a naïve dumb ass just like how Lip probably did when the guy gives him a 10% (which is less than average) tip and says bye. Then we see Kev and V are getting out, but it's at the cost of their culture and identity. The non-Chicago jerseys I mentioned earlier and also him realizing he's not going to have anyone to relate to when he's practicing making drinks for the new bar he's going to be working at. All of these new problems are introduced in the finale and at the last scene all of these problems are pushed to the side as they celebrate a rich dudes Tesla blowing up. They sing "It's just the way we get by" as Frank floating on a bar stool, chilling with a pint of beer and tells his kids to "quit worrying so damn much." I personally thought it was a beautiful ending, but I think in this day and age of Breaking Bad and other shows it's not what we're used to. The point is that poverty fucking sucks and sometimes you have to just let go, chill, and take the small wings - Like an "80,000 dollar roman candle".

Best ending of a show was six feet under, where you see a flashForward of how everyone dies. Shameless should had did something similar, a flashForward to where everyone was in their lives.

I only discovered this show this year! Man, I wish I was there when it was going. I love the characters as well as the writing and directing on the first 3 seasons. It seems to take a gradual dip in quality thereafter and then comes to a halt once Fiona leaves at the end of S09 but I still love it so much! Hence the disappointed with the ending. Were they perhaps trying to keep things open ended for a possible series continuation on another channel or possibly online? I can understand that in real life there aren't necessarily happy endings and things do just often times have abrupt conclusions, but if the producers knew that this was definitely the end for this show then they could certainly have engineered a more compelling finale.

Thats life, especially for the poor. Debbie not getting her shyt together was on par for her course, maybe in her 30s when Franny is a teen she finally will then will have to deal with an out of control Franny, due to he4 mothers poor choices also perpetuates poor life choices. I personally would want a good happu ending for everyone but im happy they stuck with the theme and reality of life.

I really liked the ending, it was depressing to see frank lose to dementia, some scenes were really sad like the one where frank thinks lip is looking for that brick of gold he hid when lip was 12 years old. I like how it ended with the same song the first episode ended with and the same speech, I just wish he would’ve died of the OD in ep11 instead of him just waking up the next episode, I do wish they would’ve shown their reactions to him dying though

I love how it finished Frank's beginning speech.

ever since the wonderful episode when Fiona leaves, I had been imagining an end with the whole gang or at least lip by Frank's bed in either the hospital or nursing home, when he is so demented that he doesn't remember who they are and finally says how loudly he love them and how proud he is of what they have achieved. a bit like the first episode when he introduces his family and enumerates all the qualities they have

Did you ever see the original UK version of the show? That ran for 11 seasons aswell. But they were 2 completely different shows overall. The US version only mimicked and remade its first season based on the UK version's first season, with the pilot episode being an almost scene by scene replica albeit in a bigger, open and wider world. The US one did a superb job in tackling and taking some of the original's themes and ideas and expand them to its own timeline and narrative. In the UK, Fiona and Steve leave after season 2, and one by one the Gallagher kids leave the show to get outta the ghetto estate they're from leaving Frank as the sole Gallagher amongst the people of the housing estate, including Micky and Mandy's family. . I like how the US focused on the family the whole time with them staying in the show.

I agree Fiona should have been in the finale. Frank was the source of most of the problems, and made the rest of them worse. He should not have been given a hero's sendoff. The show was about how life is hard for poor people, the endings for the rest of the characters were reasonable. My only other comment is that they often found or were given money in ways that most poor people never do, and that took the edge off of what could have been some real gritty plot lines.

letter that Fank wrote was moved from episode 11 to 12

I didnt like how they never showed them finding out he died. Sure its implied but to see there reaction would've been impactful as hell man.

In franks last speech he could have at least mentioned Fiona and they used a flashback or something. She was the backbone of the show for so long. Without her, the show sucked

Lip just became a dick imma be real. I loved lip but he was the most frustrating character. Fiona will always be my favorite beside white boy Carl. He had the best character development throughout the show till the finale

I agree with what you said 100% on every level.

The dissatisfaction was kind of the point. Real life shit. Rarely things turned out with the happy ending on the show and was always so chaotic. Fiona not being there almost leaves you feeling the way the family felt when Frank and Monica left them. It truly is heartbreaking. Frank dying in the hospital instead of in the house, Svletlana and Mandy just completely gone when they COULD have come back (I understand it was probably because of covid, but just adds to the disappointment). I just finished the series an hour ago and I'm still spiraling into a depressive state btw.

Debbie's selfishness, trauma, abandonment issues, and taking on the worst traits from Monica and Frank is what made me dislike her the most out of the entire cast. Her character was written to make her think everything revolves around herself and not Franny. I thought Lip telling her that she is a shitty mom would have brought on some change but instead, we see her project her abandonment issues onto others by the time Lip wants to sell the house.

Idk life is gonna go on these characters are gonna continue to struggle and have bad times and good. I think I’d feel cheated if too many things were tied in a nice bow for these characters by the end, that wouldn’t be true to the show.

I found this show to be very powerful! I understand why "Fiona" left the show. It would have been great had she had a presence in season 11. And I was super excited to see season 11! However, to be honest, season 11 seemed a stretch.... I would have been ok with the final episode of season 10 being the natural concussion.

To me, Shameless ended with Monica's funeral. A perfect last episode, and a season finale too. We even had an individual moment of closure for all the main characters. Would've been good.

I just watched the first episode of this series and tbh I am scared. I don’t want to watch it anymore. It is a sad series. Everything is a mess and each of the characters hold their own demons.

Shameless' finale feels more like a penultimate episode leading up to the finale than a proper finale. Like, there's exactly 50-ish minutes worth of story left to tell in order to wrap everything up.

Lip didn't go to MIT, he went to the university of Chicago.

Pray for spinoff

an absolutely excellent review of the show's ending. I did not know anything about this show until about 2 months ago . as I started streaming it I got hooked on the very first episode. I then watched two or three episodes everyday .Tremendous acting. I liked all the characters except Debs. She was a low life slut. Carl ,Lip, and Ian were my favorites.I did like Fiona but she changed for the worst. again, you provided an excellent assessment of the series.I could have watched this show for another 11 seasons.

I would have liked to see more closure for the characters and to know where they end up. I loved this show, but the one character I could not stand was Debbie.

Amazing vid

Fiona should have been there but frank dying and floating to heaven was bittersweet

Your videos are great sir! You got a sub in me ❤

I just ended shameless and i can say , that the Last 2 Season are Awful , there is literaly nothing good , like i just finished shameless and the only "good" scene i can remember is Ian and Mickey marriage and Lip drinking again , outside of that , nothing , Frank giving us the good bye is Dogwater , nobody liked frank it was the worst carachter by far we needed Fiona , she could not make it cause of Covid and the baby , but the last season are just awful

SUCH A PERFECT OPPORTUNITY WASTED. I WISH I COULD CALL THE WRITERS OR THE PRODUCERS UP & JUST YELL.

Fiano deserve tribute. The last season could’ve been way better. Lip is just disappointing, Ian is one of the best character. Debbie had good decent ending

I would say 85% flawless. I would have liked some older characters like Shelia mandie jimmy/steve/jack and Jody to make a last appearance. Like the last episode should have been Frank's funeral that would have given everyone a reason to show up one last time. And Fiona wasn't in it because Covid and her being pregnant while filming.

I HATE the ending. i sat there like: r u fuk kidding me?!? worst ending of anything ever. makes me so sad

Personally the think the way things ended for the show was perfect and let me explain why, when it comes to being from the hood and living through the struggles of life Shameless does it almost perfectly, Lip being a genius but never actually using it to its full potential bc of the influences around him is perfect, Debbie being a mother at such a young age and not even knowing her own sexuality, perfect. Carl.. I don’t even gotta explain with him, he was honestly the most perfect example of what growing up in the hood is like, But what im saying is in the hood most things don’t end how we want or expect it. Shameless ended exactly how i expected it to end, everyone just trying enjoying life until there’s nothing left to enjoy

I enjoyed the breakdown

You dont get it hes important because all of their problems raised from him and more came because of him

shameless was great for like 5-7 seasons but after that it became "ok" series. I didnt like debbie most of the series. Ian wasnt that good at the "gay jesus" time and carl was always great. Frank was funny and at the end of the day pretty smart. Fiona was good but i didnt like it that no one realised/remembers that she is the legal guardian of liam and i believe she also owns the gallagher house so in s11 they woulnt be able to sell the house anyways. Kev was great i loved that kev was insanily stypid and that made him great. Shameless was great and i have to rewatch it some point edit: wasnt carl banned from army?

I can't with the constant background music, it's too distracting

I dont know... Cant really agree... The Fiona thing, yes. And Carl... I agree on Carl too.. But generally and overall i think their life and story did end on a positive note compared to how thwir life was previously. Not greqt, but i think the Gallaghers should somewhat stay Gallaghers even if they get a "happy ending" if that makes any sense. Like.. the best the Gallaghers can hope for is the possibility or hope of a better future. Debbie, i dont know... Makes sense that at least one of the stays a fuck up.

The ending sucked. On Facebook, right after the finale, most agreed with me.

Tell me you don't understand poverty without telling me you don't understand poverty...

Look did you like this show or not? Of so then you like that Life kick the Shit out of these people and they only had small joys. Thats it! Why should they get amazing great endings? There lives were shit, but They were Real. Their actions were real. Guess what! In the Real World most people don't get happy endings and some never learn from their past. Debbie is Frank and the reat of her life will be the same way. History repeats itself.

You can tell your spoiled cuz you forget life actually ain’t happy endings just cuz we start to make changes life don’t work that way there’s always gonna be something to knock you off at your top hence the ending they never got to the top and they never will

Truth be told, by the end - I was dissapointed; but at the same time.. I just wanted it to be over, too. I really like the premise of the show, and I grew attached to certain characters..... But halfway through, it felt like they switched writing team for a bunch of SJW college kids. Lip was no longer smart and witty - just dour and sad through and through until the very end. Frank from season 4 onward was just there for ludicrous hobo-adventures with guest stars. Liam's arc was straight up cringeworthy all the way to the return of Micky, with all of his scenes being about transgenders and their terminology, then turning into gay jesus, getting chased by guys in maga hats.. Then shitting on his movement by pleading insane - then returning to his jesus ways in prison.... What? Then, in the final season I think, he goes to some store and just has a discussion with a wacky trump supporter for no reason... Then Debbie, after seasons of doing naught but chase dick... Because we didn't have a lesbian lead yet she now has to be gay, too. Kev & V initially were real people, but then were just there as slapstick comic relief. Svetlana was fun at first, but that went way too far and dragged on way too long. Carl's arc was fine for a bit, but the final season he was dealt a ludicrous hand. SJW writers, so... Of course *all* the cops are corrupt and in service of the rich and the law only applies to the poor, get out of here with your nonsense. I had really hoped he'd reunite with his former girlfriend's [Dom?] dad, that would've been super fun. And him buying the bar? Why? Of all the Gallaghers, Carl has been there the *least*, he has no connection with that place.

Unpopular opinion; Frank should’ve died in season 4

A happy ending would not fit. For the 11 years we have known these families what has ever happened in their lives that would lead to happy

Yea show suckes at the end. And even with the political takes, the conclusion for every character was lazy writing and lack luster. Especially because they don't mention Fiona