"Despite its faults, the finale did have satisfying moments. The parallels between the final scene and the pilot were appreciated. The ending, despite being unclear, was happy for the most part." Arts & Entertainment Editor / Al Harmon.
“Shameless” aired for an admirable 11 seasons, coming to an end just last week. The dramedy followed the Gallagher family living on the south side of Chicago.
The show became successful due to its beloved characters and phenomenal performances from the main cast. While any show’s quality would decrease after 11 years, “Shameless” remained a treasured show even as it neared its end. Despite the stellar ratings last week, many feel the finale was disappointing.
The finale began from where it left off in the previous episode: Frank Gallagher (William H. Macy) overdosed. His children and grandchild tried to wake him, but he remained unconscious until after they all left his side, at which point he stumbled out the door in a daze.
The episode then followed each of the Gallaghers on their last adventures: Lip (Jeremy Allen White) worked at his new job as a delivery man, Ian (Cameron Monaghan) and Mickey (Noel Fisher) searched for furniture in their new apartment, Carl (Ethan Cutkosky) handed out tickets to unsuspecting drivers and Debbie (Emma Kenney) found love in a criminal on the run.
The finale wrapped up with everyone coming together at Kev’s (Steve Howey) and V’s (Shanola Hampton) bar to celebrate Mickey and Ian’s first anniversary as husbands. Meanwhile, Frank was rushed to a hospital and died alone. The show concluded with a voiceover from Frank as he floated ghost-like over the bar and towards the sky.
The ending wasn’t terrible, but lackluster. Frank’s death was predictable, but that wasn’t the problem. His storyline may have been the only completed arc this season. Every other question we have is left unanswered. Will Lip sell the house? Will Kev and V sell the bar? Will Carl let his sister and niece run off into the sunset with someone dangerous? We receive no answers. The open ending feels less intentional, and more like the writers couldn’t commit to an ending for their characters.
Several characters had no direction this season and ended on a note that didn’t do them justice. We watched Lip, for example, develop significantly throughout the show. He was a genius not living up to his potential and struggling with alcoholism. At the start of the season, he got his life together for the most part—he had his own house he was working on, a job he loved, was sober, and was an excellent father. This season he lost his house, and his job and was generally miserable. The finale changed none of this and didn’t give us much reason to hope that it would in the future. Lip, a character with so much potential, continued to not live up to it. It’s not satisfying in the least.
Similarly, this season developed a relationship between Debbie and a solid love interest that was well-liked by the audience, only to break them up at the last minute. Debbie was then paired with a dangerous criminal on the run. Liam, the youngest Gallagher, also didn’t receive any direction. We have no idea where he’s going, only that he’s now lost his father and will most likely have to mourn alone.
Aside from the poor endings, the episode itself fell flat. There was no suspense. It was predictable and bland—something “Shameless” typically never struggles with.
The final nail in the coffin for many viewers was the lack of acknowledgment of the show’s original lead, Fiona. While Fiona exited the show two finales ago, she played a huge role in the show’s success. Emmy Rossum was unable to return for the series finale due to COVID-19 restrictions, which is understandable.
What isn’t is the fact that Fiona was hardly mentioned in the last episode of the show she used to be the heart of. She moved away, but it seemed as though she’d been erased from existence. This didn’t feel true to the Gallagher family or the show.
Despite its faults, the finale did have satisfying moments. The parallels between the final scene and the pilot were appreciated. The ending, despite being unclear, was happy for the most part. Most notably, Mickey and Ian, the show’s most popular couple, received a well-earned happily ever after. Additionally, while most characters didn’t have a clear arc this season, Frank did. The show ending with his death and his children carrying on their legacies felt right.
Even at its worst, “Shameless” was and is a beloved show. Its impressive 11-season run won’t soon be forgotten. Much like Frank Gallagher’s death, the show’s ending will undoubtedly result in a mourning period for many.
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