Spoilers below.
I've been a pretty vocal supporter of Shameless since I started it. I know the later seasons aren't as good, but I still think they're enjoying and can surprise the watcher with a very "old school" Shameless scene.
Season 11 was one of the best since season 7 ended (which was fun fact, going to be the original ending). The family had big family scene moments again, more drama moments were written instead of strictly comedy, and Shameless was the one show that having the COVID storyline in it both made sense and actually mostly worked. Due to this and the fact that every season finale was overall good, my hopes were high. I said as long as 3 things happened, I would be satisfied. Those 3 things were Frank dying, the kids having a bonfire scene similar to the opening, and Fiona showing back up.
2/3. Still pretty good numbers.
Except I still felt meh about it? It almost changed my view on a lot of the show. Complains to follow.
Frank floating over Chicago's sky was a choice, and probably not a good one. The voice over worked, the rest not so much.
I was glad Fiona was even mentioned, but I still think they could have at least worked phone call in when Frank's records were found, since it was pretty obvious shes the emergency contact. Apparently Showtime asked the show to not mention her after season 9 much, as if viewers are suddenly going to forget her just by lack of mention. Showtime, news flash, every spot she clearly should have been mentioned it but wasn't was even more obvious to the watchers. Also, what was the point in mentioning her multiple times but still leaving her out of Frank's note and voice over? Post series Fiona isn't going to appreciate that when she shows up for the funeral.
The Gallavich scene where Ian/Mickey discussed fatherhood could have been improved on if they just mentioned the fact that they had been fathers! And for the most part, they did pretty good. The weird deal the show has with avoiding past cast members is noticeable, guys (Showtime? Is it you?). It just felt like both the characters somehow forgot that Mickey had a son, Ian very much loved this kid, and the fate of their relationship was left on a big cliffhanger when Mickey's actor left originally. Which is a shame because the development of that whole storyline, interwoven with Mickey's closeted storyline, is one of the more interesting and emotional stories the show had.
Debbie's character annihilation. I don't need to add on much, as it's been said by many, but I'll bring a point of view not a lot of people hear from: I love Debbie. Even as they continued to butcher her, I liked her. I'd love her since season 1. Sometimes, you have to let characters hit rock bottom first, and Shameless has proven that they excel with this angle. So Debbie becomes a bratty misguided teenager, and it makes sense with her background. Then season 9 happens and she's helping her Fiona, realizing someone needs to pay attention to Liam, messing up and fixing Carl's love life, etc. Finally! The caring early seasons Debbie who used all her money to buy her family a water heater has returned! Except the show decided to reboot her at the beginning of season 10 once again and she reverted back to mostly selfish Debbie for next to no reason. However the show gives her the one and only relationship of hers I've seen people care about: Sandy. Her relationship with Sandy helps balance the many sides of her personality. Selfish Debbie moments become opportunities through Sandy to allow her inner emotions to show. The scene where she's crying and Sandy speaks her thoughts out loud about her history of abandonment tie all of this together in one big angsty bow and Debbie makes sense again. (Also the return of Emma's acting abilities! I'm so sorry I doubted you, when the show writes the characters so one sided for seasons, it's hard to remember that Emma can act so well). So what does the show do with this glorious revelation and relationship? Oh, well clearly they break up because Debbie is so family focused and then Debbie hooks up with a woman who hold her and her child at gun point, leaving one of many open ended endings where the viewers are left wondering if "family is everything" Debbie abandons her kid for one of the worst characters the show has ever introduced. Makes sense. It felt they abrupt undid all of her growth they probably accidentally wrote just to be like "Haha, naggy female character probably ends up completely ruining her life more" instead of using Debbie's ending to introduced so much needed growth. It's disappointing that they took her so far from her original personality that the voice over for her bonfire moment was the only one that was changed. Sandy should have shown up in this episode and punched Heidi like she did Julia in season 10.
Lastly, I get the show wanted to be as open ended as possible, but I think it's an actual shame the Gallagher house fate wasn't revealed. I think the writers dropped the ball by not allowing anything to be closed at all, because even if this was, there's still so many what if's set up. It almost felt like in their quest to makes us left wondering that the wrote an ending where the show felt like it was cancelled mid season.
Now that I've gotten the complaints out of the way, let's mention the good!
Lip's storyline has always been one of the best and from season to season flowed together. Sure individuals episodes didn't always pick the most interesting ideas to reflect this, but Jeremy Allen White could make any script interesting. I liked his ending overall. I think his is the one that made the most sense to leave open ended. The show introduced us to a genius kid from a poor family who had opportunities. We followed him through seasons of getting those opportunities when you're from a background that doesn't exactly get things handed to you just because you're smart, to succeeding in college, before eventually Lip pulls a Gallagher and ruins it all. But life doesn't quit and then we're able to watch Lip mature as he starts from scrap and gets himself professional help. Once his life is a stable position, he meets Tami and starts the family he's always been shown to watch. I think while some season's introduced very one season storylines for some characters, we never see this for Lip. Leaving off on the note that Lip is smart and has options still depending on what choice he makes is a wonderful ending for his character.
Frank's storyline this season. I have no hope that John Wells (Shameless's show runner) is reading this. Why? Because every review written on Shameless post season 5 mentions that the show has run out of Frank content and maybe should shine of the other cast. Yet, it seems like the show almost buckled down and wrote even more Frank front and center storylines for the rest of the show. Was it out of spite? That complaint aside, his storyline was amazing in season 11 and I, despite watching the rest of the show where Frank is mostly not the man I'd sympathize with, did somehow. I felt for him dying and I even cried at the end.
Ian and Mickey. There isn't a lot to say on them that some fan on tumblr or twitter hasn't already said. Season 11 gave us mostly domestic Ian and Mickey. While they missed the mark in some episodes, especially extra dumbing Mickey down, I love all found their storylines enjoyable and a nice break from every angst storyline they'd gotten the course of the show. It ending on them being possibly open to fatherhood in general was a good ending for the characters.
Liam's ending was mostly fitting. I was a firm believer that Fiona should have shown back up and taken him with her, but I am glad that they acknowledged that he needs an adult in his life. Lip and him discussing how essentially everything Gallagher at a point spent some time worrying about Frank before realizing he was a lost cause was the emotional heart to heart the show needed. Liam continuing to worry about Frank before then imagining he saw him drinking at the Alibi was the one and only not so realistic moment I needed.
The bonfire scene! While there are still some changes here I think that would have improved it (like let's say, them singing around a burning car not being the reason for this?) the bonfire scene is how I've always wanted the show to end. I love that they closed how the show opened. It was nice watching all the Gallaghers bonding and hugging, all with a Frank voice over to discuss them how the show opened, but with the additional new dialogue on where the show was ending them at. It was especially welcoming to see Lip and Debbie hug after a season (at least) of arguing.
So I think between the complaints and the good that earns a solid 6/10.
*You may have noticed I didn't mention Carl at all, and that is because they didn't write a storyline that really went anywhere besides buddy cop hijinks. The potential behind cop Carl, especially in today's world, was such a great set up and yet they did nothing with it. Just goofy Tik Tok dances.
I've been a pretty vocal supporter of Shameless since I started it. I know the later seasons aren't as good, but I still think they're enjoying and can surprise the watcher with a very "old school" Shameless scene.
Season 11 was one of the best since season 7 ended (which was fun fact, going to be the original ending). The family had big family scene moments again, more drama moments were written instead of strictly comedy, and Shameless was the one show that having the COVID storyline in it both made sense and actually mostly worked. Due to this and the fact that every season finale was overall good, my hopes were high. I said as long as 3 things happened, I would be satisfied. Those 3 things were Frank dying, the kids having a bonfire scene similar to the opening, and Fiona showing back up.
2/3. Still pretty good numbers.
Except I still felt meh about it? It almost changed my view on a lot of the show. Complains to follow.
Frank floating over Chicago's sky was a choice, and probably not a good one. The voice over worked, the rest not so much.
I was glad Fiona was even mentioned, but I still think they could have at least worked phone call in when Frank's records were found, since it was pretty obvious shes the emergency contact. Apparently Showtime asked the show to not mention her after season 9 much, as if viewers are suddenly going to forget her just by lack of mention. Showtime, news flash, every spot she clearly should have been mentioned it but wasn't was even more obvious to the watchers. Also, what was the point in mentioning her multiple times but still leaving her out of Frank's note and voice over? Post series Fiona isn't going to appreciate that when she shows up for the funeral.
The Gallavich scene where Ian/Mickey discussed fatherhood could have been improved on if they just mentioned the fact that they had been fathers! And for the most part, they did pretty good. The weird deal the show has with avoiding past cast members is noticeable, guys (Showtime? Is it you?). It just felt like both the characters somehow forgot that Mickey had a son, Ian very much loved this kid, and the fate of their relationship was left on a big cliffhanger when Mickey's actor left originally. Which is a shame because the development of that whole storyline, interwoven with Mickey's closeted storyline, is one of the more interesting and emotional stories the show had.
Debbie's character annihilation. I don't need to add on much, as it's been said by many, but I'll bring a point of view not a lot of people hear from: I love Debbie. Even as they continued to butcher her, I liked her. I'd love her since season 1. Sometimes, you have to let characters hit rock bottom first, and Shameless has proven that they excel with this angle. So Debbie becomes a bratty misguided teenager, and it makes sense with her background. Then season 9 happens and she's helping her Fiona, realizing someone needs to pay attention to Liam, messing up and fixing Carl's love life, etc. Finally! The caring early seasons Debbie who used all her money to buy her family a water heater has returned! Except the show decided to reboot her at the beginning of season 10 once again and she reverted back to mostly selfish Debbie for next to no reason. However the show gives her the one and only relationship of hers I've seen people care about: Sandy. Her relationship with Sandy helps balance the many sides of her personality. Selfish Debbie moments become opportunities through Sandy to allow her inner emotions to show. The scene where she's crying and Sandy speaks her thoughts out loud about her history of abandonment tie all of this together in one big angsty bow and Debbie makes sense again. (Also the return of Emma's acting abilities! I'm so sorry I doubted you, when the show writes the characters so one sided for seasons, it's hard to remember that Emma can act so well). So what does the show do with this glorious revelation and relationship? Oh, well clearly they break up because Debbie is so family focused and then Debbie hooks up with a woman who hold her and her child at gun point, leaving one of many open ended endings where the viewers are left wondering if "family is everything" Debbie abandons her kid for one of the worst characters the show has ever introduced. Makes sense. It felt they abrupt undid all of her growth they probably accidentally wrote just to be like "Haha, naggy female character probably ends up completely ruining her life more" instead of using Debbie's ending to introduced so much needed growth. It's disappointing that they took her so far from her original personality that the voice over for her bonfire moment was the only one that was changed. Sandy should have shown up in this episode and punched Heidi like she did Julia in season 10.
Lastly, I get the show wanted to be as open ended as possible, but I think it's an actual shame the Gallagher house fate wasn't revealed. I think the writers dropped the ball by not allowing anything to be closed at all, because even if this was, there's still so many what if's set up. It almost felt like in their quest to makes us left wondering that the wrote an ending where the show felt like it was cancelled mid season.
Now that I've gotten the complaints out of the way, let's mention the good!
Lip's storyline has always been one of the best and from season to season flowed together. Sure individuals episodes didn't always pick the most interesting ideas to reflect this, but Jeremy Allen White could make any script interesting. I liked his ending overall. I think his is the one that made the most sense to leave open ended. The show introduced us to a genius kid from a poor family who had opportunities. We followed him through seasons of getting those opportunities when you're from a background that doesn't exactly get things handed to you just because you're smart, to succeeding in college, before eventually Lip pulls a Gallagher and ruins it all. But life doesn't quit and then we're able to watch Lip mature as he starts from scrap and gets himself professional help. Once his life is a stable position, he meets Tami and starts the family he's always been shown to watch. I think while some season's introduced very one season storylines for some characters, we never see this for Lip. Leaving off on the note that Lip is smart and has options still depending on what choice he makes is a wonderful ending for his character.
Frank's storyline this season. I have no hope that John Wells (Shameless's show runner) is reading this. Why? Because every review written on Shameless post season 5 mentions that the show has run out of Frank content and maybe should shine of the other cast. Yet, it seems like the show almost buckled down and wrote even more Frank front and center storylines for the rest of the show. Was it out of spite? That complaint aside, his storyline was amazing in season 11 and I, despite watching the rest of the show where Frank is mostly not the man I'd sympathize with, did somehow. I felt for him dying and I even cried at the end.
Ian and Mickey. There isn't a lot to say on them that some fan on tumblr or twitter hasn't already said. Season 11 gave us mostly domestic Ian and Mickey. While they missed the mark in some episodes, especially extra dumbing Mickey down, I love all found their storylines enjoyable and a nice break from every angst storyline they'd gotten the course of the show. It ending on them being possibly open to fatherhood in general was a good ending for the characters.
Liam's ending was mostly fitting. I was a firm believer that Fiona should have shown back up and taken him with her, but I am glad that they acknowledged that he needs an adult in his life. Lip and him discussing how essentially everything Gallagher at a point spent some time worrying about Frank before realizing he was a lost cause was the emotional heart to heart the show needed. Liam continuing to worry about Frank before then imagining he saw him drinking at the Alibi was the one and only not so realistic moment I needed.
The bonfire scene! While there are still some changes here I think that would have improved it (like let's say, them singing around a burning car not being the reason for this?) the bonfire scene is how I've always wanted the show to end. I love that they closed how the show opened. It was nice watching all the Gallaghers bonding and hugging, all with a Frank voice over to discuss them how the show opened, but with the additional new dialogue on where the show was ending them at. It was especially welcoming to see Lip and Debbie hug after a season (at least) of arguing.
So I think between the complaints and the good that earns a solid 6/10.
*You may have noticed I didn't mention Carl at all, and that is because they didn't write a storyline that really went anywhere besides buddy cop hijinks. The potential behind cop Carl, especially in today's world, was such a great set up and yet they did nothing with it. Just goofy Tik Tok dances.