The ‘Shameless’ Series Finale: What Worked and What Flat-Out Didn’t
Opinion
[Warning: The below contains MAJOR spoilers for the series finale of Shameless, “Father Frank, Full of Grace.”]
The Gallaghers took their final bows in the Shameless series finale, but it didn’t feel like much of an end for any of the characters, with one major exception. Warning: If you haven’t seen the episode that marked the end of eleven seasons, spoilers ahead.
Which is not to say the finale didn’t have its share of great moments — we’re talking about the quick-thinking Gallaghers of Chicago’s South Side, after all. Most fittingly, though, family patriarch Frank (William H. Macy) earns his tragic ending and, in doing so, allows the other characters to move on.
Below, we break down what worked, what almost worked, and what flat-out went wrong during the family’s final South Side outing.
What Worked: Frank Dead
(Credit: Paul Sarkis/Showtime)
While it’s never easy saying goodbye, Frank’s dying proved what we all knew already — his cat-like nine lives were up. His hard-partying lifestyle had caught up with him and his dementia diagnosis earlier this season was a giveaway for his impending fate.
In the end, COVID helped him along, but Frank got what he’d wanted since trying to kill himself the night before with an overdose of heroin. There’s some solace in knowing the scoundrel found peace.
Almost Worked: Addressing Fiona
(Credit: Paul Sarkis/Showtime)
Fans hoped Emmy Rossum would return as big sis Fiona for the series finale — hey, you can’t always get what you want — but this was as good of a substitute that viewers could expect.
As Frank wandered Chicago for the last time, his storyline paid homage to the eldest sibling. This included pit stops at Patsy’s Pies (shuttered), where Fiona had been a manager once upon a time ago, and the church where she was supposed to marry Sean (Dermot Mulroney) in Season 6. Later on, Frank mistakes one of the nurses for Fiona, remarking how beautiful she is as he lays dying in the hospital. That might feel like a throwaway nod to Rossum’s character, but it’s actually quite sincere and poignant once you know that the actress playing Frank’s nurse is William H. Macy’s own daughter, Sophia Macy.
Still, it would have been more satisfying to get an actual update on Fiona’s life since she left at the end of Season 9, but at least there’s hope she’s on some new adventure.
Didn’t Work: Loose Ends Galore
(Credit: Paul Sarkis/Showtime)
There’s leaving things to the imagination and then there’s providing absolutely no closure. It’s clear this show went with the latter. We did learn that Mickey (Noel Fisher) and Ian (Cameron Monaghan) were thinking of kids, so, that’s nice and optimistic, but we get no resolution one way or the other with Lip (Jeremy Allen White) — who the show repeatedly likes to kick when he’s down — whether it’s about the unplanned pregnancy, or the Gallagher house he can’t fix or sell.
And then there’s Debbie (Emma Kenney), who seems to be headed for a Thelma & Louise style-road trip with criminal fling Heidi (Shakira Barrera), her daughter in the back seat. What? After complaining all season about the possibility of having to leave the Gallagher house, this makes no sense.
Then there’s poor Liam (Christian Isaiah) who is unsure of Frank’s fate or his own considering he was previously told he could live with Lip and Tami (Kate Miner), but their own plans are unclear. But maybe the biggest cliffhanger of all involves Carl (Ethan Cutkosky), who ran into his former hookup, Tish (Chelsea Alden), in the penultimate episode, and she is hugely pregnant, a fact never brought back up in the finale. Will Carl step up to the plate?
(Credit: Paul Sarkis/Showtime)
Also, while we get a clue he’ll take over the Alibi, V (Shanola Hampton) and Kev (Steve Howey) are never asked to sell it to him before the show ends.
Sure, not every finale can have a satisfying conclusion, but they also don’t need to leave already muddied waters even more unclear. It’s understandable that the Gallaghers would continue to face struggles, but did it all have to be so wishy-washy? Let’s just say, we’ll be thankful for the good times.
Conversation31 Comments
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G
Huge fan of the show and loved watching every season but thought the finale was a huge let down. It's one thing to have a few story lines left with "what if" endings but everyone's being left wide open made no sense. It was kinda like the writer's gave up a few episodes short of the finale.
27 3
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R
I didn’t mind the loose ends but it really bothered me that he mentioned all of his kids in the final note except for Fiona.
15
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O
As a big fan who has been through all 11 seasons, thought it was the worst series finale I have ever seen, they should be as ashamed of themselves!
18 4
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C
Loved all 11 season of this show! The series finale only proves there were plenty of stories to tell for more seasons.
12 1
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G
Thought it was awful. Left everything up in the air. Stupid ending
13 3
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G
Literally up in the air with Frank
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G
Frank going up m to Heaven? I dont think so.
9
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B
My girl and I thought Frank dying of covid was absolutely ridiculous, a pandemic pandering cheat shot. The whole floating up thing, frank goes to heaven!? That horrible person actually gets to die happy!?
We hated the finale
11 3
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G
My thought is the finale was just a temporary goodbye. We’ll see more of the Gallagher’s someday and there was no need to tie things up too tightly.
9 2
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G
I think the ending was just perfect.The whole point of the show Was Nothing ever goes right for the Gallaghers, so we must assume that whatever they were doing moving forward wasn't going to workout. I watched every episode and I am still crying over frank,but his death was the only closure we really needed...really.
15 8
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B
I think shameless should continue their is more of a story line that can be told
6
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O
Huge fan of the show and if you pay attention to Frank’s message at the end “to stop worrying” then you won’t care about all the loose ends they left in the show
5
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C
They really need a finale to the finale. What about the gold buried in the backyard written in suicide note Frannie scribbled up?
We loved the show. Thinking of watching all seasons again.
5
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O
gonna start season one tomorrow with bottle of red haha
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O
Sorry guys, I don't mean to spoiler incase no one saw the last few minutes of the finale. Frank never mentioned Fiona at the end. Also I was hoping Emmy Rossum could have done a voice over/cameo. Even if her voice was tapped from Emmy's cell phone, leaving a message as Fiona to her family? I thought that could have worked out.
4 1
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G
Although Frank thinks he is going to heaven, for me, the explosion of the crematorium and the urn flying out while Frank instantly disappears is a clear sign that he went straight to Hell.
4 1
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P
Looks to me like they are keeping things unanswered for a follow up show later on. Some future reunion show years in the future to let fans get an update on the Gallager tribe.
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C
I think the finale worked because it ended just the way it started: Just dropping in on the family. I hate shows that tie up every loose end, and everyone's life changes in some enormous way. (Are you listening, Cheers?)
2
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O
Or it could be that they just mentioned that he smelled strongly of alcohol and considering Frank’s gotta be 95% booze….. well that shit is flammable. 😂🍺🔥
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R
Did anybody do better? That's a no. It was,if they were prepetual losers forever, without shame, getting in thier own way
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G
100% agree with Joe D
3 1
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G
well it is called Shameless
1
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G
Just finished the last season. Disappointed. Complete letdown not having Fiona show up(albeit, reports of covid travel restrictions/quarantine/previous obligations). Even a phone call would have done it, maybe to lip, or even Frank towards the very end. And I know I'd be complaining if that happened,saying it wasn't enough, but it would have been much much better.
Felt they did Liam unjustly. But loved that he was there to do Frank things. Covid finishing him off was meh...
Just a few takes.. could have been better but it's what we got. I won't anticipate we see them again, but should we have the opportunity, i'd watch for sure. I'm sure I'll rewatch the series a handful of times.
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R
A disappointing finale, not a fitting end to the otherwise very good writing for 11 seasons. I think Frank should have encountered a “detour” on his way to Heaven and been seen plummeting into Hell.
2 1
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B
He was probably just being dumb/sarcastic
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B
Honestly it wasn't a bad finale. This is a show they can write for 11 more seasons if they really wanted to. I'm sure Lip will sell the house, someone will acquire the Alibi, Debbie heads to texas, ian and mickey live happy ever after, carl will move up the police ranks and liam will start to come of age. That's it everyone lives their lives. Fill in the blanks people.
Write your own episode 13.
3 2
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O
How shameless of them
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R
A fittingly inadequate finale for show that had slipped into farce and pathos several seasons ago - the demise hastened by the loss of Rossum. Not even minimal effort here - the special effects for Frank floating upwards in his bar stool were not much better than those fake Zoom backgrounds. I do agree with those posters who believe the loose ends provide fodder for revisiting this clan, ala Deadwood, several years into the future
2 2
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G
I didnt relies it was the finale episode so 🤷 not much of a finale to me! It was however a good episode. I enjoyed the series.
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R
I LOVED Shameless and understand the restrictions they had due to covid but this finale was awful. They deserved more.
2 3
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R
I didn't get any part of Frank dying of COVID. I didn't hear that at all. I thought it was the heroin in his system. Also, the ending left all sorts of loose ends as the reviewer states, and what an embarrassment that Frank writes a letter to his kids and addresses every one of them except FIona? Do I sense another David Caruso moment among the writers? Shame on you guys.
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