Rounding out this crew are Carl and Liam, the youngest. Nine year old Carl’s idea of fun is hiding in the bathroom to sneak a can of beer. Liam, still in diapers, isn’t able to cause much trouble. Yet.
Veronica, the Gallagher’s highly sexed but goodhearted and supportive lives next store with her boyfriend Kev. She is frequently Fiona’s sounding board and helpmate.
Obviously, Shameless is not your average weekly dramady. And some might take exception to the show portraying a household of poorly disciplined kids, stumbling through life with no real adult supervision and who rarely suffer the consequences for their actions. If Shameless was a reality show, the folks from child welfare would have poked their collective heads in the door of the Gallagher home long ago. Still, this is scripted TV, and the acting and writing are strong enough to allow the viewer to cut Shameless some slack in that regard.
After three episodes we don’t know when or why Frank’s wife ran off or how Frank got to be such an irresponsible lout, and why baby Liam is black and the other kids are white. But those answers will come in time. The show has its unexpected turns which make it intensely watchable. When Frank hooks up with Lip’s girlfriend’s agoraphobic mom (played to ditzy perfection by Joan Cusak), bathes, trims his beard, combs his hair and becomes a kept man, it’s a totally unexpected plot twist. “Now what?” were the words that came to mind when Frank’s status totally changed.
Now what, indeed. Shameless is another one of those quirky, unpredictable SHOWTIME shows that is sure to get under your skin and keep you coming back week after week. If you missed the first episode you can catch it for free on SHOWTIME's website. Tune in. It’s definitely worth a look.
Shameless airs on Sundays at 10PM ET on SHOWTIME.
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Article comments
1 - Jerome Wetzel
Good review! I also enjoyed the premiere. I think this could def be one to watch.
2 - Mindy
Thanks! Yes, the show definitely has potential.