(2004 – 2009, UK)

Creator: Paul Abbott
Cast: David Threlfall, Gerard Kearns, Elliot Tittensor, Rebecca Ryan, Samantha Siddall, Jody Latham, Rebecca Ryan

6 Seasons (66 Episodes)

The comedy-drama Shameless provides a compelling look into the underbelly of British society. The central family, the Gallaghers, live in Chatworth Estate, Manchester. One of these British slumps where nobody has money, petty criminal enterprises are standard practice and the quality of life is mainly the result of partying, drugs and family bonding.

The show was created and, at least initially, mainly written by Paul Abbott, who is also the series’ Executive Producer. Much of the show is based on Abbott’s own experiences growing up in a similar situation to the Gallaghers in Burnley.

Family patriarch Frank Gallagher is a professional drinker and e-popper, who spends all of his days in local pub ‘The Jockey’. Despite his overall unconscious state, he frequently shares his philosophical outlook on life with the viewer. ‘Make poverty history, cheaper drugs now’, is one of his typical statements.

Frank’s kids (six in total) are used to living on a shoestring budget, as they grow up in this no future environment. This situation has shaped them into very effective problem solvers. This combined with their greatest virtue, their warm loyalty towards each other, helps them to cope with the everyday challenges, often involving the authorities, that they have to face.

The humor in Shameless is very well done, provided you don’t mind crudeness and profanity. Also the drama touches the viewer in the heart. This is mainly due to the strong cast. Some situations may feel unbelievable, but the characters never do. Their strong bonding, opposed to the more distant relations in the higher classes of society, even makes it tempting to join the this ‘unlucky’ bunch at times.

The first three seasons are just great. After that, the series loses quite a few important characters that are replaced by the Maguires, a family of lowlifes. This harms the series in a major way. The acting capabilities of the actors portraying the Maguires are very limited, making their far fetched story-lines hard to swallow. Luckily David Threlfall’s memorable performance as Frank saves the series from sinking to mediocrity.