Every Season Of Shameless Ranked From Worst To Best

It’s a shame that the final season of “Shameless” is far from its finest hour. It’s widely considered to be the weakest season, especially since it doesn’t feel like a proper finale until the last few episodes. This may be due partly to the interruption of the COVID-19 pandemic, which moved up filming dates and forced the writers to rework early episodes on short notice (via The Hollywood Reporter). Much like Season 10, this outing is rather scattered, with characters essentially spinning their wheels until the curtain call. There’s very little momentum in the character arcs and few changes to speak of. Lip’s central conflict in this season sees him trying his best to provide for Tami and Fred, stumbling along the way as per the norm. Debbie still can’t get her life together in any meaningful way, and her main issue of the season — coping with a potential future away from her family — feels too low-stakes. Ian and Mickey’s story, while still adorable, lacks any real urgency, especially with their wedding day in the rearview mirror.

The glue that holds this season together is William H. Macy, who turns in one final tremendous performance as Frank. Suffering from alcohol-induced dementia, Frank’s mental decline is equal parts hilarious and legitimately heartbreaking. His final speech as he ascends to the afterlife, an echo of his introductory speech in the pilot, is a powerful scene for sure. If only the season as a whole had built up to the legitimately bittersweet ending a bit more.