By Michael Morales, Courier Staff Writer
When I was browsing for a new show to binge watch on Netflix my uncle introduced me to Shameless. This show is kind of like The Office because a British version of the show exists but besides that they’re total opposites. I definitely do not recommend anyone under the age of 18 to watch this show because the vulgarity and nudity will be too much to handle. Currently season 1-7 is available on Netflix and a season 8 although not officially announced will be coming soon. Here is a review of what I believe is Showtime’s best show to date.
To understand the show we must first understand each character and the family as a whole. Currently there are 7 members in the Gallagher family Frank, Fiona, Lip, Ian, Debbie, Carl and Liam. Frank is a widowed substance abuser who has failed to raise his 6 children for the past 2 decades, Fiona is the real head of the household who has raised all the children inevitably sacrificing her own childhood. Fiona is constantly falling in and out of relationships with criminals and junkies when she is not using the families saving to fund her business ventures. Lip is a MIT drop out who is struggling with alcohol himself after having sexual relations with his married professor.
Ian is a gay EMT who is trying to get over his jailbird boyfriend who fled to Mexico after escaping prison. Debbie thought she found love when a neighborhood boy got her pregnant but after he fled the state she quit high school and married a disabled man. Carl joined a prestigious military school after he witnessed his friend murder a child with a hammer, I think that the STD he received from his cheating girlfriend also made his choice easier. Liam is the most innocent of the family even though he is often used by Frank to scam people.
What I like most about this show besides the vulgarity is the chemistry between the family. The characters always have eachothers backs whenever something goes wrong (and it always does) like a real family! The actors give their best performance during intense scenes, they give such a high level of passion that I have yet to find in any other tv show. William H. Macy, Emmy Rossum and Jeremy Allen White each deserve awards for the dedication that they put in their roles. Most of the situations that the family gets themselves into are very prevalent in our society and give the show a realistic feeling. I respect the writers of the show for tackling various controversial subjects and not being afraid of the backlash that they might bring.
That being said I felt that some of the situations seemed very unrealistic and even forced at some points. Also many of the actors needed a couple of seasons to find their roles but by the start of the second season everyone had their own personality and character. Many people are comparing the American version to the British version but I feel that this is unnecessary because they take place in different cultures. If you like the UK version better than keep watching it.
The production level that goes into the show is professional and the soundtrack featuring The High Strung’s The Luck You Got is very fitting. The show takes place in the south side projects of Chicago and it never really takes place anywhere else. The location gives the viewers a look into a situation that they might have never experienced themselves, gentrification.
I definitely recommend checking this show out next time you have nothing better to watch on netflix. Just make sure that you never follow in the footsteps of any of the characters.
