I ended Shameless at Season 4
I thought writing this while it's still fresh would help write it better. I literally just finished watching the last episode of Shameless season 4 an hour ago, and I am done.
I am happy with happened up to this point, and I just know my frail heart couldn't take the reality of all of their situation. I know some people would have a different opinion on the matter. Some people would think it's useless to have watched a show and not even see how it ends, or maybe some would find it disrespectful for the creators, but I know myself, and I am satisfied with where I am in the story.
In a span of 4 seasons, it's an understatement to say that a lot has happened, because, wow, a lot did happen. Here is where I'm ending Shameless with...
Fiona getting out of prison and starting a new job
Fiona stood up as the kids' parents since theirs are, for a lack of a better term, fuck-ups.
Her internal self-saboteur succeeded and ruined the best relationship she ever had for the the thrill of the "bad" or should I say, the thrill of the "familiar." She had an affair with her boyfriend's brother who's a drug addict by the way, probably because it reminds her of home, of her parents.
She had a decent job, a decent relationship, everything is going well, but it's the limiting belief that got her.
I never understood self-sabotage, and I believe I am privileged in a way to have an environment that believes that I deserve great things in life, but I can sympathise with Fiona. The effect of not having anyone in her life showing love, peace, and stability showed her that maybe life isn't supposed to be calm? Maybe it's supposed to be chaos.
She got in trouble with the law because of her drug use, and got imprisoned twice.
I am ending Shameless with Fiona just getting out of prison, getting a job as a waitress at a diner, and attending her court-mandated AA meeting.
Lip doing good in college, being with Amanda
Apart from my boyfriend, Jeremy Allen White is the biggest reason I'm watching Shameless, he's one of the few familiar faces (and Joan Cusack.)
From being an overachieving chef to an overachieving eldest son in a dysfunctional family, JAW really gives his best! But enough about him, let's talk about Lip.
I am always drawn to studious characters. It reminds me of me in college. I'm especially drawn to Lip because it is obvious that he is the gifted one in the family who has the highest (and most probably the only) chance of getting into college. Even though the tertiary education system is different from what I had, I can attest to how difficult it would be for people who can't afford it.
I am fortunate enough to be an only child and to have parents who instilled the value of good education (this does not only mean college, this can also mean learning new skills or improving the ones you have by trainings, bootcamps, certifications, and the likes). A college diploma is not something everyone from my extended family saw, so I do understand Fiona's frustration when Lip said he didn't want to go to college when he's the only who actually can get a degree. I also understand Lip's annoyance of everyone pushing him to go to college when he thinks the situation of the entire family is more important to attend to.
Yet, here we are, Lip is in MIT, working and studying. I'm ending Shameless with Lip passing his midterms, and is starting a relationship with Amanda.
Lip has had crazy relationships in the past, and I think the thing with Amanda is going great. Amanda has such controlling parents and money, and Lip has the brains and the heart of a man who keeps his words.
I think with Amanda's unwavering support, Lip would do great in college.
Ian and Mickey being accepted, Mickey taking care of Ian despite his mental challenges
These two have the best storyline among all the people in the series - in my opinion.
It is heartwarming to see Mickey finally getting rid of his homophobia and coming to terms with accepting who he is, and loving Ian freely.
It has been a long time coming.
While it is sad that their relationship has come to a dark place with Mickey having a kid from rape and getting forced married to the Russian hooker who was hired to "fuck the gay out of him," I still feel hopeful for the two of them.
I am ending Shameless with Ian and Mickey finally admitting they're in love, with them publicly together, and with Mickey saying he's willing to take care of Ian. Although I disagree with him not wanting to take Ian to the hospital...
Debbie being an obsessed teenager
Now this one is a bit sus.
As a former obsessed teenager, I know what she has been through, but I do not condone the relationship she's trying to build with Matty!
Matty is an adult for Chrissakes, and I applaud him for doing the right thing and telling Debbie to leave, but he should have done it when Debbie said she is 13. At that exact moment on the couch before they even started watching the show.
In my POV as a third-party viewer, Debbie had the understanding that "Ooh, maybe there is a chance for a 13-year-old like me," but no! Again, I stand my ground on adults should be doing what they can to get the kids out of their beds and houses if the kids are obsessed with them!
I know crazier things will happen in the next couple seasons, but I guess I'm ending Shameless with Debbie seeing Fiona again and hopefully feeling she could be a kid again. Hopefully.
Carl showing us what caring looks like
Despite how messed up the Gallaghers are in general, Carl remains the good chaotic character that shows affection to those who need it.
One scene that stood out for me is when he took in Bonnie's siblings in their home for a night because it was cold in the van they're staying in. It didn't matter if their house is a mess, it didn't matter if they don't have much food to get around, he was only thinking of the well-being of these strangers.
Carl was also the one taking care of his dad and his crazy requests. Despite being neglectful and, honestly, useless, Frank had the audacity to ask Carl for things, and as the caring son that he is, he obliged.
Although, for the record, I do not forget that Carl has already manifested troubling behaviours at school, and illegal activities in the city as well, I could not look past his softness - and yes, that's me picking out the things I want to see.
With that, I'm choosing to end Shameless hoping that Carl would soon outgrow his bullying phase and be on the better part of society.
Frank slowly dying
I don't have a lot of positive adjectives to describe Frank, but I do know he's the type of person you can tell anything to because he lives life the way he does as an alcoholic, as a drug addict. You can ask him about sex stuff and he'll answer it straight, unlike any other parents. Apart from that, he is a failure of a dad.
For 3 seasons, I have watched Frank drink his liver away until it gave up on its own, which is not a surprise.
I have been waiting for Frank to have a "eureka" moment where he'd think about his actions and repent even just for a second.
Watching him being delirious in the hospital in season 4, finally made me empathic for him. When he was calling Emily (the kid with the heart condition next to him in the hospital) "Fiona," I felt his humanity for the first time. For the entirety of the show, that's when I only thought of his as a father, and it was nice to watch.
I have considered Frank the antagonist of the entire show, and as usual, I would always root for the antagonist to banish, to die, and for the longest, I've always waited for him to die as well. In the fourth season, he was as good as dead with him being in the hospital the majority of the time.
Kevin and Veronica having twins and owning the bar
Undoubtedly, my favourite couple in the show. I was ecstatic when Veronica got pregnant because I know they were trying to build a family for so long.
Despite coming from a rough background like the Gallaghers, they were still managing the bar business (and the illegal entities attached to it), and their own family. Although, I would argue that the bar might not be the best environment for infants.
With their own family starting, I did notice a decline of them staying in the Gallagher house, but nonetheless, they still get together, and it's honestly a delight to watch. Vee and Kev exude a positive energy in the Gallagher home. I love seeing Kev being obsessed with his wife, as he should, and I love Vee taking control of the relationship as well.
I am ending Shameless knowing that Kev and Vee are out there starting their own family and keeping things a float with their business!
Final Thoughts
My boyfriend asked me if I was dead set on not watching Shameless anymore, I said, yes. Maybe just for now, maybe for always, I don't know how I'd feel for the next couple of weeks. What I do know is I'm probably going to let the first four seasons simmer into my brain.
If I ever decide to watch it again, then I'd probably write another essay.