Shameless (US)

Shameless is excellent, compelling television from the first moment. As long as it stays true to the roots of the original, it's going to be essential viewing.

Almost nothing about this series is conventional. That's part of the appeal.

The story races forward happily and aggressively, but none of the plot strands among the many characters is ever dropped or given short shrift.

In Showtime's seemingly unwatered-down version, William H. Macy plays the drunken dad, Frank Gallagher, convincingly enough that you can almost smell the alcohol (along with less-pleasant scents) seeping from every pore. (Other highlights include Joan Cusack as an agoraphobic homemaker whose life's about to change and Emmy Rossum as Fiona, the oldest of Frank's daughters.)

This isn’t a new addition--sex, drugs, and violence have always been a part of Shameless’s DNA, but it’s the ornamental way that these elements are being used that feels unsatisfying.... All in all, the first two episodes do a good job of driving the Gallaghers to action and setting up stories that are likely to unfold throughout the course of the season.

For all the show's flaws, you can see the attraction for an actor of Macy's quality, with the kind of showy, outsized role that wins awards. But as fine an actor as he is, Frank just comes across as loud and empty. Much like Shameless.

Shameless lives up to its title. What's left for the rest of the season? Cannibalism? Macy is a good sport about being dragged around the kitchen like dead weight.

Giving it a 9 only for the sake of the first seasons when it was an actual comedy show, the last seasons were purely political and dramatic which made it completely lose its essence. It was great during these past 8 years waiting for the new seasons, it's sad it ended especially in such bad terms.

Very entertaining, every episode is somewhat believable while being completely insane. Took me months to go through the whole thing but it was worth it.

Starts to get worse in writing quality, humor, and struggles to find a protagonist to fill the void of Fiona, but at its best, theshow is funny, chaotic and showcases dysfunctional families extremely well. You see what the good in every character and also all their flaws making the show feel suprisingly real for the first couple of seasons.

It’s got solid performances and interesting characters, but it’s just wildly depressing. I’ve been told so many times that I’d love this show, but the “funny” parts just read like tragedy to me.

Does anyone realize that this show promotes pedophilia? The store owner Kash is a grown man having a sexual relationship with a child in the tenth grade!!! It's sick