Shameless – “This is Chicago” Review
THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILER
Shameless is back for the 11th season – the last one – which started the night of December 6th on Showtime.
Since the main goal of this show is representing real life, we see them dealing with the CoVid-19 pandemic, in addition to all their daily issues. The episode starts with the typical scold by one of the characters about missing the previous episode – season, in this case – following a small recap of what happened. This time was Frank’s turn, who asked us if we were social distancing while he – representing social workers – was working his ass off.
Shameless “This Is Chicago” Synopsis
The Gallaghers adjust to life during the pandemic: Frank fears the loss of the South Side to gentrification, while bar closures force Kev and V to get creative at the Alibi. Sleep-deprived Lip and Tami work to make their new house a home as Carl finishes his time at the police academy. Debbie becomes her own boss and deals with the repercussions of her statutory rape conviction of 17-year-old Julia. Ian and Mickey’s honeymoon phase is over as they have very different ideas about what married life would be.
What happened on Shameless “This Is Chicago”?
Everything starts where it stopped at the end of the 10th season. Ian (Cameron Monaghan) and Mickey (Noel Fisher) are husband and husband, but they soon find out that marriage isn’t as easy as they thought. Especially when Mickey spends all their savings on junk. They also discussed about monogamy and polygamy, as they both desire different things.
Nothing changed for Debbie (Emma Kenney), who still is under house arrest for statutory rape (long story short for those who doesn’t remember – she was set up by her ex-lovers). She’s trying to improve her business “Debbie does everything” but it’s difficult when your picture is on a rapist list.
Carl (Ethan Cutkosky) succeeded all his exams to become a Chicago police officer and we see him wearing is first uniform at the end of the episode, waiting for the official ceremony.
Lip (Jeremy White) and Tami (Kate Lang Johnson) are parents, and that comes with a lot of responsibilities. They’re currently renovating their house on a low budget and we see them making the best decisions for their baby and for their future.
As we all know, bars had to be shut down during lockdown. That’s exactly what happened to Kevin (Steve Howey) and Veronica (Shanola Hampton)’s bar “the Alibi”. But they need to make ends meet somehow, and that’s why they started a business based on weed-flavoured food, which is now legal in Chicago. (with a license, which they obviously don’t have).
Frank (William H. Macy) is taking part in a project dedicated to the city of Chicago and you might think “Wow! Finally, something good!” but no. He’s trying to describe the city only as a small part in the Gallaghers life, saying that it has changed a lot and that it’s not the Chicago he loved anymore.
Final review
I overall liked this episode, even though I was hoping for more exciting things to happen. This will be the second season without Fiona (Emmy Rossum), but I still can feel her absence. I really liked the way they added the pandemic to the show and the realistic reactions of the characters. My favourite moment of the episode happened at the very end, when the whole family shows up at Lip’s place and helps him renovating his house. That is the real Gallagher spirit.
Don’t miss Shameless final season on Sundays at 9PM ET/PT on Showtime!
