Introduction
Shameless is a sitcom about the Gallaghers, a poor and dysfunctional family held together by a complicated bond of love, chaos, and survival.
Can't tell how or when exactly, but I know I have heard about Shameless about like three times before I saw my course mate watching it on Netflix in class.
I think the reason I wasn't ready for it was that at that time I didn't have Netflix, and it had about 6 seasons. I felt like it had already gone far, and the data and stress of downloading each episode for six seasons was the biggest discouragement, so I just forgot about it.
But now I remembered and have easy access to all the episodes. I watched the first ten episodes, and I had to pause for a second and was like, “Whoa! Okay that wasn't what I expected.”
I didn't do my findings, and I just went in with the past knowledge that it was about a family, like so many other sitcoms.
But no, it's different, it is not just funny and dramatic. The Gallaghers’ world is messy, emotional, and sometimes painfully real, and after watching the first ten episodes, I have some things to say.
My thoughts
First, I would start with the things I like.
I like the unique characters. Fiona Gallagher and her siblings are clear results of a dysfunctional home, but still, each is unique.
Fiona, the big sister who takes on the role of a father and mother to her siblings from a young age, never had the chance to live a normal teenage life of being carefree.
Lip is the second eldest, the brilliant one in the family, but also scared to leave his family, just like Fiona, to explore his potential.
Ian, the third child, struggles with his identity and relationships that are complicated or rather, a hot mess.
Debbie, the innocent girl's fourth child, and Carl, the fifth and mischievous wild boy. Both are innocent, and I think they just cope with a dysfunctional family in their different, unique ways as children.
And then Liam, the last, was still a baby.
Then we have Kevin and Veronica, a hot, horny and crazy in love interracial couple. They are friends and neighbors of the Gallaghers, but they are more like a family. Veronica is like a sister to Fiona.
Now things I don't like.
I am not going to beat around the bush and go straight out.
The one thing I don't like in the movie is Frank Gallagher!
Their alcoholic and neglecting father. I can't even begin to express my dislike for him. Because he makes me angry at the children for not cutting him off, because no matter the love, you gotta realize when something is toxic. And Frank's selfishness alone is toxic. But no! They just keep letting him back in.
I even prefer it if he had left like their mother and left them alone to start a new life.
And something that feels so unrealistic to me is that weird family. The family of the girl whom Lip was kinda dating. The only reasonable explanation for that family would be a mental disorder or some sort, because what the hell!
The father leaves because his daughter is promiscuous. Later comes back and ends up taking care of his family and Frank, with whom his wife is cheating. And they all live under the same roof. Although the family had their own stories and real emotions, it just felt crazy to me.
Don't even get me started on how Frank actually ended up there, because I just don't like that character, and if you watch it, you would understand me.
Ian's affair with his married gay boss, who has kids with a Muslim woman, even felt more realistic than that crazy house.
And oh. The nudity I was hit with was crazy. There isn't a single episode that isn't explicit. I wasn't prepared for that either! V and Kev just can't catch a break, lol. I skip the intro so fast that I don't know the people boning in every intro.
Final thoughts
The first ten episodes of Shameless have been a rollercoaster of emotions — hilarious one moment, frustrating the next, and always unpredictable. As much as some characters annoy me, I can’t deny that the show is raw, unique, and addictive. I don't think I have ever been this judgmental, but I can't even blame myself. The show's name is literally SHAMELESS. I know I have to prepare myself for even more chaos ahead, but I’m ready for it. For now, I’d give these episodes an 8.5/10.