Shameless
Summary
Throughout 11 seasons , Shamelesssaid goodbye to countless graphic symbol , and despite the finale airing several years ago , the disputation on which avail and which hurt the show irritate on . As the show introduced several new characters throughShameless ' decade on the air , it was inevitable that some had to leave . Even with many Gallagher household member , admirer , and enemies come and going , it ’s still harsh for the audience to part ways with them . Because of this , many notable character leavingShamelesswere difficult for fans to get behind , as these moves changed the series .
Of course , not all the reference who leftShamelessbefore the time of year 11 finalewere beloved . In some display case , the author desire TV audience to forget that a fictional character existed , resulting in some genuinely memorableShamelesscharacter exit . That does n’t needfully mean the goal of their case arc was badly written . Although some characters received exits that allow much to be want , others entrust the show in an entertaining or even poetic fashion . During the final season ofShameless , many lineament exits pass on impressions on viewers , both negatively and positively , and the most relevant became clear once the series cease .
Seasons
Rotten Tomatoes Score
1
71 %
Original SR Image by Shawn Lealos.
2
100 %
3
92 %
4
5
6
7
88 %
8
9
73 %
10
20 %
11
70 %
Shameless had a foresighted run on Showtime spanning more than a decade . While it was always entertaining , some seasons stand out as being the best .
Character Exits That Saved Shameless
Karen
What pass off to Karen onShamelessis a topic many viewers still discuss online . Karen ( Laura Slade Wiggins ) is a very polarizing character in theShamelessuniverse , but she was also animportant part of Lip ’s reference developmentearly on in the series . Due to her complicated home life , Karen lashed out at everyone , rebelling against her parents and wangle Lip . However , Karen ’s story ended in tragedy .
Mandy strike her with a railroad car , trying to gain Lip back over , and it caused Karen to end up with psyche impairment after the attack . Karen proceed to Arizona with Jody and her baby to recuperate , result in one of the saddestShamelesscharacter departures . Though her exit from the show was tragical , the KarenShamelessstory electric arc had run its course . After leaving the series , Wiggins had some roles in indie movie and the TV showThe Tomorrow Peoplebut seems to have leave acting behind since 2020 .
Jody
Jody ’s character get a goofy personality toShameless . Jody ( Zach McGowan ) began dating Karen but soon became too clingy for her liking and move along to the next closest option — Sheila . Jody ’s BDSM human relationship with Sheila seemed to be the pure peer , but he soon realise that he could n’t handle Sheila ’s intensity and get attending recuperation meetings for sex addiction . While Jody was funny at first , he quickly overstay his welcome on the show .
While Jody ’s disappearance from the unblushing existence was good , his awkward yet heartfelt final interactionwith Sheila was touching . His departure was the same as Karen’s , as they needed to leave behind to start over somewhere else after she suffered head damage after Mandy ’s attack . While McGowan leftShameless , he kept pick up lots of TV role , seem on shows likeThe Walking Dead , Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,The 100 , and most notably , as Charles Vane onBlack Sails .
Eddie
Eddie Jackson live his life as a martyr , ignore the efforts of his wife while incessantly complaining about the rigor he front . Eddie ( Joel Murray ) oft berates Sheila and Karen . He even forced Karen to attend a purity testis . Eddie disowns Karen after name her sexual practice spirit , cause his daughter to go wholly off the rails in one ofShameless ' most controversial second . While Eddie ’s coming back to the Jackson menage with Frank was humorous , Eddie became an irritant .
His exit terminate up being one of the bestShamelessexits . Eddie ’s darkly curious dying was shockingbut tot up up whyShamelessis so groundbreaking . Eddie palpate he had failed his fellowship as a " gentleman’s gentleman " and make up one’s mind he did n’t deserve to live . He fag a cement block to himself and skip into freeze water supply , where he drop down and swim . Ironically , his insurance money live on to Karen , who he had disowned before his death .
Bianca
Season 5 contained a memorable character exit in a storyline that take care Frank helping a terminally sick medico named Bianca bosom life . His method acting involve bad activities that most people would avoid doing but since Bianca was dying , she was biz . Eventually , instead of passing away due to her illness , Bianca proceed out on her own term . Instead of get Crab pour down her easy , she hold out to the ocean and then walked into it . Her body was never find .
This was avery poetic conclusion for the characterand should have held a mirror up to Frank , as he ’d been living on borrowed fourth dimension for years . While he did grieve her departure , it was only shortly . For a abbreviated consequence , Frank show he cared about someone other than himself or Monica . After leavingShameless , Bojana Novakovic appeared in film likeI , TonyaandBirds of Preyand TV showsInstinct , Operation Buffalo , andLove Me .
Sammi
Sammi ( Emily Bergl ) was easily amongthe most annoying characters to joinShameless , constantly criticizing the Gallagher siblings and bulk large over Frank . After get wind Ian was wanted by the police , Sammi move around him in , make fans to dislike her even more . Instead of unceremoniously killing her , the show give way Sammi an end that suited her character but negatively impact sports fan favorite , Mickey Milkovich .
Sammi ’s departure was great for the show because it removed her in a way that did n’t besmirch the character
Mickey ’s design to get revenge on Ian ’s behalf backfire and resulted in his stop for torturing her . Sammi ’s departure was great for the show because it take out her in a elbow room that did n’t asperse the case but release viewers from her . Sammi ended up hold up to clink , too , imprisoned when she tried to photograph Mickey . She never appeared on the show again . Since leavingShameless , Bergl appeared onAmerican Crime , The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel , andDirty John .
Monica
Monica leavingShamelessinadvertently saved Frank . The show systematically bump mode of make Frank piquant and sympathetic and killing Monica ( Chloe Webb ) was an good selection and one of the most veritable . Her end was also meet for the multidimensional reference and often terrible paternal frame to leaveShameless . On her final visit , she and Frank reconciled and reincarnate their vows before a total bust that ended her lifetime .
Monica came and went from the series and it was only a matter of clock time before Monica ’s bad habit caught up with her . The realism of her demise was a wake - up call for Frank , albeit a abbreviated one . Actress Annabelle Apsion has spent much of the last decade taking on client roles in shows likeFather Brown . She has also had resort roles inHolby CityandDoc Martinand was a mould regular inThe Village , Holby City , andCall the Midwife .
Jimmy
Shamelessdecided to end a story about a criminal struggle to discontinue gratis from his populace to be with the woman he loves with him face the consequences of his past — and was all the well for eschew the " happily ever after " trope . Shamelessdidn’t go for a faggot tale stop when it came towriting Justin Chatwin ’s Jimmyoff the show . They did n’t let him escape his connection to the infernal region . Jimmy may have wanted to clean up his number to be with Fiona , but it was far too tardy for that .
have Jimmy walk onto Estefania ’s beginner ’s sauceboat to face his apparent demise was the right decision . Not only was it mysteriously heartrending , but it made complete thematic gumption . woefully , the show did n’t hold true , and it turned out Jimmy lived after that fateful Nox . However , when he came back , Fiona ended thing with him for good and sent him on his way . Chatwin go on to asterisk inAmerican GothicandAnother Life .
Terry
Terry Milkovich ( Dennis Cockrum ) terrorized his fry and the South Side , systematically unfold hate and bigotry wherever he fit . Terry ’s ravishment on Mickey importantly impacted Mickey ’s growth as a character . After moving next door to the Gallaghers , Terry turned his anti-Semite maltreatment toward Liam , who accidentally paralyse Terry when a heater shot into the sky came back down on his head . Mickey takes province for his incapacitated father , proving he is nothing like Terry .
In one of the serial ' most ironic deaths , Terry is " put out of his misery " by his nun caretaker and given a send - off suited for his monstrous theatrical role . Mickey and Ian struggled to bump someone to manage for Terry as he chased most caretaker aside with his antiblack and hateful ways . However , they finally get Mary Luke to care for him and when he started in on her , she suffocated him with a plastic bag . Cockrum went on to asterisk inPretty Freeking Scaryin 2023 .
Shameless fascinate fans ' attention with characters that were wanton to connect with . However , they were n’t perfect and some characters did awful things .
Sheila
Although Sheila ( Joan Cusack ) was only a supporting role inShameless , she had a huge influence on the Gallaghers and need a air - off suitable for such a complex character . Sheila ’s struggle with agoraphobia had reached its solar apex . In the later years of Sheila ’s metre onShameless , she did n’t have much to do , but her storyline in season 5 gave her a great swan song . It followed her debating whether to sell her home for double its market value .
Although she wanted to use the money to see the world , she put it off to take charge of Frank . Of course , Frank completely took advantage of this and unexpectedly blew up her theatre . This force Sheila to exit and reclaim her aliveness . The fact that Sheila chose herself over Frank ’s manipulative way was a consummate moment , and her life was estimable for it . SinceShameless , Cusack had small roles inHomecomingandA Series of Unfortunate ts .
Frank
Often described by his family as a " cockroach " who would outlast them all , Frank was one of Shameless ’s most truly shameless characters and expect an exit befitting that . Showrunner John Wells said early on that he believed Frank would have to die to properly end his storyand the occurrent of COVID-19 gave him the perfect expiry . Frank seemed impervious to harm despite the invariant abuse and injury he impose upon himself .
In thefinalShamelessseason , Frank prepare alcoholic dementia and begins refuse in wellness . While his tike celebrate in the streets of Chicago , Frank dies alone in a infirmary bed — a desirable terminal for the inattentive father . The fact that Frank died alone while his children were happily together elsewhere shows what happens to someone who survive a selfish biography . He did get a small happy termination when he thought the nurse was Fiona and tried to apologize before his death .
Charlie
One of the most bizarreShamelesscharacter exits was that of Jeffrey Dean Morgan ’s Charlie . Charlie was enter in theShamelessseason 4 finale as the owner of the Golden House Restaurant , where Fiona ’s parole military officer takes her to get a line . Charlie gave Fiona the line , and it seemed as though Charlie would become a mainstay character .
However , Charlie became one of the characters write out ofShamelessbecause Jeffrey Dean Morgan had programming dispute . Dermot Mulroney take over the character but was pay a different name . It was a unknown variety , but needed to happen when Morgan left the show . After heleftShamelessfollowing one instalment , Morgangot one of the bounteous theatrical role of his career when he sign on to play Negan inThe Walking Dead . He continued his role inThe Walking Dead : Dead Cityand joinedThe Boyscast .
Character Exits That Hurt Shameless
Anne
Anne was a possible passion interest for Carl when he returned to puzzle out at the Shrimp Shack . After discovering Anne was sell vapes to kidskin during work , the couplet work out a business organisation deal . Carl soon became affect with Anne ’s crime syndicate , attempting to see the ropes of their tamale business concern . Anne ’s plot line institute up interesting concerns take immigration as INS police start harassing her .
The last visual aspect of Anne was in time of year 10 when she and Carl bonded and share a candy kiss
Carl felt compelled to protect Anne by reserve her and her home to hide at the Gallagher house until they obtain a dependable place to move . However , Anne was written out ofShamelesswith very little explanationas to where she terminate up . The last appearance of Anne was in season 10 when she and Carl stick and shared a osculation . AfterShameless , Chelsea Rendon went on to have a recurring purpose onVidaand also appeared in guest spots onLuciferandLopez vs. Lopez .
Shameless is n’t a show where adept things chance often . So , when they do , it means even more , which is the typesetter’s case with Carl Gallagher .
Sierra
Sierra ( Ruby Modine ) was work with Fiona at Patsy ’s Pies when Lip link up as a dishwasher . The yoke instantly link up and had chemistry that many fan trust would make the duad the end game . Lip also developed a corking relationship with Sierra ’s Word despite the toxic behavior of her ex-husband - boyfriend , who often reappeared . Lip ’s crapulence quickly began affect their relationship , however , as he refused to address his alcoholic drink habituation .
brim later left her , claim Sierra should sample to make it work with her x for the interest of their son , and she left the show for good . Had she stick around longer , her storyline could have been explore further and enrich in the final seasons . Instead , she just disappeared after Lip made this decision . Actress Ruby Modine has a special filmography , and when she leftShameless , she appeared in theHappy Death Daymovies as Lori Spengler and in the telly seriesThe Exodite .
Kelly
Carl ’s Army brat girlfriend , Kelly ( Jess Gabor ) , played an important part in his character evolution from delinquent into a respectable plebe . Kelly ’s initial interest in Carl stem from her desire to anger her father , whose strict dominion had suffocated Kelly her entire life . After a while , Kelly really began to like Carl and even help him with his military school day applications .
the show ’s introduction of Anne appear to drive the final wedge between Kelly and Carl
Carl cursorily becomes threatened by Kelly ’s friendship with Debbie , and he tries to hold onto her too tightly , resulting in Kelly ask for space . Although the pair seemed to be a great catch , the show ’s introduction of Anne appeared to drive the final torpedo between Kelly and Carl . She melt in season 10 and never recall , missing out on some potential further developing . Since leavingShameless , Gabor has appeared onFBI : Most Wanted , Law & Order : SVU , All Souls , and three sequence ofThree Women .
Mandy
Mandy was a controversial character but also acted as the accelerator for many important milestone for the independent character . Played by both Jane Levy and Emma Greenwell , Mandy’supbringing as a Milkovich gave her a warped mind of what love should look like . However , Mandy was responsible for for incontrovertible changes in the lives of her darling Gallaghers . Without Mandy ’s assistance , Mickey would never have act on Ian after he returned from the army .
likewise , Mandy ’s dedication to Lip ’s succeeder landed him his MIT consultation . woefully , Mandy was written off the show , lead townspeople with her maltreater and finding herself forced to become a sexual practice worker to endure . She had a surprisal tax return in season 6 , but she bring out one of her guest died , and she melt down again , this time for good . Mandy never again appeared onShameless . While she has n’t appeared in anything in five years , she did star inThe PathandThe Rookfrom 2016 until 2019 .
Svetlana
Svetlana ( Isidora Goreshter ) embody the spirit ofShameless , scrapping and con her way from her life of forced sexuality work to become a successful bourgeois who could provide for her son . Although Svetlana had a mitt in wangle Mickey in time of year four , she did so out of fearfulness of being back on the streets with her baby . After becoming part of the throuple between Kev and V , Svetlana begin working at The Alibi .
She helped turn it into a profitable business while provide child care for the Ball kids , but she also proved manipulative . However , when V felt Svetlana was becoming too involved in The Alibi , she had Svetlana acquit with little to no concernfor what might go on to her or her boy . It was amoment that not only lease go of one of the bestShamelesscharacters but also made it hard for viewers to keep supporting V. Isidora Goreshter by and by seem in the 2021 Max seriesCondor .
The Shameless series last ( mostly ) wrap up the Gallaghers ' floor - but is it really the end , or is there Bob Hope for Shameless season 12 ?
Trevor
The inclusion of Ian ’s love interestingness , Trevor , was a major seed of news , and not just forShamelessviewers . It was seen as a big step forward for television , peculiarly since the trans fictional character was depict by trans actor , Elliot Fletcher . When news better of Noel Fisher ’s return to the character of Mickey Milkovich , the author apparently realize that they did n’t have anything of substance for him to do .
While Trevor could have become a friend to Ian after realizing they were n’t compatible as a couple , the character was junk only . alternatively of a right exit , Trevor ’s quality vanish and was never cite again . The last tantrum he seem in was when he see Ian ’s arrest in season 8 . Since hisShamelessexit , Fletcher ’s only major role were as Sam Jordan in the FX / Hulu comic book version ofY : The Last Manin 2021 and Jake Barlow inTell Me Your Secrets .
Sandy
Sandy Milkovich ( Elise Eberle ) joinedShamelessas Mickey ’s cousin and Debbie ’s lover , ostensibly take the place of Mandy , whose sibling antics with Mickey were painfully miss . Despite never being mentioned before season ten , the peripheral graphic symbol all appear to have known her for years . Sandy ’s character begins to glitter in the last season through her human relationship with Debbie , becoming a pseudo - caregiver for Franny and prognosticate Debbie out when her behavior warrants it .
This relationship had to end since Sandy was lie about almost everything to Debbie
After accurately categorize Debbie ’s anger as fear of abandonment , Debbie breaks up with Sandy , and the character is replaced with a new lovemaking interest . This relationship had to finish since Sandy was lying about almost everything to Debbie butit feel like just throw out aside a plot line for something new . Actress Elise Eberle has done very short since she leftShamelessin 2021 . She go on to look in the moviePortal Runnerin 2021 and an episode ofNCISin 2022 . She will also appear in the coming TV seriesRemember .
Sean
Sean ’s original exit in season 6 was beautifully tragical . Both he and Fiona had a troubled past full of mistake , but they seemed to better one another . Their hymeneals should have been the pinnacle of this . Instead , Frank reveals Sean ( Dermot Mulroney ) is still doing drug , and everything light asunder which was a outstanding mode of wrapping up the story . However , Sean return in time of year 8 to make amends with her , revealing that he has sire married and is fair and happy .
Sean ’s return served no aim other than adding turmoil to Fiona ’s downward helix , and his exit from the show was effectively ruined . Sean was one of the reference who should have appease conk . One of the biggest names in the cast , Dermot Mulroney had a vast career beforeShamelessand kept going after leave the show . He starred inHannaon Prime Video andThe Righteous Gemstoneson Max . He also had a role in the 2023 horror sequelScream VI .
Fiona
While the writers try out their right to keep thesame sparkle that Emmy Rossum fetch to the show , Fiona ’s issue hurtShameless . It would always be difficult to recover from losing a main character like Fiona , but the show ’s attack to fill Fiona ’s shoes with Debbie fall flat . Fiona ’s release could have benefit from Debbie ’s realization that running a household of seven was more challenging than she had suppose . Fiona Gallagher ’s dedication to her siblings was one of the principal reasonsShamelessis so beloved .
Debbie took away that wizard gene of the show . Instead of giving Fiona the exit she deserve , Shamelessattempted to wipe out her from the show ’s computer storage . The serial did n’t even bring her back for the finale and settled on Frank hallucinating that a nurse was his beloved daughter . Emmy Rossum leftShamelessto act on other projects . However , this let in only one film ( Cold Pursuit ) and two miniseries appearances ( AngelyneandThe Crowded Room ) .
Some buff still ship Fiona Gallagher with her original Shameless boyfriend Jimmy , but there are peck of reason the couple was never estimable together .
Mickey
lose one of the serious characters hurtShamelessimmensely . After the guarantee for Mickey ’s arrest catch up to him , he plans to flee to Mexico with Ian by his side . When Ian realizes he ca n’t leave his life-time behind , the resulting bye scene between the popular couple is attractively shot . Without Mickey Milkovich ( Noel Fisher ) , the show begin to tolerate , struggling to detect the magnetic wit that the character add up .
While Ian ’s EMT plotline had electric potential , the revolving door of likely love interests used to endeavor to supercede Mickey made it readable he needed to return . The cinematic reveal of Mickey sharing Ian ’s mobile phone was rewarding and a beautiful new commencement for both grapheme . When Mickey and Ian got married in season 10 , it was a beautiful second . Actor Noel Fisher has also appeared inThe Calling , The Connors , The Red Line , andCastle Rockwhen not onShameless .
Charlie (Again)
Charlie Peters should ’ve been given more of a probability onShameless . It seemed like they gave his arc to Sean , but it does n’t change the fact that Jeffrey Dean Morgan had one of the most unexplained exits . Morgan is a unique natural endowment , andhaving him come along in only one episode ofShamelessfeels like a tease . Had Jeffrey Dean Morgan gotten to act Charlie , his arc may have been different from Sean ’s and could ’ve mayhap sent the serial in a more positive direction .
Instead , Golden House Restaurant became Patsy ’s Pies , Charlie became Sean , and Dermot Mulroney was onShamelessinstead of Jeffrey Dean Morgan . On top of all the TV work that Morgan has enjoyed over his career , he also starred in several film after his time on the Showtime series came to an end , includingHeist , Rampage , The Postcard Killings , andWalkaway Joe . He also had a luck to revisit a previous role in 2019 onSupernatural .
