Shameless had an impressive run on Showtime<\/a> from 2011 to 2021.<\/p>\n For 11 seasons, the comedy-drama charted the trials and tribulations of the bombastic Gallagher family and those in their orbit. <\/p>\n Like many series, it has had a second life in streaming, thanks to a lucrative Netflix deal that brought it to homes around the globe. <\/p>\n It\u2019s not too surprising that the show resonated during its initial run and beyond. <\/p>\n For the most part, Shameless<\/a> tackled issues plaguing people on low incomes and the lengths they go to make ends meet.<\/p>\n As a remake of the hit British series of the same name, it broke free from the original by taking the characters markedly different directions. <\/p>\n Initially, concerns were that it was too similar to its British counterpart, leading to questions about its long-term viability.<\/p>\n But Shameless excelled because it was unafraid to tackle storylines other series wouldn\u2019t touch with a barge pole. <\/p>\n While I loved Shameless, I\u2019m not blind to the fact that it had many lulls in the storytelling department throughout its run. <\/p>\n Had the series ended with Season 8, or at a push, Season 9, I would have looked back on it much more fondly because by the end, it was all about provoking a reaction from viewers because of the outlandish happenings on-screen. <\/p>\n I imagine Emmy Rossum was glad to be away from it before the final two seasons because they deviated so significantly from what the show was about in the first place.<\/p>\n Any long-running show runs the risk of veering too far off course, but Shameless had little to say in its latter seasons. <\/p>\n The series was primarily held together by its incredible ensemble, who got pitiful material that was a 180 from what they would have gotten in the earlier seasons.<\/p>\n Shameless Season 11<\/a> ended without closure for any of the characters. The consensus was that the creatives wanted us viewers to believe that life goes on for the Gallaghers and their friends.<\/p>\n As someone who watched it for a decade, I think it was more of a slap in the face because Showtime promoted the series\u2019 ending like crazy and implied that the stories for the characters would come full circle.<\/p>\n It was evident that the creatives felt there was still life in the show and weren\u2019t writing it like it was the end, perhaps holding out for a revival down the line.<\/p>\n Showtime has released new iterations of its legacy series, including Dexter and The L Word, which suggests that another show set in the Shameless universe is likely.<\/p>\n Given the series\u2019s success on streaming, it\u2019s clear there is still an audience for the show, but what could a new entry realistically cover that the original didn\u2019t? <\/p>\n The series finale also killed Frank Gallagher (William H. Macy). There\u2019s a case for watching how the family would react in his absence.<\/p>\n But when you think about how absent he\u2019s been in their lives throughout the years, there isn\u2019t much to be mined from that. <\/p>\n Frank should have been written out far earlier because, by the end, the character was going in the same circles, and there was nothing compelling for him to do.<\/p>\n Then there\u2019s the cast. Many of them, such as Emmy and Jeremy Allen White, probably wouldn\u2019t be interested in an encore.<\/p>\n Since her departure, Emmy has moved on, while Jeremy is receiving critical acclaim for his work on The Bear.<\/p>\n Then there\u2019s Shanola Hampton, currently headlining NBC\u2019s addictive drama Found. The cast of Shameless was outstanding, but I\u2019m enjoying watching them spread their wings elsewhere.<\/p>\n Many TV shows have come back and excelled with reboots, but Shameless doesn\u2019t strike me as a show that should be considered for a spinoff.<\/p>\n If a reboot featuring an entirely new cast of characters in a different location were possible, I\u2019d be moderately intrigued.<\/p>\n What\u2019s your take on a future for Shameless, TV Fanatics?<\/p>\n Do you think it\u2019s worth bringing the series back in any capacity? <\/p>\n Hit the comments. <\/p>\n \t\t\t<\/p>\n Watch Shameless Online<\/p>\n \t\t\t TV Fanatic is searching for passionate contributors to share their voices across various article types. Think you have what it takes to be a TV Fanatic?\u00a0Click here<\/a>\u00a0for more information and next steps.<\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nShameless Tackled Many Controversial Storylines<\/h2>\n
Shameless Ran Out of Gas Long Before Its Finale<\/h2>\n
The Cast Remains In Demand<\/h2>\n
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