Friday, March 15, 2019

What I’m Watching: Shameless (Season Finale)


Shameless: Season 9, Episode 14 “Found” (B+)

It’s been a long road to this point, especially considering the early timing of Emmy Rossum’s announcement, but I’m all for how she exited this show. It was also nice to see Cameron Monaghan again as Ian, since I had read that the last time we saw him was actually his final appearance on the show. Communing with Ian, someone else who has found a way to separate from the Gallagher family, was an important step before she left town as her family was planning a goodbye party, boarding a plane for the very first time to get the hell out of this life. It’s been a formidable nine years on this show for Rossum, and while I know it’s impossible, I’d love to see her finally get the Emmy recognition she deserves. Instead, it will likely be just William H. Macy, whose Frank has had a wild year, now confined to the couch with necessary sponge baths given to him not by his first choice. He does do great work, but how can you watch a show like this and not notice the incredible contributions of the entire cast, including Jeremy Allen White as Lip, Emma Kenney as Debs, Ethan Cutkosky as Carl, and, in this episode especially, Christian Isaiah as Liam? I’m also very happy with how the Kelly plotline progressed, with her responding angrily to Debs and then going after Carl to force him not to throw away his future. I didn’t expect that, and it’s good to see someone who is truly committed to one of the Gallaghers. Things with Tami might be a bit rockier, but they might work out too. The idea of Kev trying to bill himself as a Bat Mitzvah Jesus is indeed appealing. This has been a great season as always, and while I might think that some shows don’t need to be renewed for a tenth season, this one definitely deserves as much as those behind it want to see.

Season grade: A-
Season MVP: Emmy Rossum as Fiona

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