The eleventh and final season of Shameless, an American comedy-drama television series based on the British series of the same name by Paul Abbott, premiered on Showtime on December 6, 2020. Showtime announced the series' final season renewal on January 13, 2020.
Plot
After a decade of chaos, the Gallaghers begin to face serious and dire economic struggles brought on by the COVID-19 Pandemic which leads to life-altering changes not only to their personal lives, but their professional lives as well that finds themselves considering leaving the South Side and maybe even Chicago. Carl becomes a cop, Fiona doesn't come back, Debbie gets into a happy relationship, Ian moves to the westside in a luxury side condo with Mickey, Lip sells the Gallagher house for 75k$, Liam moves in with Lip, Frank dies from alcoholic dementia, Kevin and Veronica have finally made their relationship legally binding.
Cast and characters
Main
William H. Macy as Frank Gallagher
Jeremy Allen White as Philip "Lip" Gallagher
Ethan Cutkosky as Carl Gallagher
Shanola Hampton as Veronica Fisher
Steve Howey as Kevin "Kev" Ball
Emma Kenney as Deborah "Debbie" Gallagher
Cameron Monaghan as Ian Gallagher
Noel Fisher as Mickey Milkovich
Christian Isaiah as Liam Gallagher
Kate Miner as Tami Tamietti
Recurring
Paris Newton as Franny Gallagher
Brooklyn Regans as Gemma
London Regans as Amy
Michael Patrick McGill as Tommy
Jim Hoffmaster as Kermit
Elise Eberle as Sandy Milkovich
Joshua Malina as Arthur Tipping
Toks Olagundoye as Leesie Janes
Scott Michael Campbell as Brad
Dennis Cockrum as Terry Milkovich
Orson Ford as Timmy Milkovich
Steve Luna as Joey Milkovich
Jesse Saler as Sammy Milkovich
Chelsea Alden as Tish
Paula Andrea Placido as Chris
Vanessa Bell Calloway as Carol Fisher
Kimleigh Smith as Sgt. Stamps
Patrick Sabongui as Martin
Shakira Barrera as Heidi Cronch
Guest
Gary Busey as Frank's Father (Hall of Shame)
Dan Lauria as Maurice "Mo" White (Hall of Shame)
Melissa Paladino as Cami Tamietti
Lou Taylor Pucci as Lou Milkovich
Tara Buck as Letty
James Earl as Detective Hightower
David Clayton Rogers as Detective Young
Richard Portnow as Johnny Boxcars
Virginia Kull as Nancy Lamper
Crystal Coney as Claire Arnett
Episodes
Production
In January 2020, the series was renewed for its eleventh and final season to consist of 12 episodes and was scheduled to premiere in summer 2020. Filming and the premiere date were pushed back due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and filming instead began in September 2020.
On December 14, 2020, Showtime announced a six-episode limited series retrospective that would air during season 11 called Shameless Hall of Shame; it contains new and original Shameless scenes juxtaposed with a retrospective look at each character's journey during the prior 10 seasons:
Episode 1: Ian & Mickey: Daddy Issues (aired December 27, 2020)
Episode 2: Kev & V: God Doesn't Give with Both Hands (aired January 3, 2021)
Episode 3: Lip: Once Upon a Phillip Gallagher (aired January 17, 2021)
Episode 4: Debbie, Carl & Liam: They Grow Up So Fast (aired January 24, 2021)
Episode 5: Fiona: Go Fiona On Them (aired February 21, 2021)
Episode 6: Frank: Ghosts of Gallagher Past (aired February 28, 2021)
Reception
Critical response
The eleventh season of Shameless has received average reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the season has a 70% approval rating with an average score of 5.10 out of 10 based on 10 reviews.