Shameless- is exactly what it says in the title! (Shameless)

Member Name: sparkymarky1973

Product:	Shameless
Date:	09/04/09 (102 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great storylines and brilliant characters which surely bear no semblance to real life...or do they?

Disadvantages: Sometimes doesn't deal with important issues seriously enough but is very tongue-in-cheek

Shameless is a long-running staple of the Channel 4 schedules now on it's sixth series and showing no sign of drawing to a conclusion as yet. Often described as shocking, controversial and overly explicit, it centres around the Gallagher family in the first instance, who live on the rundown Chatsworth Estate, and the exploits of their friends and neighbours who are equally as, how can I put it, a litttle bit scummy. Of course I mean this in no way disrespectfully and I do not consider myself to be a snob, but these are the sort of families who give Council Estates and benefit receivers the reputation they have and though it is certainly a stereotype and not at all what most people on these estates are like, certainly there are those who actually live to these extremes!

Devised by Paul Abbot, who created the critically acclaimed drama, Clocking Off, the show hs seen something of a change in regular cast in the last few years, the show notably helped James McAvoy launch his career, with some long-term characters moving on and making way for a new generation of pikeys. One of these new generations that have become a big part of the storylines in the last two series' are the MacGuire family who live next door to the Gallaghers. A family of old school gangsters, the family comprises of inept brothers Shane and Mickey, ex-felon and elder brother Jamie, dad Paddy and mother Mimi and not forgetting Mandy the only daughter who lives above the local pub, The Jockey, with her young daughter, Katie.

Shameless is not afraid to tackle sensitive subjects and though it has often been accussed of glossing over some of them (teenage pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, benefit fraud, infedelity and the risks of medical drug trials) lately one of the biggest and most hard-hitting storylines concerns Paddy MacGuire; a fairly big-time crime baron in Chatsworth who, in recent episodes, has been forced to take Heroin leading to him having to deal with the harsh realities and consequences of the drugs he himself peddles to others. The scenes that Shameless fans have witnessed in recent weeks are among some of the most moving and harrowing that they have ever come to watch. Certainly it has shown the harsh reality and grittiness of hard drug use that often gets glorified in films and drama despite attempts to the contrary. Does this show Shameless as a show that has matured? I think so. Where some shows start to lose focus when familiar characters begin to depart in droves, so with Shameless this has simply allowed new, fresh blood to emerge and inject the show with new life, gathering new fans.

Of course, what would the show be without Frank Gallagher; the father of the Gallagher family and the worst role model a family could ever have. Played by David Threfall to pure perfection, the character is complete genius; a contradiction in terms who always seems to pull through just when you expect him to least before reverting back to his alcholic, drug addled waste of a life just when you think he has turned a corner and developed some sense of responsibility. How he has kept his family together is often more down to the skill and ingenuity of his extensive brood of offspring than to anything he himself has achieved- daughter Debbie practically runs the house now both his wives have upped and left him in quick succession. Without Frank, the show would be finished- he is the glue that pulls everything else all together. Quite ironic really when you realise what a waste of space he actually is though deep down his intentions and motives are pure- he just cannot be arsed to do anything about his growing burden of responsibility. Charity begins at home, as I'm sure Frank would tell you himself as educated and knowledgable as he is when not in a substance induced stupor, and there is no bigger charity than oneself. Yes, there is little doubt that Frank is priceless and makes the show what it is with his foresightful insights into society, mankind and the political state of the country often disguised as drunken rants...

If you have never caught this show before, you should really check it out as it is one of the best British comedy dramas ever made and can be dipped in and out without any prior knowledge of the characters. Series 1-5 are all available as well on DVD, some of them quite cheap now, so it has never been a better time to catch up on what you have missed!!

Summary: Make Poverty history- cheaper drugs now!!!! Scatter...partyyyyyy