For the past two weeks, instead of airing Shameless season 11 episodes, Showtime has launched a companion series called Shameless Hall of Shame. This series is composed of compilation episodes, so far focusing on a specific relationship, that “feature new, original Shameless scenes juxtaposed with a retrospective look at each character’s journey over the prior 10 seasons.” The first episode, premiering on December 27, focused on the beloved relationship of Ian Gallagher (Cameron Monaghan) and Mickey Milkovich (Noel Fisher).
https://twitter.com/SHO_Shameless/status/1343783806684319745?s=20
Titled “Ian & Mickey: Daddy Issues” this episode showed the aforementioned couple having yet another domestic dispute. After Ian finds out that Ned Lishman (Harry Hamlin), a past lover of his, has died, he tells his newlywed husband Mickey that “all of his past lovers have a piece of his heart.” Mickey is dismayed and hurt by this information and the two trek around the Gallagher household recollecting their origin story.
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The two have inarguably been through a lot of nonsense since they began sneaking around in season two and due to the lighthearted developments in the last few seasons, it’s easy to forget that. However, this episode was an uncensored flashback of all of the horrors they have overcome in order to reach the semblance of normalcy we’ve seen this season; both being products of poverty and neglect, Mickey’s father holding the two at gunpoint, and their various stunts in prison.
The episode received mixed reception; it was fun albeit dripping in fan-service (as should be expected when a show with a longtime vocal and persistent fandom finally comes to an end). While some casual viewers were distressed by the absence of a more-traditional new episode, others appreciated and welcomed the companion series.
Executive producer John Wells hasn’t tried to hide the fan-service aspects of the series and said in an interview with Deadline, “This 11-year journey with the Gallagher family has been a total pleasure for us from the beginning and we’re excited to share a look back at the many trials, tribulations and laughs of those 11 seasons with our fans.”
this added 10 years to my life thanks
— maryse (@sethsgaIIavich) December 28, 2020
https://twitter.com/lorna_art/status/1343909727961538562?s=20
Last week’s episode was dedicated to Veronica Fisher (Shanola Hampton) and Kevin Ball (Steve Howey). In “Kev & V: God Doesn’t Give With Both Hands” the couple is seen balancing the changes in their work/life dynamic brought on by their twin’s online schooling and the current, long-lasting pandemic.
After being contacted by their daughters’ teacher, they discover that “Amy is smart, and Gemma is a dumbass.” While trying to figure out how they can better supervise Gemma while she’s in her Zoom classes, the two begin to bicker over who is responsible for their daughter being unintelligent thus launching into the “best of” episode. It comes to a happy halt once they realize that Gemma may not be book-smart but has acquired other skills such as applying makeup, as taught by YouTube makeup tutorials.
Relive 10 seasons of relationship goals with Kev & V's #Shameless Hall of Shame, this Sunday on @Showtime. pic.twitter.com/W6WLryLMCG
— Shameless on Showtime (@SHO_Shameless) December 31, 2020
Read more: Shameless Recap: The Gallaghers Are Back And We’re Excited
I found these episodes to be quite charming, especially as a long-time watcher of Shameless. It is a fun and efficient way to wrap up the series, and it may successfully help reignite their fandom after the show’s culmination. After revisiting these old storylines, many feel inclined to go back and rewatch their favourite episodes as they are reminded of the character development that has been wrung out of this show.
There’s no good news insight for those who are not a fan of the Hall of Shame series. While the first two are out of the way, Showtime has ordered six episodes of the series, all of which will be intertwined into the remainder of the 11th and final season of Shameless. Although, all Shameless viewers are excited as the expected holiday hiatus comes to an end and the titular series will resume with episode four this Sunday, January 10th.
Episode three, “Lip (& Tami): Once Upon a Phillip Gallagher,” of Shameless Hall of Shame premieres on January 24th and will focus on Lip Gallagher (Jeremy Allen White). Don’t forget to read our recap of the latest episode of Shameless before the series resumes: Shameless Season 11 Episode 3 Recap: Frances Francis Franny Frank.
What do you make of this Shameless recap? Have you been watching the final season of Shameless? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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