After giving Showtime more than a decade of content, Shameless finally left the airwaves following an impressive eleven seasons. Throughout the years, the Gallagher family provided viewers with an incalculable number of laughs, as well as many tearful and heartbreaking moments. Exploring themes like absentee parenting, mental illness, alcoholism, family and poverty (to name a few,) the Gallagher kids were handed a raw deal from the start.

As each season explored problems and tragedies both old and new, the Gallaghers weathered every storm that came their way. Sometimes it was impossible to imagine how they might survive, but they always found a way. After 10 years and 11 seasons, the series finally came to a close in April 2021. Fans have their favorite episodes and seasons, and when it comes to ranking them, they don't always fall in chronological order.

Updated by Fawzia Khan on March 7th, 2024: Shameless continues to be an immensely loved show, with an ensemble cast that was engaging and hilarious at the same time. At eleven seasons, the show was one of the longest-running dramas that managed to stay relevant and funny throughout. Even when main characters like Fiona exited the show, others like Lip and Liam kept the show going. This list has been updated with new formatting and further informaton about the ranking of all seasons of Shameless.

11 Season 8 Remains Shameless's Greatest Blunder

To this day, Season 8 of Shameless remains the show's greatest blunder. Several storylines fell flat because they weren't adequately fleshed out, and the storytelling lacked depth in many aspects. Because of this shallowness, Season 8 felt like Part 1 of Season 9. Further, most storylines were left unfinished and didn't wrap up until much later in the show.

Shameless Season 8 Rating Scores

• Rotten Tomatoes: 100%
• Metacritic: 3.9

The entire season felt messy and lacked a clear focus. Thankfully, even the worst seasons of Shameless all have at least one redeemable aspect. Lip's storyline remained as compelling as the previous season, as he tried to deal with alcohol addiction and reunite with Sierra. Inadequate storylines and weak character arcs stained the narrative of Season 8, landing it at the bottom of the rankings.

10 Season 10 Had To Move On Without Fiona

Season 10 isn't one of the best seasons of Shameless, partly because it had to move on without its original lead character, Fiona. Fiona was a character who changed immensely on Shameless, but the show also changed with her. As such, there was a lot of pressure on the show's creator and writers to maintain narrative quality without sacrificing character development, and this season was a big adjustment for fans to get used to.

Shameless Season 10 Rating Scores

• Rotten Tomatoes: 20%
• Metacritic: NA

Rather than try and have another member of the Gallaghers replace Fiona as the head of the house, Shameless worked to showcase why there could never be a "new Fiona." Still, Season 10 was a big adjustment for fans to get used to and not an entirely memorable one at that. At least viewers got to see Ian and Mickey finally tie the knot, but the low Rotten Tomatoes score proved how disappointing the season was.

9 Season 9 Was a Mixed Bag and Uneven at Best

Shameless tried to compact several big ideas and themes into Season 9. This outsized season was a mixed bag and uneven at its best. On the one hand, Season 9 gave viewers Emmy Rossum's final episodes as Fiona, with the entire arc building toward her last scenes. It unsuccessfully tried to compress several big ideas and themes that didn't really work.

Shameless Season 9 Rating Scores

• Rotten Tomatoes: 73%
• Metacritic: 4.9

There was also a whole subplot satirizing the political climate of the time and a separate storyline where Ian dubbed himself Gay Jesus and developed a cult-like following. Additionally, Season 9 marked the show's 100th episode, which it celebrated with an especially zany chapter. However, the sheer scope of the story arcs was just a tad too much for viewers to track.

8 Season 5 Returned Shameless To the Lighthearted Side

After Shameless' fourth season proved to be its darkest, the fifth season seemed to return to the lighthearted side of things. This season accentuated an influx of wackier storylines and a wild ending featuring a Loony Tunes-style chase between Sammi and Mickey. Sammi's character was new to the scene, but not one who necessarily added value to the show. Fans found her annoying, but the season had other problems.

Shameless Season 5 Rating Scores

• Rotten Tomatoes: 92%
• Metacritic: 5.6

Season 5 discarded several story arcs as quickly as they began, like Frank's shortlived romance with a cancer-stricken doctor. Similarly, Fiona tied the knot with her guitarist boyfriend just one week after meeting him. Some fans argued these truncated storylines made the season feel rushed. Some of them were so outlandish that it took viewers out of the show very quickly. Regardless, Season 5 offered a show-stealing performance from Cameron Monaghan.

7 Season 11 Was the Most Challenging To Film for the Crew

Season 11 was the most challenging season to film for those involved behind the scenes. The novel coronavirus pandemic forced a premature shooting delay three days before the show's scheduled start date. Showrunner John Wells admitted to The Hollywood Reporter that his team had to rewrite "the first six of seven episodes... on the fly."

Shameless Season 11 Rating Scores

• Rotten Tomatoes: 70%
• Metacritic: NA

Even worse, they had to do these rewrites over Zoom. There's no telling how this affected the final episodes. Given its numerous hurdles and setbacks, the final season was still watchable even downright enjoyable at times. The Gallagher family got a fitting goodbye, but fans were disappointed that Fiona wasn't even mentioned in Frank's letter, let alone a physical part of the finale.

6 Season 6 Ends On a High, Memorable Note

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For many viewers, Season 6 is best remembered for Frank ruining Fiona's latest chance at marriage. Frank changed a lot from the first to last season, but he was at his worst in this one. However, this season becomes more of a blur when it comes to recalling the other major events that happened. While the season ends on a high, memorable note during its finale, as a whole, it could have been more memorable.

Shameless Season 6 Rating Scores

• Rotten Tomatoes: 100%
• Metacritic: 5.3

Another highlight from Season 6 is showcasing Lip's breaking point. His deteriorating relationship and work struggles push him deeper into alcoholism, turning him into a spitting image of his old man. Even so, Shameless didn't adequately address this story arc until the following season. This season was Fiona-heavy, which is always a delight, and the Rotten Tomatoes score reflects how her devastating arc was tragic, but extremely watchable.

5 Season 1 Went on To Influence Numerous Shows

In 2011, there was no other show like Shameless on either premium or network television. Shortly after its pilot episode aired, it felt as if many TV series in America attempted to duplicate its characters' lewdness and gray morality — qualities the show borrowed from the original UK version of Shameless. The very first episode had viewers hooked.

Shameless Season 1 Rating Scores

• Rotten Tomatoes: 71%
• Metacritic: 8.6, 66

Ten years later, it's easy to see why audiences were so captivated by the series early on. Much of what aired in 2011 seems to have held up strongly a decade later. Today, countless series have adopted many of Shameless's attributes, but few managed to reach the show's impressive heights. It managed to portray the vicious cycle of poverty that keeps people trapped, but also maintained a special, dark sense of humor that was unique to the show.

4 Season 3 Is Arguably The Most Dramatic and Heart-Wrenching Shameless Season

Shameless, Season 3 may be the series' most dramatic and heart-wrenching season. The season began heavy, with Frank calling Child Protective Services on his family after they kicked him out of the house. This ousting was a turning point for Frank, as he went from a jolly father figure to a dangerously toxic parent. The stakes were higher, which kept fans gripped.

Shameless Season 3 Rating Scores

• Rotten Tomatoes: 92%
• Metacritic: 8.7

Season 3 also included several somber and tragic moments, like when Terry beats up Mickey and Ian upon discovering them having sex. Additionally, Karen became physically disabled after getting hit by a car, which was planned by Mandy. This darkness made the season hard to watch, yet it's hard to look away from the TV screen. Shameless was at its grimmest in this outing.

3 Season 2 Expanded on Open Storylines and Introduced New Characters

The sophomore season of Shameless had the unenviable task of following a debut season that exceeded all hopes and expectations. Shameless met these expectations by expanding on open storylines from the previous season and introducing memorable characters like Jody and Grammy. Shameless Season 2 drew out explosive reactions from its main characters: Lip had to deal with Karen's pregnancy by another man, Fiona learns not to be a mistress the hard way, and Frank has to juggle his mother and Monica's return.

Shameless Season 2 Rating Scores

• Rotten Tomatoes: 100%
• Metacritic: 8.4, 76

In addition to delivering laughs, Season 2 heightened the morbid drama and highlighted just how dreary Shameless could be. For example, Monica's story arc established a new dramatic standard for the series and proved an excellent way for Shameless to tug at the audience's heartstrings.

2 Season 7 Was a Significant Turning Point for the Gallagher Family

While the previous Shameless season focused on the Gallaghers drifting apart, Season 7 was a significant positive turning point for the family. All the Gallaghers ended the sixth season in a dark place — Frank abandoned, Fiona alone at the altar, and Lip living with alcoholism. Almost all of them get out of their situations in twisted ways, but there is some progress.

Shameless Season 7 Rating Scores

• Rotten Tomatoes: 88%
• Metacritic: 7.7

The seventh season went out of its way to give everyone a fresh start while seeking some form of redemption. The finale ended with the family attempting to reconcile their futures together. It's a robust conclusion that closed major storylines dating back to the first season. One of the best Shameless seasons, Season 7 arguably offered a satisfying ending to multiple character arcs, even if it broke many hearts.

1 Season 4 Is Easily the Bleakest in Shameless's Canon

In its first four seasons, Shameless established a steady balance between real-world drama and lighthearted dark comedy. Still, the fourth season was easily the show's bleakest. Season 4 began with a self-destructive Fiona landing herself in jail for cocaine. Her baby brother Liam was later hospitalized after discovering her stash, which got her into even hotter water. Numerous destructive events forced the Gallaghers to evolve and adapt.

Shameless Season 4 Rating Scores

• Rotten Tomatoes: 100%
• Metacritic: 8.9

However, Liam's life wasn't the only one in danger in Season 4 — Frank nearly died from a bad liver. Meanwhile, Mickey grappled with coming out, Ian struggled with his bipolar disorder and Mandy sought to separate herself from an abusive relationship. With emotional depth, these plotlines dug deeper into every Gallagher and Milkovich in a way that hadn't been done before. These events made Season 4 the best Shameless season.