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The Best Episodes of Shameless

Every episode of Shameless ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Shameless!

Binge this in 4d 9h•Peaking at 9.0/10

The story of a young group of siblings pretty much abandoned by their parents, surviving by their wits - and humor - on a rough Manchester council estate. Whilst they won't admit it, they need

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    Shameless Season 1 Episode 4 - Episode 4
    9.0/10(282 votes)

    #1 - Episode 4

    S1:E4

    The Gallaghers have a big problem on their hands when a local child goes missing from a party. Debbie steals/kidnaps a baby from the estate. However, the local residents immediatly think that the kid has been kidnapped by a pervert not least because Frank thinks he saw one outside the house of the missing girl. The race is on to find the girl while the Gallaghers, Veronica & Kev come up with a madcap scheme to get the baby back. It looks set for disaster but somehow they manage to get it off. The baby is returned and Debbie is flooded with money and praise by the Police little knowing she actually kidnapped the kid in the first place. Meanwhile after all the excitement Karen Jackson seduces Frank and they pair embark on a dangerous and likely disasterious affair.

    Director:Mark Mylod
    Writer:Paul Abbott

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  2. Shameless Season 1 Episode 7 - Episode 7
    9.0/10(287 votes)

    #2 - Episode 7

    S1:E7

    The balifs and Mr Wilson are still after Frank. And Frank seems to be more interested in spending time with his ex-wife, Monica, than dealing with his spiraling debts. However, much to Frank's annoyance Norma, Monica's lesbian partner, gives Frank a good idea, to fake his own death! Meanwhile Maggie realises that Frank isn't as interested in her as she hoped. When Anthony comes around to talk about Fiona she accidentally gets Chilli in her eyes and staggers out into the Garden! The first time she has been out in five years! Tony has finally found the perfect way to get rid of Steve and get with Fiona for he has stumbled across Steve's car stealing scam. The balifs aren't so convinced that Frank is dead until one of them attacks Frank in his coffin, in front of the family! When Frank doesn't stir the balif finally realises that Frank is really dead, and how sick his violent outburst/attack seemed. At Frank's wake Frank bursts out of the coffin and a party starts. Maggie turns up to ever

    Director:Dearbhla Walsh
    Writer:Paul Abbott

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  3. Shameless Season 2 Episode 5 - Episode 5
    9.0/10(198 votes)

    #3 - Episode 5

    S2:E5

    Sheila asks Lip to water the plants for a neighbour who's away on holiday, but the house is burgled and Lip is arrested by a bent copper, stitched up and charged. Frank goes to the police station and makes matters a lot worse.

    Director:Dearbhla Walsh
    Writer:Phil Nodding

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  4. Shameless Season 2 Episode 10 - Episode 10
    9.0/10(200 votes)

    #4 - Episode 10

    S2:E10

    The local elections are underway and Kash is running to be Chatsworth's councillor against dirty-dealing Bernie Creme. However, it turns out that Bernie is just a racist who exposes himself to the entire pub and loses all his supporters. Lillian's husband is involved in a tragic accident which, at first, appears to be caused by Tony and Stan's Police van. But it later turns out that moments before he was hit by the van he was shot in the head. And it seems he was a junkie, according to the Police. Lillian is dashed off down the Police station to be interviewed about her late husband while Carol realises who shot him-Carl! Tony and Stan quickly figure out it was Carl as well due to CCTV footage. The family (bar Fiona who doesn't know) rallies behind Carl and just about manage to get him off the hook. Frank meanwhile decides to take the deadman's indentiy to get his benifits and then tries to kill his pet dog through various methods.

    Director:Dearbhla Walsh
    Writer:Paul Abbott

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  5. Shameless Season 2 Episode 4 - Episode 4
    8.5/10(229 votes)

    #5 - Episode 4

    S2:E4

    Plans are afoot for Steve and Fiona's upcoming wedding. They pay a visit to the local vicar who eventually agrees to let them marry in the church but only after Steve agrees to pay a lot of money. Then disaster strikes when his car is stolen outside the church. Steve begins to panic and calls Tony. However, unknown to Steve Tony has actually stolen it for a joke but decides to look inside the car and finds a lot of money and drugs. Veronica becomes convinces her mother is going crazy when she continues to talk to her dog. Marty packs her off on a mystery cruise and then takes the dog to have an operation to loose its voice! Steve persaudes Tony to hand over the car. Steve drops the car off with some drug dealers but Tony and Stan turn up. Things turn nasty when a gun is pulled and then fired. One of the drug dealers is killed and the other one escapes but is quickly captured. A warrant is issued for Steve's arrest and he has to flee the estate.

    Director:Dearbhla Walsh
    Writer:Paul Abbott

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  6. Shameless Season 2 Episode 6 - Episode 6
    8.5/10(189 votes)

    #6 - Episode 6

    S2:E6

    Lip is sleeping with Mandy while she pretends to be Ian's girlfriend to hide the fact that he's gay. However, after Mandy falls pregnant with Lip's baby everyone thinks Ian's the dad and the Maguires welcome him to the family - with the threat of castration if he doesn't marry her. Fiona gets mugged on her way home from a drunken night out.

    Director:Dearbhla Walsh
    Writer:Daniel Brocklehurst

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of Shameless

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  7. Shameless Season 8 Episode 17 - Episode 17
    8.5/10(75 votes)

    #7 - Episode 17

    S8:E17

    A new gang has rolled into Chatsworth with an unlikely mission - to save the souls of the community.

    Director:Paul Unwin
    Writer:Tom Higgins

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  8. Shameless Season 9 Episode 4 - Episode 4
    8.5/10(75 votes)

    #8 - Episode 4

    S9:E4

    Micky ends up becoming the victim of a gay bashing, leaving him mentally and physically scarred whilst enjoying a night out with the boys. Carl falls for Clem on the night out. Aidan has a new group of older friends, headed by gang leader Frasier Kane. Events end up spiraling out of control one evening on the estate and Aidan is faced with a life-changing decision. Ruby Hepburn shows up on the estate and is revealed as being Mimi's niece.

    Director:Luke Watson
    Writers:Ed McCardie, Jonathan Harvey

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  9. Shameless Season 9 Episode 5 - Episode 5
    8.5/10(71 votes)

    #9 - Episode 5

    S9:E5

    Somebody from Jamie's past arrives on the estate, looking for a favour to be returned. D.S. Brooks, is currently suspended pending some serious charges and Jamie doesn't know if he can go through with what he wants and the safety of his family ends up being in the balance. Aidan skips school after he is haunted with nightmares about his doing nothing to stop Frasier attacking his school teacher. After Frasier turns his attention to Letitia, Aidan ends up feeling like he has no choice but to act. Micky has to deal with a life-changing decision after a debt collection goes badly wrong.

    Director:Andrew McDonnell
    Writer:Jimmy Dowdall

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  10. Shameless Season 9 Episode 9 - Episode 9
    8.5/10(71 votes)

    #10 - Episode 9

    S9:E9

    When Chesney arrives home from hospital, he finds his cousin Toof waiting there for him. After he reveals his plan to close the shop and take Chesney back to Bradford, Chesney refuses to agree to it. Chesney decides that it is time for him to strike out on his own and live life to the full.

    Director:Paul Cotter
    Writer:Tom Higgins

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  11. Shameless Season 9 Episode 10 - Episode 10
    8.5/10(73 votes)

    #11 - Episode 10

    S9:E10

    Jamie and Shane come up with a plan to steal a stash of scratch cards from the Lottery rooms in Manchester. Frank ends up being recruited along with Aidan and Ruby but things don't go to plan. Letitia and her friends form a girl group. Karen is determined to prove to Mimi that she can handle the Maguire business in Jamie's absence.

    Director:Justin Molotnikov
    Writers:Ed McCardie, Jonathan Harvey

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  12. Shameless Season 11 Episode 14 - Episode 14
    8.5/10(107 votes)

    #12 - Episode 14

    S11:E14

    After spending months in jail, Frank returns to Chatsworth hoping for a welcome home party. However, he discovers Monica has took up residency at the Gallaghers - and is expecting his tenth child, and the return of a few faces from his past heralds the end of an era. Meanwhile, it's business as usual at Chesco's, as an old face re-instates herself.

    Director:David Threlfall
    Writer:Jack Lothian

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  13. Shameless Season 1 Episode 3 - Episode 3
    8.0/10(296 votes)

    #13 - Episode 3

    S1:E3

    Kev accidentally proposes to Veronica, and although he soon admits he's still legally married to Roxy, they decide to go ahead with a fake ceremony anyway in order to claim a small inheritance from Veronica's father.

    Director:Jonny Campbell
    Writer:Daniel Brocklehurst

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  14. Shameless Season 1 Episode 6 - Episode 6
    8.0/10(262 votes)

    #14 - Episode 6

    S1:E6

    Frank brings down the power of the social services on his family in a failed attempt to extract money from Monica.

    Director:Dearbhla Walsh
    Writer:Paul Abbott

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  15. Shameless Season 2 Episode 1 - Episode 1
    8.0/10(218 votes)

    #15 - Episode 1

    S2:E1

    Frank is forced to take a job as a window cleaner when his father arrives. But is the window cleaning round really the best form of employment for Frank? Meanwhile Karen eyes up Kev down the pub.

    Director:David Evans
    Writer:Paul Abbott

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  16. Shameless Season 2 Episode 2 - Episode 2
    8.0/10(204 votes)

    #16 - Episode 2

    S2:E2

    Frank takes a call while partying at Kev and Veronica's, but only much later does he pass on the message that social services are coming to discuss fostering. After a mad clean up, the social worker arrives with a child in tow. Next morning, the boy collapses at breakfast. After an anxious rush to hospital, it is found that he is suffering from nothing more life-threatening than the digestion of last night's leftover hash cake.

    Director:Peter Lydon
    Writer:Daniel Brocklehurst

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  17. Shameless Season 2 Episode 7 - Episode 7
    8.0/10(167 votes)

    #17 - Episode 7

    S2:E7

    Ladies Night at the Jockey proves to be more trouble than its worth. For one thing its full of blokes which only serves to anger Jez. Fiona eyes up footballer Ryan but when she wakes up the next morning it isn't Ryan who is lying next to her. Instead its the less-than-desirable Joey Dawson. Fiona decides to take contraception but before she can actually take them Liam swallows them and then Marty traps Joey's arm in a door. At the hospital they discover that Joey's arm is broken but Liam is fine and there will be no ill effects. A follow up visit from social services isn't as simple for the Gallagher family. The inspector is Katrina a woman who went to school with Fiona and who's life was apparently hell because of Fiona dubbing her "Sperm Whale". But the family pass the visit but Katrina reveals she's engaded-to Joey Dawson. At the Jockey Joey confesses he loves Fiona while Ryan lets slip to Katrina that Fiona and Joey were all over each other the night before.

    Director:David Evans
    Writer:Amanda Coe

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  18. Shameless Season 2 Episode 8 - Episode 8
    8.0/10(158 votes)

    #18 - Episode 8

    S2:E8

    After walking out of her job at the nursery, Fiona confesses to Veronica that she is pregnant by Craig and hasn't told him. Frank falls foul of two shifty accident claims salesmen after being hit in the mouth by Kash's shop door. Kash and Yvonne cannot afford to pay out and are forced to close the shop.

    Director:David Evans
    Writer:John Griffin

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  19. Shameless Season 2 Episode 9 - Episode 9
    8.0/10(169 votes)

    #19 - Episode 9

    S2:E9

    Debbie's on a mission to help Marty who has an impending court appearance for a breach of the peace. Fiona is suffering from morning sickness, so Craig is planning a surprise trip to Wales to relax. Craig's wife, Sue, is jealous of his new relationship and seeks a showdown at the Gallaghers' house.

    Director:Dearbhla Walsh
    Writer:Daniel Brocklehurst

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  20. Shameless Season 5 Episode 1 - Episode 1
    8.0/10(130 votes)

    #20 - Episode 1

    S5:E1

    An emergency visit to the hospital results in Frank receiving devastating news, prompting him to embark on an orgy of drink and drug-fuelled mayhem, which culminates in a bizarre, drug-induced encounter with his younger self. Elsewhere, Lillian comes up with a surprising way to make money, and Lip's shady past catches up with him and leads to a no-holds-barred fight in The Jockey, with shocking consequences.

    Director:David Threlfall
    Writer:Ed McCardie

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  21. Shameless Season 5 Episode 5 - Episode 5
    8.0/10(119 votes)

    #21 - Episode 5

    S5:E5

    With the local council doling out money to the new young-mayor, Debbie sees a chance to buy hens and potatoes and give Chatsworth free egg and chips. Meanwhile, Shane falls for his perfect woman and it looks like she's fallen for him but when she takes him back to her place, the spare room at Lillian's; Shane's in for a bit of a surprise. Also, Yvonne has trouble with some yobs in the shop and things get a bit heated has she finally met her natch? And,when Stan runs down an old lady, he confides to Tom and Carrie that he should be wearing spectacles. To save his job, Carrie takes the rap, but when the old lady decides to sue, it might be Carrie who is going to get fired.

    Director:Lawrence Till
    Writer:Malcolm Campbell

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  22. Shameless Season 5 Episode 7 - Episode 7
    8.0/10(111 votes)

    #22 - Episode 7

    S5:E7

    When there is a gas leak at the Gallaghers along comes a sexy fireman named Sean. He gets the attention of Ian and Mandy but which one of them will win the race to get the Sean into bed? Also, Carl finds himself in a risky situation.

    Director:Fraser Macdonald
    Writer:Stephen Russell

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  23. Shameless Season 5 Episode 11 - Episode 11
    8.0/10(117 votes)

    #23 - Episode 11

    S5:E11

    When Paddy is caught on camera for an armed robbery and could face 20 years inside, Mimi begs him to call his brother, Noel. He's the only one who can help. But Paddy has a dark history with his sibling and would rather go to jail than ever set eyes on him again. As the reality of his situation dawns, he realises he has no choice. The Gallaghers find themselves three grand in debt to Mimi after Frank inhales a box of her drugs, and it seems that Ian is the only one who can bail the family out. But when his business venture fails, Ian finds he has nowhere to turn. In an act of desperation, he steals money from the till at the Jockey but things quickly spiral out of control. The status quo gets altered in the police house when Carrie becomes a sergeant. Tom is peeved that Carrie is exploiting her new position, but a chance comment leads him to discover a dark secret in Carrie's past, which means he can regain the upper hand...

    Director:David Threlfall
    Writer:Stephen Russell

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  24. Shameless Season 5 Episode 15 - Episode 15
    8.0/10(113 votes)

    #24 - Episode 15

    S5:E15

    While enjoying another secret rendezvous, Debbie and Tom are forced to come to the aid of an assaulted woman, but things go horribly wrong when Tom gets arrested on suspicion of being the attacker. Only Debbie can supply his alibi, but not without putting both of them in a compromising position. There's a gruesome showdown between Shane and Paddy over Shane's girl, leaving Mimi torn between her love for her husband and the love she feels for her son. When Norma wakes up in a stranger's jogging bottoms after a night on the tiles, she sets off on a wild goose chase to find out whoever it was she slept with.

    Director:Paul Walker
    Writer:Ed McCardie

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  25. Shameless Season 6 Episode 1 - Episode 1
    8.0/10(118 votes)

    #25 - Episode 1

    S6:E1

    Ian is attacked and left shaken and confused as to what he could have done to provoke it. When the stranger strikes again, Ian is left hospitalised and there's more bad news when he regains consciousness: he's got amnesia. Suddenly he's an alien amongst his own family and friends, and even his own sexuality is a mystery. Meanwhile it's Debbie's 16th birthday. Tom decides it's time to go public with their relationship, but Debbie has doubts about whether their relationship was ever really serious. Kelly has bad news for Shane about her pregnancy; Frank and Monica are faced with an impossible challenge when they hear the voice of newborn baby Stella: but do they want to know what she has to say about her parents and Chatsworth? And Ian's amnesia brings him a whole new perspective on his life, leaving him questioning if Chatsworth is the place for him after all.

    Director:David Richardson
    Writer:Ed McCardie

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Best Episodes Summary

"Episode 4" is the best rated episode of "Shameless". It scored 9/10 based on 282 votes. Directed by Mark Mylod and written by Paul Abbott, it aired on 2/3/2004. This episode scored 0.0 points higher than the second highest rated, "Episode 7".