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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 23h•Peaking at 8.9/10

Chicagoan Frank Gallagher is the proud single dad of six smart, industrious, independent kids, who without him would be... perhaps better off. When Frank's not at the bar spending what little money they have, he's

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    Shameless Season 5 Episode 6 - Crazy Love
    8.9/10(21 votes)

    #1 - Crazy Love

    S5:E6

    Fiona is thrown into chaos by the return of Jimmy. Ian takes Mickey's baby.

    Director:Anthony Hemingway
    Writer:John Wells

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  2. Shameless Season 9 Episode 6 - Face It, You're Gorgeous
    8.9/10(16 votes)

    #2 - Face It, You're Gorgeous

    S9:E6

    Frank employs Liam to help him chase down a romantic connection; Fiona struggles to keep up with the demands of her new investment as Ford pushes her to get serious about their relationship.

    Director:Allison Liddi-Brown
    Writer:Nancy M. Pimental

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  3. Shameless Season 3 Episode 12 - Survival of the Fittest
    8.8/10(14 votes)

    #3 - Survival of the Fittest

    S3:E12

    Fiona and the family prepare a surprise high school,graduation party for Lip. Frank wins a bet and uses the winnings to take Lip out for lobster and some quality father/son time.

    Director:Mark Mylod
    Writers:Nancy M. Pimental, Etan Frankel

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  4. Shameless Season 6 Episode 11 - Sleep No More
    8.7/10(11 votes)

    #4 - Sleep No More

    S6:E11

    A confrontation between Sean and Frank quickly descends into a brawl.

    Director:Anthony Hemingway
    Writer:Sheila Callaghan

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  5. Shameless Season 6 Episode 6 - NSFW
    8.6/10(12 votes)

    #5 - NSFW

    S6:E6

    Ian and Caleb get serious. Lip appears before a disciplinary committee.

    Director:Jake Schreier
    Writer:Sheila Callaghan

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  6. Shameless Season 8 Episode 3 - God Bless Her Rotting Soul
    8.6/10(14 votes)

    #6 - God Bless Her Rotting Soul

    S8:E3

    A violent meth dealer threatens the Gallaghers, forcing Ian, Carl, Lip and Debbie to find a way to pay him off without involving Fiona. Fiona battles it out with a vindictive tenant. Lip cares for a down-and-out Professor Youens. Frank - miraculously - attains something resembling sainthood.

    Director:Michael Morris
    Writer:Krista Vernoff

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of Shameless

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  7. Shameless Season 1 Episode 12 - Father Frank, Full of Grace
    8.5/10(22 votes)

    #7 - Father Frank, Full of Grace

    S1:E12

    Steve tries to convince Fiona to skip town with him now that his true livelihood as been discovered; Frank and Karen's secret is revealed, forcing Frank to go into hiding; Fiona tries to figure out how to get Lip and Ian out of jail after their arrest for car theft.

    Director:Mark Mylod
    Writer:John Wells

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  8. Shameless Season 5 Episode 2 - I'm the Liver
    8.5/10(16 votes)

    #8 - I'm the Liver

    S5:E2

    Sheila gets an offer to buy her home. Plus, Fiona is off house arrest!

    Director:Sanaa Hamri
    Writer:Krista Vernoff

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  9. Shameless Season 5 Episode 8 - Uncle Carl
    8.5/10(15 votes)

    #9 - Uncle Carl

    S5:E8

    Gus tells Fiona he's leaving to go on tour. Frank seeks revenge on Sammi.

    Director:Wendey Stanzler
    Writer:Krista Vernoff

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  10. Shameless Season 9 Episode 7 - Down Like the Titanic
    8.5/10(12 votes)

    #10 - Down Like the Titanic

    S9:E7

    Debbie finds Fiona at a low point and helps her pick up the pieces as Fiona continues to face pressure from Max Whitford on her investment hubris. Frank enjoys the honeymoon period of his relationship with Ingrid.

    Director:Silver Tree
    Writer:Molly Smith Metzler

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  11. Shameless Season 2 Episode 6 - Can I Have a Mother
    8.4/10(16 votes)

    #11 - Can I Have a Mother

    S2:E6

    Grammy Gallagher shows up on a medical furlough and tries to track down a former meth lab protege that owes her money; Sheila plans Karen's wedding reception; Fiona double dates with Steve and his Brazilian girlfriend, and discovers that Steve is married; Ethel reacts to Clyde's death; Frank discovers the identity of Eddie's insurance beneficiary.

    Director:John Dahl
    Writers:Steven Schachter, William H. Macy

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  12. Shameless Season 4 Episode 3 - Like Father, Like Daughter
    8.4/10(15 votes)

    #12 - Like Father, Like Daughter

    S4:E3

    Frank stalks his previously unseen daughter, Sammi, and is surprised to find out she has a son, Chuck. Meanwhile, Fiona and Mike are getting serious. Also, Carl begins stealing dogs and holding them for ransom so that he can earn some drug money for Frank. Sheila has her first successful online date with Native American cowboy Roger Running Tree.

    Director:Sanaa Hamri
    Writer:Sheila Callaghan

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  13. Shameless Season 4 Episode 8 - Hope Springs Paternal
    8.4/10(16 votes)

    #13 - Hope Springs Paternal

    S4:E8

    To prepare for a visit from her probation officer, Fiona must remove all paraphernalia from the house; Ian is kicked out of Mickey's house.

    Director:Mimi Leder
    Writer:Sheila Callaghan

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  14. Shameless Season 5 Episode 1 - Milk of the Gods
    8.4/10(19 votes)

    #14 - Milk of the Gods

    S5:E1

    Fiona juggles her job and a crush. Lip heads back home.

    Director:Christopher Chulack
    Writer:Nancy M. Pimental

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  15. Shameless Season 5 Episode 5 - Rite of Passage
    8.4/10(15 votes)

    #15 - Rite of Passage

    S5:E5

    Fiona's plans to announce her marriage unravel. Mickey asks for Lip's help.

    Director:Alex Graves
    Writer:Etan Frankel

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  16. Shameless Season 5 Episode 7 - Tell Me You F**king Need Me
    8.4/10(17 votes)

    #16 - Tell Me You F**king Need Me

    S5:E7

    Ian finds himself at the psych ward. Fiona decides between Jimmy and Gus.

    Director:William H. Macy
    Writer:Nancy M. Pimental

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  17. Shameless Season 6 Episode 10 - Paradise Lost
    8.4/10(12 votes)

    #17 - Paradise Lost

    S6:E10

    Sean moves into the Gallagher house as Fiona plans a traditional wedding.

    Director:Lynn Shelton
    Writer:Etan Frankel

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  18. Shameless Season 7 Episode 4 - I Am a Storm
    8.4/10(10 votes)

    #18 - I Am a Storm

    S7:E4

    Frank worries that he and his new family will lose their Home for the Homeless shelter, so he plans a little goodwill for the neighborhood. Meanwhile, Fiona drums up business by throwing a speakeasy party at Patsy's Pies.

    Director:Emmy Rossum
    Writer:Sheila Callaghan

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  19. Shameless Season 8 Episode 4 - F**k Paying It Forward
    8.4/10(13 votes)

    #19 - F**k Paying It Forward

    S8:E4

    A blast from the past shakes up Fiona's view of her life. Frank gets involved with Liam's school and becomes the most popular dad in the PTA. Lip learns getting laid is harder than anticipated when sober. Ian crosses a boundary with a kid from the youth center. Kev and V take a trip to meet his birth family.

    Director:Regina King
    Writer:Dominique Morisseau

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  20. Shameless Season 3 Episode 5 - The Sins of My Caretaker
    8.3/10(13 votes)

    #20 - The Sins of My Caretaker

    S3:E5

    The city of Chicago gives notice that they're doing work on the sewer main. The problem? Aunt Ginger's bones are still buried in the yard and Frank needs to find her before the city does. Meanwhile, Fiona is picked on at work for not satisfying her boss. When Fiona fails to provide the support Jimmy needs, he turns to Este. Molly learns that she's a boy and Ned asks Ian to rob his wife's house.

    Director:J. Michael Muro
    Writer:Sheila Callaghan

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  21. Shameless Season 4 Episode 10 - Liver, I Hardly Know Her
    8.3/10(15 votes)

    #21 - Liver, I Hardly Know Her

    S4:E10

    Fiona violates terms of her probation, sending the family into search party mode.

    Director:Christopher Chulack
    Writer:Davey Holmes

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  22. Shameless Season 6 Episode 4 - Going Once, Going Twice
    8.3/10(15 votes)

    #22 - Going Once, Going Twice

    S6:E4

    Fiona confronts Patrick. Ian makes a discovery at the firehouse.

    Director:Christopher Chulack
    Writer:Davey Holmes

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  23. Shameless Season 6 Episode 5 - Refugees
    8.3/10(12 votes)

    #23 - Refugees

    S6:E5

    Frank helps Erica as Debbie ups her game. Lip tries to protect Helene.

    Director:Wendey Stanzler
    Writer:Etan Frankel

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  24. Shameless Season 6 Episode 9 - A Yurt of One's Own
    8.3/10(14 votes)

    #24 - A Yurt of One's Own

    S6:E9

    Fiona tries to make amends with Sean. Debbie and Queenie trek to a commune.

    Director:Ruben Garcia
    Writer:Davey Holmes

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  25. Shameless Season 8 Episode 8 - Frank's Northern Southern Express
    8.3/10(12 votes)

    #25 - Frank's Northern Southern Express

    S8:E8

    Frank starts a booming import-export business. Fiona considers moving into her own place after Ford shows her a side of Chicago she's never seen. Meanwhile, Lip interviews new sponsors, Ian confronts a pastor trying to "pray the gay away" and Debbie deals with being unemployed while looking for a way to afford school and raise Franny.

    Director:Emmy Rossum
    Writer:Nancy M. Pimental

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Best Episodes Summary

"Crazy Love" is the best rated episode of "Shameless". It scored 8.9/10 based on 21 votes. Directed by Anthony Hemingway and written by John Wells, it aired on 2/15/2015. This episode scored 0.0 points higher than the second highest rated, "Face It, You're Gorgeous".