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'Shameless' finale: Frank's sins and Fiona's choice
Showtime's "Shameless" finale was an endless stream of striking events and even as the season ticked to its final moments, it never took the easy road.
Frank (William H. Macy) found himself in a situation he knew he couldn't win. It didn't matter that Karen (Laura Wiggins) took advantage of him when he barely understood what was going on. Something had to happen to make him realize that he had made a string of bad decisions in life. Were we to believe that Frank had no moral center? Was he simply the deadbeat, drunk dad who had turned all his responsibilities over to Fiona (Emmy Rossum)? Had the producers decided he was 100% unlikeable? Obviously not. That would be too easy.
Frank spent the entire episode racked with guilt. Even his drunken ramblings tried to make sense of the fact that he had sex with his girlfriend's daughter who also happened to be his son's girlfriend. And it was in that last apology under Lip's (Jeremy Allen White) window when we finally saw a man who cared about the hurt he had delivered to his son. It was under that window where we finally saw a man.
Meanwhile, Fiona had a decision of her own. After years of taking care of her siblings, Steve (Justin Chatwin) offered her an out. After all that went down with Lip and Ian (Cameron Monaghan) and the stolen car, Steve had to skip town and he wanted Fiona to go with him.
Did Fiona deserve to live her own life after giving up so much to be there for her family? Yes. But, she didn't. Instead, she stayed with her family. We have to admit it was the decision we wanted her to make, because we couldn't see that family hold up without her. Yet we knew if she got on that plane with Steve, we couldn't blame her either.
Do you think Fiona made the right choice? How did you feel about the finale?
By the way, in case you were wondering. The song that played over the last scenes was "Littlething" by Jimmy Eat World.
And the song that played while Karen's dad took a very final dip in the icy lake is "Long Time" by Cake.
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Photo/Video credit: Showtime
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I knew Fiona wouldn't leave, so that was no surprise. She couldn't do to the kids what her mom (and dad, really) did to her.
Eddie's bad ice fishing trip was a huge surprise, though.
This show is really my most guilty pleasure. I wish it was on every night. I knew Fiona wouldn't go, but a part of me wished she would. I love 'Steve', I sure hope they find a way to bring him back.
Part of me is disgusted with Frank, but loved his heartfelt apology to Lip, and how Lip chose to "forgive" him was great! Can't wait for Season 2. Awesome show!!
Thanks for posting the songs- Shameless has really great music! I love this show and can't wait until it returns!
did Steve get on the plane? I thought I saw him walk back down the stairs??? maybe I need to rewatch the episode.....
This is a great show. I grew up on the south side of Chicago, and i'm not sure if you expected anyone from Chicago to actually watch the show, but that's not the southside they're showing. All of the outside scenes are on the westside of the city. The "EL" station (Elevated Train), they use is the Kedzie stop (westside), and the bus terminal where Karen's dad worked is the same one that my uncle works out of (westside). One other thing about the last episode, Steve gives Fiona a ticket to "Miami out of O'hare", and tells her the meet him at "American Airlines tomorrow", then he pulls up and stands in the middle of Midway Airport(no AA terminal at Midway. But if you're not from here, I guess you wouldn't know that.
Great show. I miss it already!
I am crushed this season of Shameless is over ( my guilty pleasure as well)...oh, and Steve/Jimmy HAS to come back !!! Tony is cute, sure, but will he REALLY move into the house next door to Fiona's ? What a slime !!! I don't like Jasmine or her husband...I'd rather that storyline goes nowhere...keep Kev and V in and out of each episode! I watch all of the episodes over and over every few days...how long until next season ???
This show rocks! Fiona made the right choice for now.... Frank is my hero..........
Mike, yes I did notice the O'Hare/Midway goof and I am from NYC!