WhenShamelessfirst premiered in 2011, even fans of the original UK television series didn't know what was coming. But the actors, producers, and writers certainly delivered. Going ten seasons strong,Shamelesscontinuously pushes the boundaries of conventional television, delivering stellar performances from its core cast and portraying with charisma the struggles of a confusing, hectic, and out-of-the-box family life we've grown to love with each passing year.
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Bringing comedy and tragedy together in an unprecedented way,Shamelessmanaged to become one of the highest-rating shows onIMDb, with countless award nominations and wins under its sleeve. It's been a phenomenal eight years - now almost nine - so let's take a look back, and rank the best episodes ofShameless according to IMDb.
Face It, You're Gorgeous (9.1)
The ninth season of the show failed to deliver the amazing storylines we were all used to from the show. This isn't to say that the quality declined significantly, but rather that something was lacking from the performances and plot alike that made fans feel likeShamelesswas losing its mojo.
That all changed once the sixth episode aired. And what made "Face it, You're Gorgeous", so special? The fact that it was the culmination of Ian's relationship with Mickey, one of the best on television. The two ended up together, just like they deserved, in a beautiful way.
Just Like The Pilgrims Intended (9.2)
We're going way back now, all the way to the second season of the show. "Just Like The Pilgrims Intended"was the eleventh episode of the season, and it showcased the Gallagher family at its very best - and worst.
Who would expect this family to be able to have a normal holiday? That wouldn't make any sense. Between a suicide attempt, shooting bald eagles, someone going into labor, and identity theft, this is exactly how Fiona, Frank, and company are expected to celebrate Thanksgiving - just like the pilgrims intended.
Survival Of The Fittest (9.2)
"Survival of The Fittest" was the season finale of the third season ofShameless,and just like we would expect, it ended with a bang. Much like any other season finale of this show, it did a wonderful job of setting up the things that would make us want to come back for more on season 4.
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In many ways, this episode was an outlier, considering how many things went right for so many of the characters. The best of them all has to be Lip graduating from high school and getting into college, something no Gallagher had done before. It left us with a warm, fuzzy feeling inside, which is very uncharacteristic ofShameless.
There's The Rub (9.2)
Fiona Gallagher is a pretty interesting character overall, and polarizing like no other. It's hard to find any other character on television that we love and hate so much at the same time, who we're rooting for, and then want to scream at time and time again. But it's precisely this dynamic that hooked us to the show so often.
In "There's The Rub", the fifth episode of season four, her very bad seasons involving Robbie get her arrested, in one of the most intense and emotional scenes to ever come out of the show.
Found (9.2)
The second episode from season nine that gets a spot on this list is "Found", the season finale that would set up the season currently airing. As far as emotional episodes go, this one hits the nail on the head. Seeing a main character leave, especially from a show that's been airing for so long, is heartbreaking.
"Found" was Fiona's last episode, the episode where we all had to say goodbye to the one character that was so polarizing, yet always served as the glue that kept the Galagher family together. This episode was packed with emotion and anyone who watched it shed at least a tear when they saw the look on Frank's face once he spotted Fiona with a suitcase.
Crazy Love (9.3)
"Crazy Love" was the sixth episode of season five, and it had plenty of storylines to go around. The acting was superb, and we awarded scenes like Ian stealing Mickey's baby and Sammi taking over the Gallagher residence, which is enough crazy to leave us exhausted.
But what really made this episode exceptional was the return ofJimmy/Jack/Steve, which left Fiona completely confused and taken aback by all the chaos this unexpected return entails.
Requiem For A slu*t (9.3)
Season finales are always an incredible treat for fans ofShameless,and the ending of season seven was no exception, ranking in one of the highest positions of this list. "Requiem for a slu*t" is a beautiful exploration of the human psyche through the lenses of such a dysfunctional family.
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Much like "Survival of the Fittest", this episode left audiences feeling quite satisfied. After Monica's death, every member of the family gets together in the end and, for a minute there, bliss and peace exist in the midst of loving chaos so akin to the Gallaghers. A truly beautiful episode.
Happily Ever After (9.3)
Before "Requiem for a slu*t", this episode aired as the eleventh of season seven. This episode was incredibly strong, where happiness and pain met and greeted as old friends, in a way onlyShamelessknows how to master. "Happily Ever After" sees Frank and Monica renew their vows, just before she passes.
It's a deeper look into Lip and Fiona's relationship with their parents, the acknowledgment of just how much they screwed them up, and yet, how much they long for it to be different. A truly remarkable episode, bittersweet as it should be.
Emily (9.4)
"Emily" was the episode that preceded the season finale of the fourth season of the show, and it was a tearjerker of epic proportions.Frank wakes up from his surgery, and at the core of this episode, is his relationship with Fiona and just how much he realizes what he has done to her.
It's also a treat to enjoy Ian and Mickey's relationship develop further since fans had been rooting for these two ever since the first season of the show came around. An episode that was worthy of its 9.4 score on IMDb.
Lazarus (9.5)
And so we arrive at the best episode ofShamelessaccording to IMDb, which coincided with the season finale of the fourth season. What made this episode so unbelievably epic was the way that everything seemed to tie together in a way, but still leave immense chaos behind - a chaos that would set the pace for season five.
All the actors with their respective were given amazing scenes that they delivered with proficiency and beauty. Sadness, love, tortured minds, and family bonds - it all came together in a spectacular episode that will probably never be beaten.
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