We had about 20 of them! Grade it below, then hit the comments! The series ends without answering if Lip (Jeremy Allen White) sold the family home or if bar owners Kevin (Steve Howey) and Veronica (Shanola Hampton) sold it and moved to Louisville. I love you Shameless fans. Meanwhile, the Gallaghers save for Emmy Rossums Fiona reunite at the Alibi, unaware of their fathers passing, to celebrate Ian and Mickeys wedding anniversary. The U.S. Centers for . Of all the Shameless Gallagher siblings, Carl's is the story that feels most unfinished even in a finale designed to leave an open-ended story. I lost a close family member who had been ill in December of COVID, despite following the COVID protocols. Was the idea to leave the door open for a spinoff or a revival? But we get to tell a lot of great stories with these people and wonderful actors, writers and directors. Shameless was never intended as an instruction manual on how to escape poverty, however. Related: Shameless: How Old The Characters Are At The Beginning And End Of The Show. Ian's rocky road to married life in Shameless has featured multiple felonies, significant prison time, an escape across the Mexican border, and countless punches thrown. In the opening of the Shameless pilot, Frank describes Debbie as being "sent by God" and a "total angel." Oh, itd be a bunch of them. As the COVID-19 Asymptomatic Testing Program Coordinator, I work closely with the University's Health Services department and other stakeholders to provide ongoing COVID-19 testing to nearly . "People say you can't drink your troubles away," Frank. ", While Wells toldTHRthat both he and Rossum wanted her to return, they "caught it at the wrong moment. So we had always talked about doing some kind of alcoholic dementia story. Proceed at your own risk! When Lip finds out that his little brother is afraid of being made homeless, he reassures Liam that he can come and live with him, Tami and Fred. Former Braves baseball player and Hall of Famer Hank Aaron died Jan. 22, almost three weeks after receiving a COVID-19 vaccination. Original star Rossum departed Shameless in season nine, with barely a mention of her character since. Several people think she would never go. With all the comorbidity that Frank had, Bill and I both talked about it, he continued. As the light fades for us, I think and hope we will remember the things that bring us joy, and a lot of that would be parents remembering their children. All rights reserved. "The travel was such a mess that we never got to the point of my actual writing it. So, he went that direction instead of forcing endings on these characters fans might not be happy with. We, Yahoo, are part of the Yahoo family of brands. Unfortunately, Shameless season 12 really is out of the question, as the show's cancellation was announced in January 2020. Hannah has been with Screen Rant since 2013, covering news, features, movie premieres, Comic-Con and more! Reportedly, timing surrounding the pandemic was the issue, and Rossum wasn't able to go film in Chicago and California, only to go back to New York for a 2-week quarantine. As Frank puts it in his farewell letter: "Good luck in life. Frank gets a suitably undignified end as a pair of morgue attendants push his body into the cremation chamber while complaining about the smell. Dont fucking waste it, he says, raising a beer. Although it was a very Frank way to die, fans still werent sure if the Shameless series finale meant the Gallagher patriarch was actually dead. Officer Tipping, in attendance at Ian and Mickey's anniversary party, suggests to Carl that they could pool their money, buy The Alibi, and turn it into a cop bar to save it from its fate as a yoga studio or tanning salon. Things you buy through our links may earnVox Mediaa commission. Beyond everything else in the show that people love, what I was always most attracted to was no matter how difficult things were, this was a group of people who loved each other and came together even when they were angry with each other. John Wells reveals he lost a very close family member to COVID-19. Frank can still make you smile even as hes dying. Shameless fans, what did you think of the series ender? Turns out, Frank Gallagher dying alone in the hospital was very much intentional. How did you come to the decision that he needed to die in the series finale? Health officials in Washington state said on Saturday a coronavirus patient has died, marking the first death in the U.S. from COVID-19, the illness associated with the virus. Greg Warren dared to go where no comedian has gone before. The series finale saw Frank die from a combination of his diagnosis and COVID-19. We hit the second or third time everything shut down with two-week quarantines. Showtime felt that Shameless had run its course with 11 seasons and that it was best to end on a high note. After 134 episodes, the Shameless series finale left troublemaking patriarch Frank Gallagher dying in a hospital from the virus he called a hoax in a previous episode. It's fitting that Shameless ended on such a Frank-centric note. authenticate users, apply security measures, and prevent spam and abuse, and, display personalised ads and content based on interest profiles, measure the effectiveness of personalised ads and content, and, develop and improve our products and services. Mickey is averse to the idea, admitting that he's afraid he'll be a bad father. Turns out, this was another instance of John Wells and the entire team bringing real world issues to life. In the Shameless series finale, Kevin and Veronica are trying to find a buyer for The Alibi Room with contrasting attitudes. So, while Fiona wasn't in the Shameless series finale, her impact on the show was felt, and at least audiences got to see her again in flashbacks. After the long ride this character had, did he really deserve to be all alone on his death bed? Although theres no direct explanation for his death, viewers can surmise that he died from complications of COVID-19 and excessive drug and alcohol abuse. By the end, the series had a tough task in tying up various subplots for the extensive ensemble cast. And, it just suited this character perfectly. When the iconic NBC comedy signed off in 1998 after nine seasons, original co-creator Larry David returned to really drive home how little the show's core four characters had learnedand how kinda awful they'd been all along. The idea was to leave it looking like life, where you really dont know whats going to happen next, and let the audience members who have close relationships with a lot of the characters fill in the blank that you want to fill in. Bill [Macy] and I had always made deal that there would have to be consequences for all of Franks abuse to his body, between the drugs and alcohol. After waking from his overdose, the Gallagher patriarch eventually ended up in the hospital, where he died of COVID. The Hollywood Reporter is a part of Penske Media Corporation. A timeline of Justin Bieber, Hailey Bieber, and Selena Gomezs love triangle. The pandemic will be remembered as a pivotal moment in Chicago's history, and now Frank Gallagher is a part of that history albeit in a rather grim way. It wouldn't be an in-character Shameless finale without the traditional mid-credits stinger. Through his ex-girlfriend Queenie . It started small but quickly escalated to the point where he was diagnosed with alcoholic dementia. Liam also tries to make him happy by doing Frank things with him, like scamming strangers for money. One of the many questioned he was asked was about why Frank died alone at the end of the series. Ultimately, Franks (William H. Macy) past catches up with him as a combination of COVID-19 and the effects of alcoholic dementia prove to be more than he can handle and the character dies alone in a hospital. That was very intentional to show them all together at the end. However, she did tweet last week, "I'm so proud of this cast and am immensely honored to have been a part of a show as unique and impactful as Shameless. The Hall of Famer died of natural causes, the medical examiner said. WARNING: Spoilers for the Shameless series finale are ahead! The finale doesnt offer any resolution about whether Lip sold the house, what happened with Debs (Emma Kenney) and Carl (Ethan Cutkosky) and Liam (Christian Isaiah) or if Kev and Vee sell the Alibi and move to Louisville. Showtime was ready to be done, and they couldnt have been lovelier to us over the 11 years. When he heard about Lip's plans to sell the Gallagher house, Liam's first assumption was that he would be made homeless and would get no help from his siblings, so he began proactively preparing himself for life on the streets. The Potential 2023 WGA Strike for Dummies. Thats how people move on with their lives. Four days before he . I love you Shameless family. It was his own personal experience that catapulted the inspiration for Frank Gallaghers death. At the time, she called her role "a gift," adding that "the last eight years have been the best of my life. Showrunner John Wells sat down withThe Hollywood Reporterto do an extensive interview about theShamelessSeries Finale. It's already been revealed by Shamelessshowrunners that someone in the Gallagher family will get COVID-19, but there's one theory about Frank's fate that's gaining traction. Sunday's "Father Frank, Full of Grace" marked the end for both Shameless and its unforgettable patriarch. Honestly, probably not too long ago, maybe after Christmas. TVLINE | Do you have a favorite moment from the finale, something that really stands out for you? In what world?! When you have him die of COVID instead of drugs or alcohol abuse, how does that change the trajectory of the character? However, viewers are skeptical about whether he was indeed dead. He was the adoptive father and uncle of Ian Gallagher. Shamelessis over but available for streaming on Showtime if you want to see for yourself how Frank dies. Even when he was dogging his own kids in his own suicide note, hes still making us laugh because hes still Frank. & 2023 CBS Studios Inc. and CBS Interactive Inc., Paramount companies. No matter how screwed up they are, we all wish we had them as a family. In her spare time, she enjoys raising awareness about autism and spending time with her two children. Use of these names, logos, and brands does not imply endorsement unless specified. The question of fatherhood is a lot more difficult in the context of their continuing story, though. If you like TVLine, you'll LOVE our email news alerts! However, he kept forgetting that he had dementia. We were writing about a community that would be really impacted, economically and health-wise, by the pandemic. Frank Gallagher ( William H. Macy) is diagnosed with the coronavirus in a hospital and soon dies while on a ventilatora most harrowing cautionary scene amid the current pandemic. You find out later about them. Its sad. In Shameless, Frank encounters many near-misses with death, and fans didn't expect the season finale. That's what we do, at least. And, of course, the amount of alcohol in Franks corpse later causes a small explosion in the crematorium. At the very least, most believed Liams reaction would have been emotional. The characters of Shameless have been fighting a losing battle against the South Side's gentrification for years, and Kevin and Veronica are two such personas that hold out until the end. He is still stuck on the poverty line, working a food delivery job to support his girlfriend Tami and their son Freddie. Franks spirit then visited the Alibi as the family (plus Kev and V) celebrated Ian and Mickeys wedding anniversary. All rights reserved. David Chase's game-changing HBO mob drama ushered in modern day's golden age of television. You find out later about them. In the final moments of the episode, we see Frank at the Alibi and hear what he wrote in a note to. You love them as adults but, man, you can never really fully replace that love you feel for your kids when theyre little. So we were trying to balance some humor with character work with heartwarming [scenes], seeing all the family together again just like they were in the pilot episode that we shot 11 years ago. However, at the moment, their lives won't be seen on-screen in a Shameless season 12. To make up for slower foot traffic, Kev and V pivoted the business to become a legitimate cannabis vendor, which was enough to keep the South Side's favorite dive bar above water. Lip may have lost the dream of wealth and job security, but he's kept hold of what's most important to him throughout the series: his family, whether by blood or otherwise. Despite much hope among fans, Emmy Rossum, who left the show in season nine in 2019, did not return forthe finaleto reprise her role of Frank's eldest daughter Fiona Gallagher. This video is unavailable because we were unable to load a message from our sponsors. [Laughs] One of my favorite characters, and Emma [Kennys] so wonderful in the part. Although there's no direct explanation for his death,. This is largely due to a subplot in which he was raped by a girl called Tish, who had sex with him without a condom despite his protests. When asked by a social worker who his legal parent or guardian was, Liam seems to have no idea. Frank John Cullotta was born on Dec. 14, 1938, in Chicago to Josephine (Montedore) and Joseph Raymond Cullotta, who drove getaway cars for the Outfit, the Chicago-based crime syndicate. Updated April 17, 2023 Daily Covid hospital admissions Avg. So it became a natural conversation that maybe Frank would actually die of COVID although I have to say, theres so many comorbidities, about anything could have pushed him over. PMC Entertainment. We wanted it to be shameless. In theShamelessseries finale, he woke up and wandered around southside Chicago. 2023 The Hollywood Reporter, LLC. After being hospitalised for (yet another) overdose, Frank Gallagher is diagnosed with Covid-19 and after experiencing the worst symptoms, passes away. You never know when youre trying to shoot things like having the main character die and float up into the air whether itll work, but its all Shameless. Or was that a way to get Emmy Rossum back onscreen, even for a second? After waking from his overdose, the Gallagher patriarch eventually ended up in the hospital, where he died of COVID. Yes, Frank Gallagher dies during the Shameless finale, season 11 episode 12, titled 'Father Frank, Full of Grace.' The finale begins with Frank's overdose, brought about during the last. It was, uh, a choice. And just like that, Frank Gallagherhas shamelessly risen above it all. The new rules offer a lifeline for patients like Matthew Adinolfi, 65, a former city yellow . We joked in the room that she ended up getting a job at Disney World, probably in Epcot Center, because she would never get a job on the better side. All Rights Reserved. Did you try to get Emmy Rossum back for the finale? Carl's cop (and ironically best) storyline has been a continual journey of disillusionment. It was his own personal experience that catapulted the inspiration for Frank Gallagher's death. If a spinoff is ever on the table, there are plenty of options to pick the story back up with anyone except Frank. He eventually returned positive for COVID-19 and died in the ER after the nurses and doctors discovered the DNR instruction on his chest. Seeing Kevin and Vee in Louisville was a great window into a whole other world, too. Its a crazy world out there with people reviving shows and characters. However, the reason that Emmy Rossum couldn't come back for the finale was the same reason that Frank Gallagher died: the COVID-19 pandemic. You just can't seem to get out of your own way." When ABC decided it was time to end this family-friendly sitcom starring puppet dinosaurs after four seasons, the creators decided to do it in the most depressing way possible by having its main character, Sinclair family patriarch Earl, trigger a catastrophic extinction event that would not only kill every main character, but his entire species. While Franks story came to a close, the rest of the characters futures were up in the air at end of the finale: Lip was contemplating a (much lower) offer on the house; Tami was possibly pregnant; Ian reassured Mickey that he would be a good father, so kids might soon be in the cards for them; Carl expressed an interest in buying Kev and Vs bar; and Debbies new convict girlfriend invited Debs to come with her to Texas. As the finale winds down, the patrons of The Alibi troop outside to enjoy the sight of a Tesla on fire, in a final defiant middle finger to the gentrification of the neighborhood. TVLINE | The contents of Franks letter are not, I would say, warm and fuzzy, and his kids never really have a moment of closure with him. Vlada Gelman / Thats an experience many people have had with relatives who have died of covid. In Shameless season 11, the Frank Gallagher series finale fate sees the character diagnosed with alcoholic dementia, and his mental faculties quickly begin to deteriorate, leading to forgetfulness and confusion. Knowing you didnt want to end Shameless, do you have any desire to do a spinoff? The series finale saw Frank die from a combination of his diagnosis and COVID-19. TVLINE | The other Gallaghers futures are hinted at but left open-ended. Did he meet his maker while feasting on a bowl of onion rings with his family? If you do not want us and our partners to use cookies and personal data for these additional purposes, click 'Reject all'. The fact that Frank Gallagher (William H. Macy) died alone in theShamelessSeason Finale left a bad taste in the mouths of some fans. Password must be at least 8 characters and contain: As part of your account, youll receive occasional updates and offers from New York, which you can opt out of anytime. If the rest of the year keeps up at this pace, podcasting will be in a good creative place. Talk to me about what you wanted to convey in that final moment. This email will be used to sign into all New York sites. TVLINE | Frank has had close brushes with death before as a result of his various health issues. Yet, at the end of the series, Ian and Mickey seem to be closest to a secure and settled life. There were a lot of stories we could have continued to tell. InShamelessSeason 11 Episode 11, Franks son Liam (Christian Isaiah) is tasked with taking care of him. April 10, 2020 at 3:10 p.m. EDT. While Fiona was shown in flashbacks during all the Frank Gallagher series finale moments, it was still weird not having her around. A very minor but sad result of everything thats happened in the pandemic. The series ends with the hope that The Alibi will survive this way but does not guarantee it. RELATED STORIES Perhaps showrunner John Wells had Miss Rona on his mind after she made a cameo on the Shameless set? Despite surviving this overdose, Frank is shown to be clearly living on borrowed time, with his COVID-19 infection merely tipping the scales. Fiona Gallagher was a mainstay on the show before Emmy Rossum's season 9 exit, and while Shameless was an ensemble cast effort, she often felt like the main character. The Iron Throne melted down?! "You remind me of your mother, and not in a good way," he says ominously. I like keeping it with the audiences imagination of who would react and how when they finally discover that hes gone.. An unclear amount of time later, he met Tish again and discovered that she was pregnant, but whether or not Carl is the father is left unanswered by the series. Thats what I like in a story, so thats what I did. I lost a close family member who had been ill in December of covid, despite following the covid protocols. So, Frank eventually dies from a combination of his alcohol-related dementia and COVID-19. Hes like a huge Jenga tower that if you just touched [and] pulled out one more thing, [hes] gonna fall apart. Shameless season 11 saw proud South Side "barbarian" Mickey confronting the realities of married life as he and Ian move to a luxury West Side condo, start running their own legitimate security business, and even consider the possibility of children. You\'ll receive the next newsletter in your inbox. Though Frank Gallagher imagines himself rising up over Chicago as he says farewell to his family, his actions over the past 11 seasons don't bode well for his chances of getting into Heaven. I really didnt want to play the more sentimental version of them having to react to his death. So sorry for your loss. By The idea was with Franks dementia being discovered, theres a call and she comes back to help everyone figure it out and that she would come back and be involved at the end with what to do with the house and all that. Met Gala Drama: The 14 Most Jaw-Dropping Moments to Ever Happen at Fashion's Biggest Night, Anna Wintour Reveals She Could Not Afford Dinner at the Met Gala in Her Early New York City Days, Met Gala 2023: Dua Lipa, Michaela Coel, Penlope Cruz and More to Co-Chair, Everything to Know About the 2023 Met Gala Honoring Karl Lagerfeld, The 15 Best Mother's Day Gift Ideas for Grandma That Show You Care, 15 Best Star Wars Day 2023 Deals on Amazon Right Now.