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Shameless

(Rated TV-14, Drama, Starring David Threlfall, Anne-Marie Duff, Maggie O'Neill, Where to watch: Sundance Channel, DVD)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 15, age appropriate for kids over 99; suggested age 16.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0

  • Common Sense says

    Mature British drama is both gritty and sweet.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 16–18

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    The Gallaghers are dysfunctional but also loving and loyal. Frank loves his children despite his inability to be a good parent. The children often take on parental roles and also engage in inappropriate behavior. The show deals with issues of child abandonment, paternity, sexual identity, and relationships. It also comments on the British working class and the welfare system.

  • Violence:

    Some arguing, pushing, and shoving. When Frank is drunk, he occasionally hits his older son.

  • Sex:

    Strong sexual innuendo; lots of conversations about "shagging." Birth control pills and condoms visible. Moments of partial nudity (including flashing of breasts, bare buttocks, and male genitals). One character is bisexual; another is gay.

  • Language:

    Frequent use of "f--k" and other curse words, though some are hard to understand thanks to strong Manchester accents.

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Lots of consumption of alcohol and lots of cigarette smoking (typical of many British series). Frank is an alcoholic. Liam accidentally swallows birth control pills, but he doesn't get hurt. The Maguires are drug dealers; occasional drug use is shown.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Shameless

Parents need to know that this award-winning British drama -- which follows the loving-but-dysfunctional Gallagher family, who live in a Manchester housing project -- is both dramatic and funny, with mature themes (alcoholism, child abandonment, homosexuality, and drug use, just to name a few), as well as nudity and lots of profanity (including "f--k"). The family patriarch is an alcoholic; the children must often take on parental roles to survive and to avoid being separated by social services. Despite its TV-14 rating, the show is quite adult-oriented and isn't really age-appropriate for younger teens.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the many ways in which television tackles serious themes. Is it ever appropriate to present alcoholism and drug use as humorous topics, or should they always be treated seriously? Families can also discuss some of the differences between American TV shows and those from other countries. Aside from the accent, what sets British series apart from their American counterparts? Why is some content (swearing, nudity) more accepted in other countries' shows?
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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    spikiepikie09
    I rate this title on for age 15 and give it 4.0

    Really amusing - but packed with adult humour!

    A very good series, but I certainly wouldn't recommend it to young teens, I would say from about 15 up and you'll be fine. There is a load of nudity - and profanities, etc but for an adult or an older mature teen then you should be fine.

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
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