Shameless (Sundance Channel)

common sense media says

Mature British drama is both gritty and sweet.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

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.

Positive messages: The show deals with issues like child abandonment, paternity, sexual identity, and relationships. It also comments on the British working class and the welfare system.
Positive role models: 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.
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 applicable.
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.

More on Shameless

What to talk about

Talk to your kids

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?

What's the story?

What's the story?

Award-winning British drama series SHAMELESS follows the misadventures of the Gallaghers, a quirky, dysfunctional working-class family living in a Manchester public housing project. David Threlfall stars as Frank Gallagher, an unemployed alcoholic who wound up supporting his six children after his wife, Monica (Annabelle Apsion), left him for another woman. Since Frank is hardly a responsible parent, oldest daughter Fiona (Anne-Marie Duff) acts as a surrogate mother to her siblings. Occasionally looking in on them is Frank's agoraphobic girlfriend, Sheila (Maggie O'Neill), who also has several children. Fiona's boyfriend, Steve (James McAvoy); her brassy best friend/neighbor Veronica (Maxine Peake); Veronica's husband Kev (Dean Lennox Kelly); and the Maguires -- a notorious family of thugs who control much of the neighborhood -- add to the fray. Together they all somehow manage to scrape through, even managing to find the love and support they need in each other.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

This decidedly mature show focuses on how the Gallagher children cope with living in what often seems like total anarchy. They each find their own way to come to terms with their father's behavior -- which is often shamelessly ridiculous and sometimes downright mean thanks to his endless drinking. They also spend a lot of their time evading the British authorities, who would separate the clan and place them in foster care if they knew about their circumstances. Meanwhile, in the absence of any real parent, the children embark in their own process of self-discovery and problem solving, which often leads to funny-but-inappropriate behavior like lying, stealing, sexual activity, and drug use.

Despite these serious themes, Shameless manages to tell the Gallaghers' story in a sweet, amusing way thanks to outstanding writing. And while the show's vision of Britian's impoverished working class is somewhat romanticized and over the top, it also offers pointed commentary about Britian's welfare system. Overall, it's an entertaining pick for mature viewers, who will be able to appreciate its underlying sensitivity and celebration of family loyalty and love. But with strong content that runs the gamut from frequent swearing to nudity, it's definitely not for young kids.

TV themes & details

TV Details
TV Rating: TV-14
Network: Sundance Channel
Cast: Anne-Marie Duff, David Threlfall, Maggie O'Neill
Genre: Drama
Where to watch: Sundance Channel

This review was written by Melissa Camacho
 
 

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Most useful reviews by all members

spikiepikie09
teen, 16 years old
 
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.

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About our rating system
ON: Content is appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child, some content may not be right for some kids
OFF: Not age appropriate for kids this age