The BEST episodes of Shameless

Every episode of Shameless ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Shameless!

The lives and relationships of a group of siblings and their estranged father Frank Gallagher on a rough Manchester estate.

Last Updated: 3/15/2024Network: Channel 4Status: Ended
Share:
Frank In The Frame
star
8.58
73 votes

#1 - Frank In The Frame

Season 8 - Episode 18 - Aired 9/27/2011

There's uproar in The Jockey when Frank pockets Cynthia's scratch card. And when Cynthia is assaulted, Frank becomes the prime suspect. Carl kicks off against the accusers, but Kelly shows Carl CCTV footage of Frank near the crime scene. Frank remembers nothing but scratch marks on his chest tell a different story. While Frank hands himself in, a distressed Carl seeks to prove his dad's innocence and phones Kev Ball, who returns to the Chatsworth like a knight in shining armour. New video footage jogs Frank's memory, but puts him in a stickier situation. Can a deal be made with gangster Growbag Macready? Frank's fate rests in his hands. Meanwhile, Mickey moves into the Jockey after a disagreement with Mimi, and Marty's presence continues to cause trouble between Shane and Kelly.

Directors: Gordon Anderson
Writer: Paul Abbott
Watch Now:Amazon
Assault
star
8.48
100 votes

#2 - Assault

Season 5 - Episode 15 - Aired 4/8/2008

While enjoying another secret rendezvous, Debbie and Tom are forced to come to the aid of an assaulted woman, but things go horribly wrong when Tom gets arrested on suspicion of being the attacker. Only Debbie can supply his alibi, but not without putting both of them in a compromising position. There's a gruesome showdown between Shane and Paddy over Shane's girl, leaving Mimi torn between her love for her husband and the love she feels for her son. When Norma wakes up in a stranger's jogging bottoms after a night on the tiles, she sets off on a wild goose chase to find out whoever it was she slept with.

Watch Now:Amazon
Boys, Boys, Boys
star
8.43
164 votes

#3 - Boys, Boys, Boys

Season 4 - Episode 5 - Aired 2/6/2007

Debbie's glad to have her dad back at home, but Monica's not happy with all the attention Frank is giving her and tells her it's time she found herself a boyfriend. Also Ian catches the eye of someone he least expected.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Wedding
star
8.42
124 votes

#4 - The Wedding

Season 3 - Episode 8 - Aired 2/21/2006

In preparation for her wedding to Frank, Sheila commissions the building of a conservatory in her back yard - but she suddenly remembers her first husband is buried under the patio. Veronica's last stab at IVF on the NHS fails, so she hatches a macabre plan to raise cash for private treatment.

Directors: Paul Walker
Writer: Paul Abbott
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Runaway
star
8.40
140 votes

#5 - The Runaway

Season 4 - Episode 4 - Aired 1/30/2007

Ian gets more than he bargained for when a new person enters his life. Another death in the Maguire household causes Mimi to think the family may be cursed.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Gang Wars
star
8.39
162 votes

#6 - Gang Wars

Season 7 - Episode 16 - Aired 5/4/2010

Karen and Joe are holed up in the shop with the spectre of Jamie's revenge hanging over them. Joe is plotting their future away from Chatsworth, but Jamie has Connor in hiding and Karen isn't going anywhere without her son. Joe uses his dubious contacts to snatch Connor and drag his new family away to freedom, but little does he know he's carrying unwelcome baggage! When Maxine and Ian are mugged they viciously fight back, taking their attacker captive. At odds on what to do with their prisoner, the couple quickly realise their relationship is falling apart. Elsewhere, a dark cloud falls over the Maguire family when notorious gangster and psychopath Roscoe shows up. The brothers scatter for cover, leaving Mimi to suffer the intimidation along with a dose of extreme indigestion.

Watch Now:Amazon
The Countdown
star
8.37
185 votes

#7 - The Countdown

Season 5 - Episode 1 - Aired 1/1/2008

An emergency visit to the hospital results in Frank receiving devastating news, prompting him to embark on an orgy of drink and drug-fuelled mayhem, which culminates in a bizarre, drug-induced encounter with his younger self. Elsewhere, Lillian comes up with a surprising way to make money, and Lip's shady past catches up with him and leads to a no-holds-barred fight in The Jockey, with shocking consequences.

Directors: David Threlfall
Writer: Ed McCardie
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Save Chatsworth
star
8.35
85 votes

#8 - Save Chatsworth

Season 9 - Episode 2 - Aired 1/10/2012

Not everyone is pleased to see Carl after he shows up on the estate as a qualified policeman. Jackson finds himself being accused of falsely claiming benefits, resulting in the loss of his job which throws his marriage into chaos. Frank is given the job of becoming a double agent, so that he can get information from Carmen about the future plans for the estate. The residents end up agreeing to a deal with Carmen to save the estate. Kelly loses her baby.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Baby
star
8.33
223 votes

#9 - Baby

Season 3 - Episode 3 - Aired 1/17/2006

Mandy goes into labour after a run in with a masked robber inside the corner shop. Lip desperately wants to visit his new daughter, but will Mandy's parents allow the visit? And if not, just what will it take for Lip to prove himself to them...?

Writer: Paul Abbott
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Maguire Motto
star
8.31
64 votes

#10 - The Maguire Motto

Season 8 - Episode 21 - Aired 10/18/2011

Mickey channels his' inner drama queen' at the community service with a difference. Ray's skill with numbers does not go unnoticed by Mickey, and a trip to the casino seems on the cards. But Ray's only got one thing on his mind, and it's not the jackpot! The community service cast are unhappy with their leader, Michelle and the play. So when Michelle has a timely accident and the centre is shut, Mickey takes the lead, bringing Christmas to Chatsworth early. Meanwhile, Mimi might wear the trousers in the family, but it's time Billy pulled his weight, so Mimi sets a profitable challenge to test his manhood.

Directors: Lawrence Till
Writer: Ian Kershaw
Revelations
star
8.28
159 votes

#11 - Revelations

Season 4 - Episode 8 - Aired 2/27/2007

Learning of the death of his three ex-cell mates is sending Paddy round the bend. With the three of them taken out one-by-one in suspicious circumstances, could this mean he's next in line?

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
You Decide
star
8.26
172 votes

#12 - You Decide

Season 4 - Episode 3 - Aired 1/23/2007

Monica manages to seduce Frank and sink her claws back in, but he dare not tell Sheila that he and Monica have been sleeping together. Sheila proves to be a frightening adversary when scorned and Frank could be in real danger. But neither Sheila nor Monica want to share him and he has to decide on which wife he wants. But who will he choose?

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Great Dangers (Part 3 of 3)
star
8.22
152 votes

#13 - Great Dangers (Part 3 of 3)

Season 7 - Episode 10 - Aired 3/23/2010

Shane is devastated to discover he's 'firing blanks' and while he frets, Kelly is reconciled to their future without children. The Maguire men refuse to let one of their own be struck down so decide to take matters into their own hands and get their heads together to come up with a sticky solution. Although Shane is keen to take up their offer Kelly refuses, and with Liam's help, both realise the answer to their problem lies closer to home.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Reunited
star
8.17
199 votes

#14 - Reunited

Season 7 - Episode 7 - Aired 3/2/2010

Frank's romantic interest, Libby, returns and her time away has only increased her ardour. Armed with just a mobile library she is determined to bring knowledge to the people and rekindle her romance.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
It's Over
star
8.16
100 votes

#15 - It's Over

Season 6 - Episode 16 - Aired 5/12/2009

Patrick continues to loose his grip on his marriage and his family.

Watch Now:Amazon
Dead (Part 2 of 2)
star
8.14
351 votes

#16 - Dead (Part 2 of 2)

Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 2/24/2004

Monica and Norma are ruling the roost at the Gallagher household after Fiona moves in with Steve, but none of the Gallagher kids are happy by their mother's return. Frank is desperate to make contact with his estranged wife, but first, he must deal with his growing debts, two debt collectors watching his every move, the threat of homelessness for his entire family, and Monica's aggressive girlfriend, Norma. However, it's his new rival Norma who comes up with the perfect solution: fake his own death so his debts die with him, but Monica and Norma may have an ulterior motive for offering to help. Meanwhile, Sheila tries to overcome her agoraphobia with Debbie's help, whilst harbouring a life-changing secret, and it seems Steve's days as a free man are numbered when a jealous Tony discovers the source of his fortune.

Directors: Dearbhla Walsh
Writer: Paul Abbott
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
To The Future
star
8.14
113 votes

#17 - To The Future

Season 6 - Episode 10 - Aired 3/31/2009

Norma steps into Monica's shoes to help Liam's parents appear conventional in front of his head teacher, but Frank looks set to spoil his son's place on a scholarship. Meanwhile, Paddy is increasingly agitated by Mimi's efforts to wean him off drugs, and Karen sacks Jamie - only for Joe to propose taking his place. Lillian gets a surprise visit from her son Rodney, and Kelly recruits Meena to do Shane's physiotherapy

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
PC Gallagher
star
8.14
64 votes

#18 - PC Gallagher

Season 8 - Episode 22 - Aired 10/25/2011

Billy and Mimi find the game is up after Micky finds them in a compromising position. Billy is scared as the Maguire brothers want his blood for daring to marry their mother. Kelly's not sure about keeping the baby and Jamie ends up finding out more than he bargained for after he confronts her at work. Kelly realises she has to be honest with him but will he still want her and the baby. Carl sees a crime being committed but walks past, unaware of the consequences. Billy's stag ends up being a night to remember.

End of the Line
star
8.14
44 votes

#19 - End of the Line

Season 11 - Episode 14 - Aired 5/28/2013

After spending months in jail, Frank returns to Chatsworth hoping for a welcome home party. However, he discovers Monica has took up residency at the Gallaghers - and is expecting his tenth child, and the return of a few faces from his past heralds the end of an era. Meanwhile, it's business as usual at Chesco's, as an old face re-instates herself.

Watch Now:Amazon
New Romances
star
8.12
207 votes

#20 - New Romances

Season 4 - Episode 2 - Aired 1/16/2007

Frank’s desperate to keep the fact that he’s still married to estranged wife Monica from Sheila, and Monica’s not making it easy for him. But Sheila can see that she has competition for Frank and sets about trying to reunite Monica with her estranged lesbian lover. But is Monica still a lesbian?

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Darkest Hour
star
8.11
123 votes

#21 - The Darkest Hour

Season 6 - Episode 9 - Aired 3/24/2009

Nobody is sure if Shane will ever be the same again after he is left partially paralysed by the accident, while Mimi and Kelly clash over who will help aid his recovery. After the departure of Monica, Norma contemplates her own future on the estate and a figure from the past offers her the chance of a fresh start. Elsewhere, Jamie settles back in with the Maguires and alarm bells ring for Karen when she suspects all is not right in Mandy and Joe's relationship

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Cop Killer
star
8.08
85 votes

#22 - Cop Killer

Season 9 - Episode 5 - Aired 1/31/2012

Somebody from Jamie's past arrives on the estate, looking for a favour to be returned. D.S. Brooks, is currently suspended pending some serious charges and Jamie doesn't know if he can go through with what he wants and the safety of his family ends up being in the balance. Aidan skips school after he is haunted with nightmares about his doing nothing to stop Frasier attacking his school teacher. After Frasier turns his attention to Letitia, Aidan ends up feeling like he has no choice but to act. Micky has to deal with a life-changing decision after a debt collection goes badly wrong.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
In With The Maguire's
star
8.07
229 votes

#23 - In With The Maguire's

Season 3 - Episode 6 - Aired 2/7/2006

The Gallagher clan can't believe it when Carl starts to bring money into the household - but his mini-enterprise involves growing cannabis for the Maguires and the police are quick to bust him. Lip is jealous when Mandy gets a new boyfriend and he later discovers that she was the brains behind Carl's business.

Writer: Paul Abbott
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Ninth Time Around
star
8.07
105 votes

#24 - The Ninth Time Around

Season 5 - Episode 16 - Aired 4/15/2008

When Manchester experiences an earth tremor, Monica's waters break and she goes into labour. On the other side of Chatsworth, the same tremor knocks Frank off of his barstool and puts him in a coma. Monica's refusing to have the baby unless Frank is present, but how long can she keep her bun in the oven? While he's out cold in his hospital bed, Frank experiences an alternative world: a life where he is a success, where Ian isn't gay and Debbie looks like she'll never leave home. It's the world as Frank would have it; or is it? Carl is finding new success with girls by posing as a single parent. It's all going very well until his latest target runs off with the baby. Meanwhile, Shane has a proposal to put to Kelly.

We're Going to The Moon
star
8.04
579 votes

#25 - We're Going to The Moon

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 1/20/2004

After Karen's father Eddie attacks Frank in The Jockey, Frank returns home and attacks his son, Ian, and Fiona's boyfriend, Steve. Certain he's got a family he doesn't deserve, a vengeful Steve kidnaps a drunken Frank and dumps him in France without telling anyone. While Frank lands himself in trouble with the French authorities, a body is found in the canal at home, and everyone assumes it is Frank. Will the feckless patriarch ever make it home? And how will Fiona react when she discovers what Steve has done? Meanwhile, Karen's agoraphobic mother, Sheila Jackson (Maggie O'Neill), finds a new man, Kev (Dean Lennox Kelly) and Veronica Ball (Maxine Peake) fall out over money, and a local copper PC Tony (Anthony Flanagan) has fallen in love with Fiona.

Directors: Jonny Campbell
Writer: Paul Abbott
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV