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The Worst Episodes of Shameless

Every episode of Shameless ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of Shameless!

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Chicagoan Frank Gallagher is the proud single dad of six smart, industrious, independent kids, who without him would be... perhaps better off. When Frank's not at the bar spending what little money they have, he's

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Worst Episode
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    Shameless Season 11 Episode 12 - Father Frank, Full of Grace
    6.7/10(3262 votes)

    S11:E12

    Ian and Mickey shop for furniture for their new place and Kev and V look for a buyer for the Alibi. While Lip settles for a new job, Carl finally finds his calling in a new role on the police force. Debbie plunges into a treacherous world when she meets someone new. Frank comes to terms with his own mortality.

    Director:Christopher Chulack
    Writer:John Wells

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  2. Shameless Season 10 Episode 9 - O Captain, My Captain
    6.8/10(1542 votes)

    S10:E9

    Frank goes back in time to uncover his connection to Faye, as Debbie’s day with Claudia’s daughter goes awry. Carl takes extreme measures to toughen up his new group of cadets. Ian struggles to connect with Mickey after their blowup.

    Director:Anthony Hardwick
    Writer:Philip Buiser

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  3. Shameless Season 10 Episode 6 - Adios Gringos
    7.0/10(1493 votes)

    S10:E6

    Frank and Liam get wined and dined by potential baby buyers. Carl comes up with a strategy to protect Anne’s family business, and Ian gets on Paula’s bad side. Backed into a corner, Debbie fights to protect Franny from Pepa. A figure from Kev’s past makes him reconsider his childhood.

    Director:Loren Yaconelli
    Writer:Sherman Payne

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  4. Shameless Season 10 Episode 4 - A Little Gallagher Goes a Long Way
    7.1/10(1564 votes)

    S10:E4

    Frank and Mikey set off on a day of adventure around the city in pursuit of Mikey’s dreams. Debbie discovers a new way to make money in the midst of a strike as Lip leans on his new friend for parenting advice. Carl gets more than he bargained for when he offers to help Anne. Liam grows suspicious of his seemingly perfect mentor.

    Director:Iain B. MacDonald
    Writer:Joe Lawson

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  5. Shameless Season 11 Episode 1 - This Is Chicago!
    7.1/10(1850 votes)

    S11:E1

    The Gallaghers adjust to life during the pandemic. Frank fears gentrification of South Side. Bar closures force Kev and V to get creative. Lip and Tami work to make their new house a home as Carl finishes his time at the police academy.

    Director:Iain B. MacDonald
    Writer:John Wells

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  6. Shameless Season 11 Episode 5 - Slaughter
    7.2/10(1456 votes)

    S11:E5

    Ian and Mickey get creative when the safety of their security gig comes into question. Dynamic duo Frank and Kev make a last-ditch effort to take down the Milkovich’s. V canvasses to get black people to the polls but realizes there’s barely any black people left on the Southside.

    Director:Daniella Eisman
    Writer:Joe Lawson

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  7. Shameless Season 11 Episode 9 - Survivors
    7.2/10(1348 votes)

    S11:E9

    Frank wants to pull one last heist with the old gang. Debbie struggles with the idea of change and blames Lip, while Lip and Brad find out the new owners of BornFree are in the mob. Mickey and Ian learn a surprising truth about Terry’s past, and Liam tries to find a new place to live.

    Director:Iain B. MacDonald
    Writer:Joe Lawson

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  8. Shameless Season 9 Episode 2 - Mo White For President
    7.3/10(1797 votes)

    S9:E2

    Fiona makes a play for a risky investment opportunity, ignoring Ford’s advice. Frank discovers the financial incentives of local politics. Carl bolsters his West Point application in unexpected ways. Debbie struggles to find allies in her battle against sexual harassment. Ian is overwhelmed by the growth of the Gay Jesus movement. Kev and V try to find the perfect preschool for the twins.

    Director:Erin Feeley
    Writer:Molly Smith Metzler

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  9. Shameless Season 10 Episode 2 - Sleep Well My Prince For Tomorrow You Shall Be King
    7.3/10(1587 votes)

    S10:E2

    Feeling the pressure from Debbie, Frank sets out to make money to keep his place in the house, but Mikey has bigger plans for him. Lip is overwhelmed by the demands of a newborn, and Carl learns more about his mysterious new coworker at Captain Bob’s. Ian and Mickey struggle to keep the romance alive in prison.

    Director:Jennifer Arnold
    Writer:Nancy M. Pimental

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  10. Shameless Season 10 Episode 3 - Which America?
    7.3/10(1565 votes)

    S10:E3

    Liam gets to know his newfound family members as Frank revels in his new position in the Gallagher house. Lip looks for support as the pressures of fatherhood take their toll. Ian and Mickey make a decision about their future, and Carl tries to woo Anne despite Lori’s efforts to get in his way.

    Director:Silver Tree
    Writer:Molly Smith Metzler

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  11. Shameless Season 10 Episode 8 - Debbie Might Be a Prostitute
    7.3/10(1460 votes)

    S10:E8

    Debbie weighs the pros and cons of a new career path. Frank uncovers the truth about Faye’s living situation. A miscommunication between Ian and Mickey has disastrous consequences and Lip and Tami disagree over who should be taking care of Fred.

    Director:Rose Troche
    Writer:Molly Smith Metzler

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  12. Shameless Season 11 Episode 2 - Go Home, Gentrifier!
    7.3/10(1555 votes)

    S11:E2

    Frank helps Kev and V's pot business. Debbie prepares a princess party for Franny while Mickey gets a real job. Lip runs into trouble with his new neighbors. Carl's first day on the force is not what he thought it would be.

    Director:Silver Tree
    Writer:Nancy M. Pimental

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  13. Shameless Season 11 Episode 4 - NIMBY
    7.3/10(1478 votes)

    S11:E4

    The Milkoviches move in next door and wreak havoc, leading Frank, Kev and Liam to scheme to get rid of them. Mickey embarks on a security gig for Kev and V and drags Ian along. Gemma and Franny compete in the Little Miss South Side beauty pageant.

    Director:Iain B. MacDonald
    Writer:Sherman Payne

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  14. Shameless Season 11 Episode 10 - DNR
    7.3/10(1393 votes)

    S11:E10

    Lip has a million projects going on, and Frank is one of them. Liam is forced to watch Frank, so the two of them embark on a journey to take down Liam’s classmate in an effort to get Liam into STEM school. Carl’s disillusionment with the police force comes to a head.

    Director:Anthony Hardwick
    Writer:Corina Maritescu

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  15. Shameless Season 9 Episode 3 - Weirdo Gallagher Vortex
    7.4/10(1715 votes)

    S9:E3

    Frank faces obstacles in his new role as a campaign manager. Fiona prepares to close her real estate deal. Carl enlists V to help him get a West Point recommendation from a congressman. Xan’s medical emergency puts Lip in a compromising position. Debbie gets closer with her partner in crime. Ian embarks on a spiritual journey.

    Director:Kat Coiro
    Writer:Joe Lawson

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  16. Shameless Season 10 Episode 5 - Sparky
    7.4/10(1516 votes)

    S10:E5

    Frank hatches the idea for a new scheme when an unexpected visitor shows up at the Gallagher house. With Tami back in the house, Lip struggles to give up control of Fred. Debbie’s fight for child support escalates and Carl tries to juggle multiple romantic prospects. Ian returns home and is immediately thrown in with a corrupt parole officer.

    Director:William H. Macy
    Writer:Philip Buiser

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  17. Shameless Season 10 Episode 10 - Now Leaving Illinois
    7.4/10(1438 votes)

    S10:E10

    An incident in the Tamietti family presents Lip and Tami with a new opportunity. Faye’s betrayal lands Frank in front of a judge. Mickey’s antics drive Ian to online dating. Carl makes an unexpected discovery at his new job.

    Director:Kevin Bray
    Writer:Sherman Payne

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  18. Shameless Season 9 Episode 4 - Do Right, Vote White!
    7.5/10(1820 votes)

    S9:E4

    Election day puts Frank and Fiona in a head to head battle as they each try to round up votes for their candidates. Lip has to make an important choice about Xan’s future. Debbie gets in over her head with Alex. Carl’s killer instinct is put to the test. With his trial looming, Ian struggles to decide how to plead. 100th episode!

    Director:Mark Mylod
    Writer:John Wells

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  19. Shameless Season 9 Episode 8 - The Apple Doesn't Fall Far from the Alibi
    7.5/10(1655 votes)

    S9:E8

    Fiona's downward spiral continues and Debbie steps in to pick up the slack at the Gallagher house. Ingrid ropes Frank into fulfilling her lifelong dream. Tami shows Lip a different version of adulthood.

    Director:Zetna Fuentes
    Writer:Joe Lawson

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  20. Shameless Season 10 Episode 1 - We Few, We Lucky Few, We Band of Gallaghers!
    7.5/10(1771 votes)

    S10:E1

    Frank milks his injury for all its worth as Debbie, now the self-elected leader of the Gallagher family, cooks up a scam of her own. Lip and Tami get a surprise. Carl returns home from military school and Liam faces an identity crisis.

    Director:John Wells
    Writer:John Wells

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  21. Shameless Season 10 Episode 7 - Citizen Carl
    7.5/10(1463 votes)

    S10:E7

    Carl embraces his civic duty while Debbie searches for her next payday. Frank meets the woman of his dreams, and Ian and Mickey get roped into a dangerous scam for Paula. When tragedy strikes at the Alibi, Kev and V go undercover to find new customers.

    Director:Erin Feeley
    Writer:Nancy M. Pimental

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  22. Shameless Season 10 Episode 11 - Location, Location, Location
    7.5/10(1414 votes)

    S10:E11

    Frank finds a cushy place to make his new home. Lip gets cold feet when Tami moves forward with a plan for their future. Ian sees a new side of Mickey, and Debbie’s love triangle reaches a breaking point.

    Director:Silver Tree
    Writer:Joe Lawson

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  23. Shameless Season 8 Episode 9 - The Fugees
    7.7/10(1754 votes)

    S8:E9

    Frank's business takes a turn for the worse, sending him on the run through the Great White North. Ian's run-in with a minister brings about some unexpected allies. Meanwhile, Fiona tries (and fails) to fit in with Ford's group of friends, Carl's new girlfriend suffers separation anxiety and Lip must decide whether to tell Sierra about Charlie's past.

    Director:Jeffrey Reiner
    Writer:Dominique Morisseau

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  24. Shameless Season 8 Episode 10 - Church of Gay Jesus
    7.7/10(1785 votes)

    S8:E10

    Ian's fame in the LGBTQIA community explodes but the sudden surge of 'followers' may be more than he can handle; Frank, however, finds a way to cash in. Meanwhile, Fiona struggles with her conscience when she learns about a worker who fell off her roof and Lip realizes his relationship with Professor Youens may not have been as special as he thought.

    Director:Anna Mastro
    Writer:Sheila Callaghan

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  25. Shameless Season 9 Episode 9 - BOOOOOOOOOOOONE!
    7.7/10(1643 votes)

    S9:E9

    Frank searches for ways to finance Ingrid's vision for their future together. Fiona's anger issues cause problems at Patsy's. Lip is forced to confront his real feelings for Tami.

    Director:Loren Yaconelli
    Writer:Philip Buiser

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Worst Episodes Summary

"Father Frank, Full of Grace" is the worst rated episode of "Shameless". It scored 6.7/10 based on 3262 votes. Directed by Christopher Chulack and written by John Wells, it aired on 4/11/2021. This episode scored 0.1 points lower than the second lowest rated, "O Captain, My Captain".