Shameless season 4
Shameless | |
---|---|
Season 4 | |
Starring | |
No. of episodes | 12 |
Release | |
Original network | Showtime |
Original release | January 12 April 6, 2014 | –
Season chronology | |
The fourth season of Shameless, an American comedy-drama television series based on the British series of the same name by Paul Abbott, premiered on January 12, 2014, at Sunday 9:00 p.m. EST on the Showtime television network. Executive producers are John Wells, Abbott and Andrew Stearn, with producer Michael Hissrich. The season concluded after 12 episodes on April 6, 2014. The show’s season premiere brought in 1.69 million viewers, while the episode airing February 2, "Strangers on a Train", received 1.22 million total viewers, its lowest-rated episode of the season. The season finale scored 1.93 million viewers, becoming the show’s highest-rated episode for the season.
Plot
Unlike previous seasons, the fourth season of Shameless begins shifting into a darker tone, with the season's core stories mainly revolving around Fiona's sudden trouble with the law, and Frank's possible death. The beginning of the season is majorly different in comparison, revolving around Fiona getting past the disappearance of Jimmy and adjusting to her new job at Worldwide Cup. Keeping the family afloat, Fiona has begun dating her boss, Mike Pratt.
The lives of other characters have shifted: Lip no longer lives at the house, struggling to adjust to new life at Chicago Polytechnic. Sheila finds solace in online dating, meeting a Native American cowboy that takes care of his junkie sister’s five children. Veronica is pregnant with triplets, though her initial surrogate mother is also pregnant. Kevin gets full ownership of The Alibi Room. Debbie begins pining after an older boy, Matty. Mickey is depressed over the disappearance of Ian, and he has a strained relationship with his wife, Svetlana. Mickey eventually tracks down Ian, who has gone AWOL from the army and now works at a sketchy gay bar with a new, odd behavior. Knowing that her husband is spending time with Ian, Svetlana begins to extort money from Mickey. During his son's christening, Mickey publicly comes out in The Alibi Room.
Frank, in declining health, is returned home by the police, to most of the family's dismay. Forced to stay on the wagon, Frank is desperate for a new liver, and reveals the existence of his oldest child, Sammi. To his surprise, Frank tracks Sammi down and discovers that she lives in a trailer with her son, Chuckie. Frank makes a good impression on Sammi, who does not know that Frank is her father; Sammi is initially furious when she finds out the truth, but she eventually reconciles with Frank, wanting to begin a father/daughter relationship. As she isn't a viable donor, Sammi cares for Frank as his health begins to deteriorate; Sheila, wanting to adopt the kids of her online boyfriend, marries Frank in order to increase her chances of winning custody, though she ultimately fails to do so. Frank is eventually given a last minute liver transplant.
Fiona's life is drastically turned upside down on her birthday. Against her better judgement, Fiona pursues a secret affair with Mike's brother, Robbie. Mike is devastated when he learns the truth, punching Robbie in the face and breaking up with Fiona once and for all. When Fiona is gifted a baggie of cocaine from Robbie, Fiona throws a party; Liam gets into the stash of cocaine and is found unconscious in the kitchen. As Liam is sent to the hospital, Fiona is arrested and lands in county jail, getting a rude awakening. Originally put on house arrest, Fiona goes on a bender and breaks her curfew; she is sent to a correctional facility for a 90-day sentence, wrecking havoc for the rest of the family.
Fiona's arrest leaves parental duties on Lip. Some unexpected assistance comes from Lip's roommate's girlfriend, Amanda, who Lip eventually begins dating. Lip begins to put his previous relationship with Mandy behind him; Mandy is stuck in an abusive relationship with her boyfriend, Kenyatta. Meanwhile, Ian finally turns up and reunites with his family, but his new behavior concerns both Mickey and the family, who compare Ian's odd behavior to Monica's bipolar disorder.
Fiona is released early from the correctional facility due to overcrowding. Thanks to her parole officer, Fiona gets a job as a waitress at the Golden House Restaurant, a diner run by Charlie Peters. Frank is back to drinking with his new liver, and has simultaneously brought Sammi and Chuckie into the Gallagher's lives. During the final episode, a post-credits scene reveals Jimmy, who we haven't seen all season, watching the Gallagher home from his car with an unnamed woman.
Cast and Characters
Regular
- William H. Macy as Frank Gallagher
- Emmy Rossum as Fiona Gallagher
- Jeremy Allen White as Philip "Lip" Gallagher
- Ethan Cutkosky as Carl Gallagher
- Shanola Hampton as Veronica "V" Fisher
- Steve Howey as Kevin "Kev" Ball
- Emma Kenney as Debbie Gallagher
- Cameron Monaghan as Ian Gallagher
- Noel Fisher as Mickey Milkovich
- Emma Greenwell as Mandy Milkovich
- Jake McDorman as Mike Pratt (episodes 1-6)
Special guest stars
- Regina King as Gail Johnson
- Cherami Leigh as Robyn Hasseck
- Joan Cusack as Sheila Jackson
Recurring
|
Episodes
No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | US viewers (millions) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
37 | 1 | "Simple Pleasures" | John Wells | John Wells | January 12, 2014 | 1.69[1] |
38 | 2 | "My Oldest Daughter" | Mimi Leder | Nancy M. Pimental | January 19, 2014 | 1.60[2] |
39 | 3 | "Like Father, Like Daughter" | Sanaa Hamri | Sheila Callaghan | January 26, 2014 | 1.83[3] |
40 | 4 | "Strangers on a Train" | Peter Segal | Etan Frankel | February 2, 2014 | 1.22[4] |
41 | 5 | "There's the Rub" | David Nutter | Davey Holmes | February 9, 2014 | 1.58[5] |
42 | 6 | "Iron City" | James Ponsoldt | John Wells | February 16, 2014 | 1.90[6] |
43 | 7 | "A Jailbird, Invalid, Martyr, Cutter, Retard and Parasitic Twin" | Gary B. Goldman | Nancy M. Pimental | February 23, 2014 | 1.89[7] |
44 | 8 | "Hope Springs Paternal" | Mimi Leder | Sheila Callaghan | March 9, 2014 | 1.77[8] |
45 | 9 | "The Legend of Bonnie and Carl" | Mark Mylod | Etan Frankel | March 16, 2014 | 1.70[9] |
46 | 10 | "Liver, I Hardly Know Her" | Christopher Chulack | Davey Holmes | March 23, 2014 | 1.63[10] |
47 | 11 | "Emily" | Anthony Hemingway | Nancy M. Pimental | March 30, 2014 | 1.76[11] |
48 | 12 | "Lazarus" | Mark Mylod | John Wells | April 6, 2014 | 1.93[12] |
Development and production
On January 29, 2013, Showtime announced the series would be renewed for a fourth season.[13] The show's fourth season began production on September 20, 2013 and began filming the following week,[14] and premiered on Sunday, January 12, 2014.
Reception
Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes gives the fourth season 100%, based on 15 reviews. The critics consensus reads, "Shameless shows no signs of fatigue as it barrels into its fourth season, with the Gallaghers stirring up new and novel forms of mischief."[15]
DVD release
The Complete Fourth Season | |||||
Set details[16] | Special features[17][18] | ||||
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Release dates | |||||
United States | Australia | ||||
December 30, 2014[19] | December 17, 2014[20] |
References
- ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (January 14, 2014). "Sunday Cable Ratings: 'Real Housewives of Atlanta' Wins Night, 'True Detective', 'Ax Men', 'Shameless' & More". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on January 16, 2014. Retrieved January 14, 2014.
- ^ Bibel, Sara (January 22, 2014). "Sunday Cable Ratings: 'Real Housewives of Atlanta' Wins Night, 'Keeping Up With the Kardashians', 'Shameless', 'True Detective', 'Girls' & More". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on January 25, 2014.
- ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (January 28, 2014). "Sunday Cable Ratings: 'Real Housewives of Atlanta' Wins Night + 'Live From the Red Carpet', 'Curse of Oak Island', 'Sister Wives' & More". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on January 31, 2014.
- ^ Bibel, Sara (February 4, 2014). "Sunday Cable Ratings: 'NFL Primetime' Wins Night, 'Puppy Bowl', 'Shameless',' Zombie Bowl' & More". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014.
- ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (February 11, 2014). "Sunday Cable Ratings: 'The Walking Dead' Tops Night + 'Real Housewives of Atlanta', 'Keeping Up With the Kardashians' & More". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ^ Bibel, Sara (February 19, 2014). "Sunday Cable Ratings: 'The Walking Dead' Wins Night, NBA All Star Game, 'Real Housewives of Atlanta', 'True Detective', 'Shameless' & More". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on February 26, 2014. Retrieved February 19, 2014.
- ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (February 25, 2014). "Sunday Cable Ratings: 'The Walking Dead' Wins Night, + 'Talking Dead', 'Real Housewives of Atlanta', 'True Detective' & More". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on March 1, 2014. Retrieved February 25, 2014.
- ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (March 11, 2014). "Sunday Cable Ratings: 'The Walking Dead' Wins Night, 'Talking Dead', 'The Real Housewives of Atlanta', 'True Detective' & More". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on March 11, 2014. Retrieved March 11, 2014.
- ^ Bibel, Sara (March 18, 2014). "Sunday Cable Ratings: 'The Walking Dead' Wins Night, 'Talking Dead', 'Real Housewives of Atlanta' 'Naked And Afraid', 'Shameless' & More". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on March 18, 2014. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
- ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (April 1, 2014). "Sunday Cable Ratings: 'The Walking Dead' Tops Night + 'Talking Dead', 'The Real Housewives of Atlanta', NCAA Basketball & More". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on March 25, 2014. Retrieved April 1, 2014.
- ^ Bibel, Sara (March 25, 2014). "Sunday Cable Ratings: 'The Walking Dead' Wins Night, 'Talking Dead', 'Real Housewives of Atlanta', 'Shameless', 'Naked and Afraid' & More". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on April 4, 2014. Retrieved March 25, 2014.
- ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (April 8, 2014). "Sunday Cable Ratings: 'Game of Thrones' Wins Night + 'The Real Housewives of Atlanta', 'Silicon Valley', 'Married to Medicine' & More". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on April 8, 2014. Retrieved April 8, 2014.
- ^ Seat42f. "Showtime Renews Shameless". Retrieved 29 January 2013.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Amazing first table read with my #shameless family! This seasons gonna ROCK.". Twitter.com. Retrieved 2013-09-20.
- ^ "Shameless S04". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
- ^ [1] [dead link]
- ^ "Shameless: The Complete Fourth Season Blu-ray". Blu-ray.com. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
- ^ "Shameless – The Complete 4th Season". Tvshowsondvd.com. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
- ^ "Shameless DVD news: Announcement for Shameless – The Complete 4th Season – TVShowsOnDVD.com". Tvshowsondvd.com. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
- ^ "Buy Shameless; S4 Emmy Rossum, Drama, Blu-ray – Sanity". Sanity. Retrieved 19 November 2014.