Shameless fans are in for quite the shock during the Season 11 opening episode on Sunday, December 6. It has been a while since we last checked in on the Gallagher family, and a lot of things have changed since Season 10.
Warning ‘Shameless’ Season 11 spoilers below
Shameless Episode one of Season 11 entitled “This is Chicago,” kicks off with Frank Gallagher walking the streets of the Southside while giving an interview.
Frank is going off on one of his famous rants, complaining about how unhappy he is with all the current changes taking place in his beloved neighborhood.
The episode jumps around from Gallagher to Gallagher filling viewers in on all the changes each character has endured since last season. First off, as you may already know, COVID-19 has affected the Southside.
The virus has played hell on the family finances, and all are doing what they have to make ends meet.
COVID-19 hits Gallagher family
Lip and Tami are living together with baby son Freddie. Lip is still working at the bike repair shop part-time. Tami is still working at the beauty shop and is having a hard time adjusting to living financially as a Gallagher.
Ian and Mickey are struggling through the first few months of marriage. Ian is working any job he can find to pay the bills. As with any new married couple, Ian and Mickey are butting heads over what they expect out of the marriage.
The couple has one of their first disagreements since the wedding after Ian finds their wedding box stash of cash is gone and has been replaced by IOUs from Mickey. This brings on a big discussion about marital finances. It also gets Ian wondering if they may have made a mistake in getting married.
Debbie Gallagher’s life is not what fans expected
Debbie, oh, Debbie. She is the Gallagher that many believed in the early years had a chance at surviving the Gallagher ‘Shameless’ curse. In Season 10, you remember Debbie was exploring her sexuality.
This finds her hooking up with the underage daughter of her boss and getting arrested. This season Debbie is on house arrest and is a registered sex offender. She is also involved in a relationship with Sandy.
Carl is now working as a policeman and is loving his new job. Liam and Frannie’s parts in this episode are mostly background.
Now onto Kev and Vee. They are finding ways to work around the virus. Since their bar is “closed” due to COVID they are scrambling to pay the bills.
The Hook Up No One Expected To See On ‘Shameless’
To make ends meet they are selling marijuana and edibles in the bar. Their first scenes start at their house with Vee baking up special brownies while their twin daughters are rolling joints.
Kevin has also kept the bar somewhat open underground to their regular customers. During a scene at the Alibi Vee gives Tommy and Kermit samples of her special brownies. However, they devoured the entire supply and Vee finds them high as a kite.
Tommy and Kermit head to the men’s room amazed at how high they are. Now here comes the “didn’t see it coming” shocker. Construction worker Tommy and Kermit hook up in the men’s room.
The end of the episode shows Lip working on his rundown house and the entire family showing up to land a hand in true Gallagher fashion. The ‘Shameless’ Season 11 opener set each character’s story plots up and it appears as if there will be a lot of crazy Gallagher family dysfunction to entertain.
Don’t forget Shameless Season 11 airs Sundays on Showtime.
Emma Taylor 
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Joshua Dale