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Shameless
We’ve got the good, the bad, and the ugly news for all Shameless fans. We’ll start with the good: the most recent season of the hit Showtime series has just landed on Netflix, and it’s ready to be binge-watched in its entirety. The bad news, though, is that it is the very last season of Shameless ever. Ugh! And as for the ugly, we’re sad to report that there’s truly no show quite like this chaotic dramedy — but we’re here to rattle off a few shows you might like watching after you finish Shameless. We’ll try our best.
After ten years of the William H. Macy-starring show, Shameless has come to an end. While we’re surely sad to see it go, the Chicago series went out with a bang — no spoilers, but literally. The show really hasn’t been the same without Emmy Rossum’s Fiona Gallagher, though, so it was time to wrap things up once and for all. After four primetime Emmy awards, three SAG trophies, and more, it’s time to bid farewell to the Gallaghers.
Luckily, we’ve got some more families to meet and dramedies to obsess over. Here are seven shows like Shameless to watch if you loved the Showtime series.
'Maid'
Netflix just released Maid, and it may be a little more intense than some of the antics of Shameless. Still, if you’re looking for a well-acted drama about the intricacies and hardships of family life, this show might be the one for you. Starring mother-daughter duo Andie MacDowell and Margaret Qualley, Maid has soared to the top of Netflix’s most viewed shows of the week — just like Shameless. The show follows a mother living in poverty and working hard to make ends meet for her young daughter.
'Skins'
If you’re looking for a hilarious show with plenty of grit and darker plot lines, Shameless is a good bet — and so is Skins. The British drama series follows a new set (or “generation”) of hard-knock teens in each new season, introducing an array of stars every time. Huge names like Kaya Scodelario, Dev Patel, and Nicholas Hoult came out of Skins. Even though the show is humorous, just like Shameless, it grapples with intense themes like substance abuse, mental illness, and more coming-of-age issues.
'Animal Kingdom'
Animal Kingdom follows a similar line of thought as Shameless, centering on a family affected by substance abuse and tragedy. After a heroin overdose kills his mother, J Cody moves to California to live with a handful of wild relatives that promise to set him back on track — or, at least, try to take care of him as he mourns the loss of his mom. With a new matriarch at the helm, J learns he’ll have to get by with robberies, heists, and other illegal activity if he wants to stay afloat in SoCal with his new family.
'Wayne'
There’s a patriarch at the head of Wayne, too, which follows a young boy mourning the loss of his father in a bizarre way. Instead of leaning on other family members, Wayne decides he’s best-suited on a wild goose chase after his father’s missing ’79 Trans Am car. Finding a new friend to help him along the way, Wayne figures it’s not that much of a long-shot to get his dad’s vehicle back in his hands. And if he manages to get away with it, he’ll keep the memory of his dad alive, too.
'We Are Who We Are'
Somewhat akin to Shameless, We Are Who We Are is a multi-generational epic full of well-written characters and complex parental dynamics. Although HBO has yet to green-light the project for a second season, the first is long enough to keep you well-fed on the family drama for quite awhile. The show takes place in Italy at an Army base, following the kids and their parents as they attempt to live a somewhat normal lifestyle abroad.
'Jane the Virgin'
Another multi-generational series, Jane the Virgin is perfect for all you Shameless lovers. Based loosely on traditional telenovelas, the series follows Jane, a young woman who becomes pregnant — even though she’s never had sex. Juggling a mystery, her family, and the baby-to-be, Jane grapples with her definition of family. And, of course, the narration is hilarious and top-notch. Shameless fans should run, not walk, to Jane the Virgin.
'Good Girls'
Netflix has more top-notch dramedies where Shameless came from — just see Good Girls, which stars Retta, Mae Whitman, and Christina Hendricks as three moms who revolt against the rules. Tired of their hum-drum suburban parenthoods, the trio bands together to conspire a major heist for funds as they battle being cash-strapped in their own individual ways. Tackling themes like debt, custody battles, and illness, Good Girls has a dark side just like Shameless.
