Fans of Showtime's debauched family dramedy Shameless, were quite shocked a couple of years ago when original cast member and star Emmy Rossum announced she would be leaving her role as default family leader Fiona Gallagher behind. Her time on the show ended with Season 9, and the series was renewed for Season 10, even though fans would be Fiona-less for the duration. Well, it was just announced that Shameless has been cancelled after the currently-airing season, but there is still some good news to be had for those who love watching the Gallagher clan try (and usually fail) to fix their lives.
Fortunately, while Shameless is, indeed, ending, the series finale won't come in a few weeks when Season 10 is over, as the show has been renewed for an 11th and final season. Even better, fans won't have to wait a whole year for the Gallagher's last run of shenanigans to commence; Season 11 will begin airing this summer. The big announcement was made recently at the Television Critics Association’s winter press tour.
I'm sure all the Shameless fans out there will undoubtedly be sore over the loss of one of their favorite shows, but they can at least take heart in the fact that things won't end abruptly with Season 10, which will air its finale on January 26. With the series debuting its finale season so soon after the current season is done airing, those behind Shameless are probably already working on just how to wrap up the arcs of more than a dozen nutty and damaged, but still sorta lovable, characters.
The most recent episode saw several Gallagher family members and friends considering some major questions that will impact their futures in some intriguing ways. Ways which could easily help bring somewhat tidy conclusions to the stories we've been watching develop since 2011. Of course, I say "somewhat tidy," because nothing is ever simple with this crazy clan, as evidenced by...well, pretty much anything any of them have ever done. And, this includes Emmy Rossum's Season 9 exit as Fiona.
While nothing so dramatic as a Fiona dying happened, the default matriarch did get a pretty happy ending, being suddenly flush with enough cash to leave her dysfunctional family behind, and take a trip to parts unknown to clear hear head after decades of drama and finally commit to figuring out her own life. We don't know yet if Fiona will make an appearance during the final season of Shameless, but most of her family was appreciative of all the sacrifices she made for them and glad to see her take time for herself, meaning that they'll be welcoming should she return.
And, sure, I say that knowing that being welcomed by the Gallaghers isn't necessarily all one might think it's cracked up to be. But, such is the life of a Chicago South Sider, I suppose. You take what you can get when you can get it.
Emmy Rossum's final run as Fiona did, obviously, leave room for her to come back, and those behind the show are certainly up for writing Fiona back into the show, should Rossum be on board, to help conclude any Gallagher storylines. So, we'll just have to wait and see if Fiona will come back from her sojourn refreshed, rejuvenated and ready to tackle family issues again, at least for a little bit.
The 11th and final season of Shameless will begin airing this summer, so stay tuned to CinemaBlend for updates on the finale. For more on what you can watch right now, check out our 2020 winter / spring premiere and Netflix premiere guides!
