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Season 2 – Shameless

Play trailer Poster for Season 2 – Shameless Jan 2012 Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 11 Reviews 94% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
Oscar-nominated actor William H. Macy stars as Frank Gallagher, a single father of six who spends much of his free time drinking at bars. The Gallagher children -- led by oldest daughter Fiona (Emmy Rossum), who takes on much of the child-rearing responsibility due to her mother's absence -- manage to raise themselves in spite of Frank's lack of parenting and unusual parenting style when he does choose to act like a father. The drama is an adaptation of the BAFTA Award-winning British show of the same name.
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Shameless — Season 2

Shameless — Season 2

What to Know

Critics Consensus

The good times continue to roll in Shameless's second season as the series ups the ante with outrageous gags and unabashed joy for the ties that bind.

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Critics Reviews

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Steve Johnson Chicago Tribune Dec 18, 2017
"Shameless" may look, on its surface, like just another tester of television boundaries, but to focus on that is to miss the show's beautifully beating heart. Go to Full Review Lori Rackl Chicago Sun-Times Jan 8, 2012
3.5/4
Shameless definitely isn't your conventional comedy. In fact, almost nothing about this series is conventional. That's part of the appeal. Go to Full Review Alan Sepinwall HitFix Jan 8, 2012
A-
The show's disparate pieces - the filthy comedy and the desperation, the joy and the depression - hold together just as well. Go to Full Review Leigh Raines TV Fanatic Dec 18, 2017
Overall, I thought this season was fantastic and outshone season one. Go to Full Review James Queally Newark Star-Ledger Dec 15, 2017
It's going to be messy, it's going to have some scenes that are hard to swallow and it's also going to make you laugh your ass off. Go to Full Review Dustin Rowles Pajiba Dec 15, 2017
Best of all, however, is that the Showtime series has captured the essence of the first few seasons of the British show Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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dede W @RT37612585 Sep 24, 2026 Omg the drama and chaos on the show was good but imma loose my last braincell if frank keeps messing with the kids, I don’t understand why they don’t call the cops on him and tell them he’s a deadbeat😤 See more Ken D @mynameisken Jun 10, 2026 Emmy Rossum = Zionist See more Hc N @RT04263181 Mar 25, 2026 This is so dark and still I’m rooting for the dysfunctional characters in this series, hoping for the beacons of light on the way, which comes up in between all the problems hitting the Gallagher family. The varied cast and the many likeable characters make this one of my favourite series. Same vibe as Breaking Bad, but swapping the coke with a big family instead. See more Nasif N @RT60643438 Aug 17, 2025 This is my first time seeing real life true story that matters especially for the poor people all over the world. Loved it so much 💪🏿🫡 See more letaiser @RT88401244 Jan 7, 2024 this season was better than the 1st because every character showed more emotions and many things happened ,karen got pregnant and lip found out it is not his child, the mother of the Childs was Caring more about them until the depressions were hitting and frank and his mum . Even Steve/jimmy came back and fell in love again which all was a little bit corny but overall the season was enjoyable and they tried to do it a little bit more violent ,which they did and some things actually worked very well with the violent which was not in season 1 . See more Regal R @RT96555783 Dec 4, 2023 70/100 - not as good as all the hype. season 2 is better than s1 but then falls off season 3 and on. gets really repetitive, annoying, predictable, and the situations that occur are so unrealistic it breaks your immersion. they ruin any type of character traits and every single one just pulls a 180. good characters are now bad, bad characters are now good, responsible characters are irresponsible, just super bad writing because its every single one and its so unbelievable. i genuinely dont know how it went on for 11 seasons. See more Read all reviews
Shameless — Season 2

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Mark Mylod

Director

John Wells

Director

Craig Zisk

Director

John Dahl

Director

Alex Graves

Director

David Nutter

Director

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Jan 8, 2012 Summertime Fiona enjoys her youth by bartending and hanging out with a young exec; Debbie runs a daycare. Details Episode 2 Aired Jan 15, 2012 Summer Loving Frank finds a new financial plan with Dottie; Fiona juggles her job, kids and love life. Details Episode 3 Aired Jan 22, 2012 I'll Light a Candle for You Every Day Fiona connects with her high school crush, who is married; Frank is eager to stay in Dottie's good graces; Debbie is obsessed with death; Kevin considers buying the Alibi; Lip meets with a colonel. Details Episode 4 Aired Jan 29, 2012 A Beautiful Mess Fiona deals with the consequences of sleeping with Craig Heisner; Debbie develops a stress-rash. Details Episode 5 Aired Feb 5, 2012 Father's Day Frank tries to claim Eddie's benefits, even though he is a suspect in his death; Fiona lies about her background at a wedding. Details Episode 6 Aired Feb 12, 2012 Can I Have a Mother Grammy Gallagher shows up on a medical furlough; Fiona double dates; Frank discovers the identity of Eddie's beneficiary. Details Episode 7 Aired Feb 19, 2012 A Bottle of Jean Nate Lip tries to get back into Karen's good graces; Ian ignores Lip; Frank wants to kick Grammy out; Fiona is invited on a boat trip. Details Episode 8 Aired Mar 2, 2012 Parenthood Frank walks in on Ian and Mickey; Lip drops out of school, forcing Fiona to make a deal. Details Episode 9 Aired Mar 9, 2012 Hurricane Monica Monica returns; Fiona reconsiders her decision about Lip; Frank is determined to gain his inheritance; Sheila and Jody believe they are being haunted. Details Episode 10 Aired Mar 14, 2012 A Great Cause Fiona begins to plan for her future; Monica causes trouble; Steve wants to reunite Estefania with her true love; Lip and Ian learn the identity of Mandy's baby; Sheila takes in an addict. Details Episode 11 Aired Mar 21, 2012 Just Like the Pilgrims Intended Monica tries to kill herself; Carl shoots a bald eagle; Karen goes into labor; Steve agrees to identity theft. Details Episode 12 Aired Apr 1, 2012 Fiona Interrupted Frank schemes to break Monica out of the facility; Jimmy earns his way back into Fiona's good graces; Lip and Sheila try to do the right thing; Ian runs into Ned. Details

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Shameless — Season 2

Shameless View more photos

Season Info

Director
Mark Mylod, John Wells, Craig Zisk, John Dahl, Alex Graves, David Nutter, Mimi Leder, Anthony Hemingway, Daisy von Scherler Mayer
Screenwriter
Nancy Pimental, Etan Frankel, Mike O'Malley, Alex Borstein, William H. Macy, John Wells, LaToya Morgan, Stan Frankel, Steven Schachter
Network
Paramount+ with Showtime
Rating
TV-MA
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date
Jan 8, 2012
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