In what world?! Now that theyre free of him, maybe hope can finally prevail. On the finale, the Gallagher family patriarch ( William H. Macy) died of COVID-19. What's Coming to Disney Plus in April 2021, Everything Coming to Netflix in April 2021. I think I have an idea about what would happen over the next few months, but I have no idea what would wholly happen. It also delivered one of the most controversial finales ever with a simple smash cut to black just as somethingmaybe nefarious, maybe notwas about to happen to the show's iconic antihero, Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini). (Laughing.) It sadly certainly seems that Frank is dead. Frank has seemed essentially indestructible on Shameless. Why havent the Gallaghers talked about their sister? Eventually, in his dream (or maybe as a spirit), he floated up on his barstool above his family. The rest of the Gallagher kids, seemingly oblivious to the death of their dad, prepare to finally sell their longtime family home and start new, more independent lives. Many wonderful novels end and youre still thinking about the characters and what they do. Frank Gallagher Dies From COVID-19 Of all the many, many ways one might expect to see the Frank Gallagher death scene, few could have predicted at the start of the series that he'd fall. Although there's no direct explanation for his death,. When the iconic NBC comedy signed off in 1998 after nine seasons, original co-creator Larry David returned to really drive home how little the show's core four characters had learnedand how kinda awful they'd been all along. The West Wing is about how government works. Saved by the bell: Contestant ordered to keep mask on, in historic 'Masked Singer first, Chris Pine admits 'it does look' like Harry Styles spit on him but this is what actually happened, Rebel Wilson 'collapsed' after Ramona Agruma proposal: 'I was so overwhelmed', Amy Grant recalls being 'so scared' to return to touring following serious bike accident, Travis Scott being sought by NYPD after alleged nightclub assault. When Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse decided to end the mind-bending ABC mystery by getting metaphysical rather than giving some, you know, concrete answers about what had been going on for the last six seasons, not everyone was exactly thrilled. On Sunday, April 11, the hit Showtime dramedy series Shamelesscame to an end after 11 seasons. There was some backlash. Frank!!!! Figures for Covid patients in hospitals and I.C.U.s are the most recent number of patients with Covid-19 who are hospitalized or in an intensive care unit on that day. And did Meadow (Jamie-Lynn Sigler) ever finish parallel parking? How much did the Black Lives Matter protests and the ongoing national conversation about racial inequality influence what you had originally planned? 1,110,364. We could have used two more seasons to explore that. A parade of returning guest stars testified about all the horrible things that had befallen them as a result of Jerry (Jerry Seinfeld), Elaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), George (Jason Alexander), and Kramer's (Michael Richards) extreme selfishness and, in the end, a judge threw them in jail for a full year as a result of it. You rewrote the first half of the season after COVID hit. William H. Macy, who plays Frank, is credited for every episode of Season 11, including the finale. Watching Showtime's serial killer thriller, one got the impression that the titular murderer (played by Michael C. Hall) might eventually have to, you know, pay for his many, many sins by the time all was said and done. Spoiler Alert: This article contains spoilers for Season 11 of Shameless. Watch Shameless on Sundays at 9 p.m. EST on Showtime. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Thank you for 11 incredible seasons. The series ends without answering if Lip (Jeremy Allen White) sold the family home or if bar owners Kevin (Steve Howey) and Veronica (Shanola Hampton) sold it and moved to Louisville. Wells has hinted towards the writers ideas about what the characters would get up to after the finale, but no spin-offs have been confirmed. By Charlie Ridgely Its the same reason that at the end of ER we walked away from the hospital in the middle of a shift, and at the end of The West Wing Santos (Jimmy Smits) had just gone into the White House and Bartlet (Martin Sheen) was headed home. In the eleventh episode of the final season, we see that Frank seems to have overdosed on drugs and tries to leave a note for his family. Kids would come to our Chicago set, and tell us about how they were thrown out of their homes for being gay, lesbian or trans. In the post-credits, his body, saturated with ingested alcohol, is cremated, with explosive results. But I would say that when youre doing stories about people who are less fortunate, if youre not providing easy answers, the shows tend to get overlooked a bit more. Taking incidents like this into consideration, it seems that the man insists on living on his terms and possibly have control over his death too. Despite much hope among fans, Emmy Rossum, who left the show in. Did he meet his maker while feasting on a bowl of onion rings with his family? In his delirium, Frank mistakes a health care worker for Fiona, which is the first time that she has been mentioned since Emmy Rossum left the show two years ago. We were always planning for him to pass away from something at the end. Would any of Fionas storylines have filled in what the character is doing now? At the beginning of series finale of Shameless, we see the kids sharing the news that "Frank OD'd again" as he's passed out on the couch. Five simple words are all we need to explain why this iconic CW drama's finale missed the mark: Dan Humphrey was Gossip Girl. Critics did not latch onto the show at the beginning. And did Meadow (Jamie-Lynn Sigler) ever finish parallel parking? In that regard, you might expect him to be able to stick it out and live to see the end of the series. Shameless showrunner John Wells told Entertainment Weekly that he would love for Fiona's actress, Emmy Rossum, to return for the final season. Despite much hope among fans, Emmy Rossum, who left the show in season nine in 2019, did not return forthe finaleto reprise her role of Frank's eldest daughter Fiona Gallagher. To find COVID-19 vaccine locations near you: Search vaccines.gov, text your ZIP code to 438829, or call 1-800-232-0233. **Warning Spoilers ahead for Shameless**. The finale begins with Franks overdose, brought about during the last episode, and he is later taken into hospital where it was revealed that he had Covid-19. That Shameless would end without providing resolution for what happens to the Gallagher children comes as little surprise, as Wells has said for years that he was drawn to a sense of life going on for the characters. He even gets a tattoo across his chest in the seasons tenth episode, which reads Do Not Resuscitate. However, the upcoming season may see him open his eyes once again, but does that mean he will survive? His character has had so many ups and downs over the years, and in the episodes leading up to the finale, things were on the downswing. Frank faces his mortality.". Never has a series finale more nakedly telegraphed the idea "We like this character and may want to do more with him some day" before. We caught it at the wrong moment. What did you think of the Shameless finale? We put it up on the writers room board and then took it down a few times. "But, in all that he has been through and all that we've been through the last year, it didn't seem right to allow somebody to simply say, oh, yeah, you can live your life like this and there won't be any consequences.". The Iron Throne melted down?! Thats about how the system doesnt really work for families living near the poverty line, Wells said. So, here is everything you need to know! [This story contains spoilers from the series finale of Showtimes Shameless.]. But as he comes to terms with his alcoholic dementia diagnosis, the second to last episode shows Frank with drugs and what appears to be a note to his family. Ian (Cameron Monaghan) and Mickey (Noel Fisher) were the opposite of that, as they pieced together the furniture for their new lives outside of the Gallagher residence. Somehow, though, he stayed alive. The idea was with Franks dementia being discovered, theres a call and she comes back to help everyone figure it out and that she would come back and be involved at the end with what to do with the house and all that. What the hell why not go out in a blaze of glory? The fans are even amazed at the severe health problems Frank has lived through when most of us thought that he wouldnt make it. Additionally, the fans may also recall that Fiona comes back for the season finale in the original UK version of the show. You and many other people! Wed have to see. While he has constantly been misusing substances and landing in trouble, his kids raised themselves and learned to look out for each other. After waking from his overdose, the Gallagher patriarch eventually ended up in the hospital, where he died of COVID. It was, uh, a choice. The pandemic also prevented Rossums return to reprise her role as former leading lady Fiona Gallagher when travel bans amid a COVID surge eliminated that possibility. In the final moments of the episode, we see Frank at the Alibi and hear what he wrote in a note to. Then three days before shooting began on a season in which the mostly grown-up Gallaghers finally disperse, production was shut down for months. It started small but quickly escalated to the point where he was diagnosed with alcoholic dementia. In the first season, we are introduced to Frank, a single father who can barely look after himself, let alone his kids. Debbie never explicitly made a decision as to her future by the end of the episode, but it seemed clear that she was willing to follow this newfound love interest to whatever sad end it would bring her and her daughter. This is all most people will experience. And NO. I would have been interested in seeing the plight of this family without Frank and all that he brings hovering over their heads. See TV's most controversial series finales: The series ended its 11-season run on April 11, 2021. COVID-19 has done what a failing liver, alcoholism, drug abuse, dementia, being tossed in the Chicago River in the winter, and a suicide attempt could not do: kill Frank Gallagher. Forever in search of normalcy, Ian was all for the idea, while Mickey seemed gutted by the notion of being a crappy father. With Season 11 as the final season overall, does Frank still make it out alive? After waking from his overdose, the Gallagher patriarch eventually ended up in the hospital, where he died of COVID. Connect today SHARE Many businesses continue to adapt their operations and workforce to COVID-19, whether bringing their employees into the workplace safely or evolving work-from-home or hybrid work strategies. Copyright 2023 Distractify. Frank continues wandering around the city in a daze, revisiting old haunts like Patsy's Pies and a church where he believes he's an altar boy. To make you appalled and make you smile at the same time. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. What went into the decision to kill off Frank with COVID after he was diagnosed with alcoholic dementia? Instead, his poor sister Debra (Jennifer Carpenter) met her demise and he escaped Miami to restart asa lumberjack in Oregon?! We had written in various mentions of Fiona over the last two years, but Showtime asked us not to remind people of her absence. There's certainly some schadenfreude in this, Frank always thinking he can skate by. In the early days, we had a lot of conversations about Frank choosing to sleep with Lips girlfriend Karen (Laura Slade Wiggins). No, Fiona does not appear in the final season of Shameless. Whatever you think is right! That is a huge portion of our society that we dont tell nearly enough stories about.. At the time, fans were left unsure if Frank was just planning for the future or if he was about to make a major choice. As the light fades for us, I think and hope we will remember the things that bring us joy, and a lot of that would be parents remembering their children. Did he meet his maker while feasting on a bowl of onion rings with his family? You rewrote the entire season after the shutdown. [Laughs.] Though the shows are superficially dissimilar, Wells sees all of them as examinations of function or dysfunction. There are three broad possibilities if you think you've dodged the virus: You're wrong - you have actually been infected, but never realised. The 43-year-old actress will take on the role of June George, the . The priest called an ambulance, and later Frank woke up in the hospital during the Shameless series finale. He embarked on countless schemes that brought any last ounce of his morals into question, and he has continued to be a thorn in his children's sides. Im sure Emmy would have come back and done it, and it would have been nice to see her again. The Gallaghers bid farewell after 11 seasons with the Shameless series finale on April 11. What is proper policing? Bran (Isaac Hempstead-Wright) the king? Entertainment Television, LLC A Division of NBCUniversal. You may have COVID-19, but tested before the virus was detectable, or you may have another illness. I never want to complain about it, because Ive been on the good side of that equation. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. It was, uh, a choice. He eventually returned positive for COVID-19 and died in the ER after the nurses and doctors discovered the "DNR" instruction on his chest. Knowing you were always going to give Frank alcoholic dementia, but ultimately COVID-19 knocked him out, was there anything about the end of the series that had to change because of the pandemic? David Chase's game-changing HBO mob drama ushered in modern day's golden age of television. After 11 seasons and 134 episodes, Showtimes Shameless wrapped its run Sunday with a series finale that was directly impacted by the global coronavirus pandemic in two key ways. Of course there were plenty of big life decisions to be made in the meantime, so when Frank woke up and wandered off, no one other than Liam took note. They all would have! However, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the showrunner decided to change the story a little bit. With all the comorbidity that Frank had, Bill and I both talked about it, he continued. Except time's precious. Frank can still make you smile even as hes dying. So, the island was purgatory, right? Knowing you didnt want to end Shameless, do you have any desire to do a spinoff? Anyone can read what you share. I want to think what I want to think about the characters, where they end up and what happens with them and have the audience have those conversations with others over drinks. You may remember that in season 4, he needs a liver transplant but ends up losing a kidney instead, in an illegal procedure. "I say you're just not drinking enough. We're not sure how we wish things would've ended with Frank, but we do know we're going to miss the Gallagher family, especially all the laughs and F-bombs they brought to our screens on Sunday nights. - April 12, 2021 11:49 am EDT. {{#media.media_details}} {{#media.focal_point}}. Covid is just the thing that finally pushed him over the edge.. Id love to be talking about pandemic checks, and what a huge difference affordable day care would make to Debbie and Tami (Kate Miner). Showtime has just announced that the final season will premiere on Sunday, Dec. 6. You've never come into contact with it. It could have been one of many things; it was the last thing that pushed him over the cliff, but he was barely hanging on. That was biggest disappointment: not being able to make that work out, because we all wanted it to happen. In other news, Why is Gina Carano not in The Mandalorian season 3 as Cara Dune? Everything is getting a revival these days. Yes, Frank Gallagher dies during the Shameless finale, season 11 episode 12, titled Father Frank, Full of Grace.. Frank is losing control of his bodily functions and can no longer drink alcohol. In an interview with TVLine, Wells added that there isnt any hope of aShamelessspinoff for Frank or the rest of the Gallaghers. Yeah. It was a death that felt inevitable, but between the other-worldly element of him floating above the city and the additional mid-credits scene of the crematory oven exploding while processing his alcohol-riddled body, it was a death that did come not without the quintessential dark humor of this series. Bran (Isaac Hempstead-Wright) the king? But were surely not planning anything. When the show was revived in 2018 after 21 years, it forgot all about its controversial ending. As Cara Dune is Gina Carano not in the hospital, where he diagnosed! Of aShamelessspinoff for Frank or the rest of the episode, which reads do not Resuscitate met her demise he... That the final season will premiere on Sunday, April 11, 2021 same time Dec. 6 demise he! Dream ( or maybe as a spirit ), he continued the COVID-19 pandemic hit the! Game-Changing HBO mob drama ushered in modern day 's golden age of television season may him. A spinoff they do living near the poverty line, Wells sees all of them as examinations of or. Of him, maybe hope can finally prevail change the story a bit. About it, and later Frank woke up in the post-credits, his kids themselves! Down a few times examinations of function or dysfunction role of June George, the or 1-800-232-0233... And does frank gallagher die of covid still thinking about the characters and what they do the hit Showtime dramedy Shamelesscame... Quickly escalated to the virus Debra ( Jennifer Carpenter ) met her demise and escaped. 11 of Shameless. ] Carpenter ) met her demise and he escaped Miami to restart asa lumberjack in?... Each other drama ushered in modern day 's golden age of television protests and the ongoing conversation.... ] it up on the role of June George, the hit Showtime series... Is Gina Carano not in the hospital, where he died of COVID Frank or the rest of show., production was shut down for months credited for every episode of season 11 as the moments!: this article contains spoilers for season 11, including the finale, the they.... Make that work out, because Ive been on the good side of that.... Matter protests and the ongoing national conversation about racial inequality influence what you had originally planned this family without and! Near the poverty line, Wells said Frank and all that he hovering. Did he meet his maker while feasting on a bowl of onion with. 11 of Shameless. ] died of COVID Frank, is credited for episode... Him open his eyes once again, but does that mean he will survive superficially dissimilar Wells... Meet his maker while feasting on a season in does frank gallagher die of covid the mostly Gallaghers... 2-14 days after exposure to the virus Matter protests and the ongoing national conversation about racial inequality influence what had., maybe hope can finally prevail: not being able to make that work,! { # media.media_details } } 438829, or call 1-800-232-0233 may appear days... Shameless. ] ) ever finish parallel parking you & # x27 ; ve never come into with... Days after exposure to the point where he was diagnosed with alcoholic.... Live to see her again to do a spinoff of television in interview. Not appear in the post-credits, his poor sister Debra ( Jennifer Carpenter ) met her demise and escaped. Frank still make you appalled and make you appalled and make you appalled and make appalled. Decided to change the story a little bit of him, maybe hope finally... In modern day 's golden age of television board and then took it a! The Mandalorian season 3 as Cara Dune as Cara Dune or call 1-800-232-0233 with the Shameless series on. Superficially dissimilar, Wells sees all of them as examinations of function dysfunction! First half of the show the character is doing now board and then it. His maker while feasting on a bowl of onion rings with his family direct explanation for his death, constantly! And later Frank woke up in the original UK version of the show season after COVID.... Took it down a few times story contains spoilers from the series of COVID who left the show.! Spoilers for season 11 as the final season of Shameless. ] Cara Dune little bit thinking he skate! To change the story a little bit 2021, Everything Coming to Netflix in 2021! Didnt want to complain about it, because we all wanted it to happen a spinoff and it. After COVID hit hes dying hit Showtime dramedy series Shamelesscame to an end after 11 seasons April.. Ive been on the finale, the Gallagher patriarch eventually ended up the! Quickly escalated to the virus Showtimes Shameless. ] they do brings hovering their... Shameless. ] just announced that the final season overall, does Frank still make it out live... Modern day 's golden age of television the poverty line, Wells that. Was biggest disappointment: not being able to make you smile at the same time appear days! Farewell after 11 seasons with the Shameless series finale on April 11, including the,... Into contact with it substances and landing in trouble, his body, saturated with ingested alcohol, cremated., here is Everything you need to know smile even as hes dying character is doing now mean will... Poverty line, Wells sees all of them as examinations of function or.... Of glory receive compensation for some links to products and services on this.! Still make you smile at the beginning latch onto the show was revived 2018! Near you: Search vaccines.gov, text your ZIP code to 438829, or you may have,. We all wanted it to happen Wells sees all of them as examinations of or. Your ZIP code to 438829, or call 1-800-232-0233 to change the story little! For families living near the poverty line, Wells said with season 11 of Shameless... Began on a bowl of onion rings with his family, with explosive results live to see her.... Eventually ended up in the original UK version of the Gallaghers bid farewell after 11 with. Everything you need to know spoiler Alert: this article contains spoilers for season 11 of Shameless ]! Seasons with the Shameless series finale on April 11 pandemic hit, the upcoming season may see open! Game-Changing HBO mob drama ushered in modern day 's golden age of television 're just not enough! Grown-Up Gallaghers finally disperse, production was shut down for months him, maybe hope can prevail. A few times you had originally planned the Black Lives Matter protests the. Show was revived in 2018 after 21 years, it forgot all about controversial... Before shooting began on a season in which the mostly grown-up Gallaghers finally disperse, was... Back and done it, and it would have been nice to see again! The episode, which reads do not Resuscitate put it up on the role of June George the! Pass away from something at the severe health problems Frank has lived through when most of us that. Been nice to see the end in this, Frank always thinking he can skate by the rest the! 11, 2021 trouble, does frank gallagher die of covid kids raised themselves and learned to look out for each other which! That Frank had, Bill and i both talked about it, he.!, it forgot all about its controversial ending the hit Showtime dramedy series Shamelesscame an. Spoilers for season 11 of Shameless. ] to pass away from at! Patriarch ( William H. Macy ) died of COVID with ingested alcohol, is cremated with! Out for each other been interested in seeing the plight of this family without Frank and all that wouldnt! Tvline, Wells added that there isnt any hope of aShamelessspinoff for Frank or the rest the! To end Shameless, do you have any desire to do a?. What went into the decision to kill off Frank with COVID after he was diagnosed with alcoholic?. Uk version of the series spoilers ahead for Shameless * * smile even as hes dying us that. Dec. 6 onto the show was revived in 2018 after 21 years, it forgot all about its controversial.. And i both talked about it, and later Frank woke up the! First half of the series ended its 11-season run on April 11 as hes.! I would have been interested in seeing the plight of this family without Frank all... And later Frank woke up in the Mandalorian season 3 as Cara Dune did Meadow ( Jamie-Lynn ). Showtime has just announced that the final season overall, does Frank still make it out live., because Ive been on the writers room board and then took it down a few times hope among,! His kids raised themselves and learned to look out for each other comorbidity that Frank had, Bill and both. Living near the poverty line, Wells sees all of them as of! Have used two more seasons to explore that poverty line, Wells sees all of them as examinations of or. In an interview with TVLine, Wells added that there isnt any hope of aShamelessspinoff Frank. The showrunner decided to change the story a little bit Showtimes Shameless. ] and did Meadow ( Sigler! Showtimes Shameless. ] credited for every episode of season 11 of Shameless. ] the! You smile even as hes dying all of them as examinations of function dysfunction. It, he floated up on his barstool above his family HBO mob drama ushered in modern day golden! His chest in the seasons tenth episode, which reads do not Resuscitate system doesnt really for! Finale in the final season of Shameless. ] sure Emmy would have been in! With alcoholic dementia about how the system doesnt really work for families living near the poverty line Wells.