Search - Shameless: The Complete First Season on DVD

One of the Best comedy-dramas you may never see.

Mike G. | San Diego, CA USA | 03/28/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Brilliant, "comedy-drama". Because of the differences between British humor and American humor an American audiences will find more drama than comedy. Yes, we do "get" irony; however, it tends to make us smile rather than laugh out loud.



This series contains some of the best, most powerful scripts I've ever seen written for broadcast television. Yet, I expect this very R-rated series to be heavily criticized for coarse language, for themes of sex, scenes of drunkenness, and under-age smoking. Nevertheless, this series is one of the most family-positive series you'll ever see.



Imagine the picture perfect family, the very embodiment of "family values". Then one day somebody in the family snaps and is revealed to be involved in criminal activity, or infidelity, or substance abuse or darker more sinister assaults on the body and mind of other family members. In short, this imaginary picture-perfect family is dysfunctional.



Now, envision the opposite, a family with all the trappings of being dysfunctional. The father is unemployed and alcoholic, the children thieve, smoke and swear. One child has to keep his head shaved because he's so prone to nits, and there is no mother in the home because she's taken the family van and run away. Yet, this family is supportive, loving, caring and more honest than the Brady Bunch ever was.



There are no skeletons in the Gallagher family closet. They are very much a what-you-see-is-what-you-get group. Sometimes funny sometimes surreal and unlikely the goings on in this family are often moving and always entraining. While not promoting "family values" this is a very family positive series (but not for the whole family: R-rated I said). There is good reason why this show is called "Shameless".



One warning for American audiences. The story is set in Manchester, so that people in the story have strong northern accents. If your ear is unused to this or if your exposure to British accents ends at Hugh Grant... there are subtitles available on the DVD.



An excellent show, a sort of a fun-house mirror Waltons. Give it a chance



"

Another Can't-Miss BritCom!!

ILoveMyTivo | NJ | 01/21/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This show is funny, disturbing, and full of ribald characters - it is definitely not your typical American sitcom. There seems to be no subject that is taboo. I am not sure what prompted its US release, but all I can say is Hallelujah!

Note that this show is not for the faint at heart. If, however, you love irreverent British humor - buy this dvd!!"

I laughed, I winced, I got teary eyed.

FemFoison | USA | 04/26/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I ordered this DVD without having seen or heard anything about the series, and I was more than pleasantly surprised. It was thoughtful, funny, and generous, even while maintaining a gritty realism. Whenever an episode or storyline started to drift into the ridiculous or melodramatic it was quickly intercepted by a brutal but honest (and hopeful) reality. And even when their characters were at their most unlikable, the actors brought to them a warmth and passion that kept you involved. (In my opinion episode six is one of TVs best examples of the diversity of emotion that can be explored in under an hour.)



Basic plot: Single father Frank Gallagher [David Threlfall], whose wife disappeared about three years ago, lives (sometimes) on a council estate in Manchester (England) with his six children (Fiona, Lip, Ian, Carl, Debbie, and Liam), aged 20-3, respectively. Other central characters include the children's neighbors, a young couple named Kevin and Veronica, and Fiona's well-to-do boyfriend Steve [James McAvoy]. Together they deal with relationships, poverty, abandonment, their father's alcoholism, debt collectors, and the local police. It's not an easy life, but the family is determined to enjoy it whenever and however they can. There *is* some violence (fist fights), nudity, drinking, lots of swearing, and even one extremely inappropriate, even illegal, sexual relationship, but it is addressed and responded to reasonably (though definitely not in the PBS-broadcast sort of way). The younger children/characters really seem to peak in the second half of the season, as they become more integral to the plot. Their additional screen time is well-deserved, as they are all exceptionally talented actors.



As for the DVD itself, it is, of course, Season 1. Although Season 4 recently finished airing, this is the first installment to be released on DVD in the US. Disc 1 consists of episodes 1-4 (45 min. each) and Disc 2 contains episodes 5-7 and two bonus features: a brief "Meet the Cast" and an interview with Paul Abbott. Suffice to say this is a bare-bones DVD release for this day and age, but the show's quality warrants the purchase. Also note, subtitles are on by default for anyone who has trouble with the accent."

Rippingly funny but coarse yet tender Brit "Dromedy"

K. M. Calabrese | New York, New York United States | 06/16/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This show is so so funny yet still retains a heart as it explores life in UK estate housing of a dysfunctional family and their friends and neighbors. This show doesn't pull any punches in its depiction and feels truly honest whilst producing belly laughs and snickers alike throughout most episodes.

General plot: mum does a runner on a family with six kids and dad goes on a three year bender, leaving eldest daughter to run the family with only meager resources while also trying to have a life. The youngest daughter's coping is less than perfect and provides some of the funniest and scariest moments of the first series. If you have any empathy for the situation you will find the show engrossing -- although an appreciation for brit humor is also necessary to fully enjoy the show.



WHEN DO WE GET SERIES 2 - 5 !!!!!!!!!!

c'mon BBC get with it."