From the Hit&Miss to Exile, creator Paul Abbott has made many films involving real-life scenarios enhanced with drama. A few months ago I started watching the Netflix Original Series called Shameless. I had heard of the show from friends and family that had watched all 9 seasons, begging for more. I never have been a huge Netflix guy myself, I’d rather watch movies, preferably horror. Being the horror enthusiast, I would often find myself trying to get into series like Scream and Stranger Things. I enjoyed the two series but they just weren’t enough for me, they were predictable and went along the same storylines making them boring.

That is until I found Shameless, the 9 season glimpse of the Gallagher’s daily lifestyle and how they barely bob above the poverty line, surviving in the suburbs of Chicago. Mom ran away leaving the alcoholic father and his 7 kids. Fiona the oldest was forced to raise her siblings and take care of her thirsty father. I was hesitant at first since I was looking for a series that would satisfy my horror needs. However, due to all the positive, addictive, and legitimate reviews I heard, this was a must.

From the beginning, I was hooked. The Gallagher’s chaotic lifestyle forced me to be focused on every detail in each episode. Whether it was waking up the kids and rushing to get out the door for school and work, or Fiona trying to scrape up enough money for the electric-bill, never a dull moment. Even four seasons in, so much has changed and I still find myself staying hours past my preferred bedtime mindlessly watching this show.

One of the coolest aspects to the show is how we really get to see the family evolve. Even when one problem is solved, a new one appears directly after. In season 3, father (Frank) buries his sister after she passed due to old age so he can continue receiving social security funds from the government. However the culprit himself runs into an issue when one of their sewage pipes burst leaving construction workers needing to dig up the ground, ironically enough this is where the aunt is buried. Irrational events like these keep the audience on their toes and more often than not, shaking their heads. Plenty of times the audience doesn’t even need to hear the rest of one of Frank’s or any other rogue character’s stories because we think we know what’s going to happen. When all hope is lost, a sudden gift from God lets the family off the hook; getting enough money, finding where someone went or disposing of a dead body.

Aside from the many thrilling aspects to the show, there are some flaws. Being the audience, I’m often left feeling angry or stressed out from the nail biting, sweat dripping events that go on in the show. The end of each episode is almost always a cliffhanger that leaves me needing more. Despite this being the author’s purpose, when it is 12:30 on a school night, it becomes problematic. It’s almost like a trap to watch the series: I know that I’m going to end up sucked into a season and not be able to close the lid to my MacBook.

All in all, this series has been one of the best of its generation leaving little room for error. I continue to watch upcoming seasons to this show, and pray that I won’t completely lose my mind.