For this review I watched the first episode of the show Shameless, this show is played on the Showtime network and is going into its ninth season. In order to make it that many seasons without a show being cancelled it has to be relatively interesting and will usually deal with controversial topics. Overall the storyline follows a low-income family through their daily life but within the first episode many characters were strongly developed and multiple societal issues were brought to the table.
The writers behind this show do an amazing job of capturing the personalities of the main characters within the first few minutes of the show, especially while developing the eldest sister Fiona. The epitome of a strong female lead is shown by a young woman pretty much single-handedly taking care of several young children none of which are her own. I believe this portrayal of a female in a show is necessary in today’s world. So often the man is seen as the hero in film and television but this show seems to be challenging that idea in deciding which characters have determination and drive and which need to be helped along the way. Although this character played by Emmy Rossum is not completely correct in all of her actions, Rossum portrays a real woman with real emotions and problems quite well.
The show also dabbles in multiple questionable topics within this first episode as well. Dealing with things such as sex, stealing, homosexuality, and adultery in the span of an hour long show is no easy feat to tackle but the writers manage to do it. These details also bring up the reality that many members of the audience may or may not be able to relate to. People who are uneducated on certain topics such as coming out with your preferred sexuality may not realize how difficult it can be for some people such as one of the main characters on this show. It can add a new perspective to audience’s views of people coming from low-income areas since it does not follow the typical “happy go lucky” that many entertainment medias do.