Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4716 in DVD
• Released on: 2007-10-29
• Rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 3
• Running time: 350 minutes

DVD Description

In the fourth series of Paul Abbott’s Shameless, the Gallaghers return to prove that life is just as usual on the Chatsworth estate, reconfirming their status as Manchester’s most dysfunctional family in the process.

In this series, Frank (David Threlfall) is sent into a spin when mum Monica (Annabelle Apsion) turns up, claiming to be back for good. Will the house be big enough for her and Sheila (Maggie O'Neill)? In the meantime, Lip (Jody Latham) is juggling with parenting issues, while Ian (Gerard Kearns) is looking for love, Carl (Elliott Tittensor) is busy on a secret crime spree, and Debbie (Rebecca Ryan) decides to interview potential boyfriends. Carol (Marjorie Yates) is still having trouble keeping her legs and mouth shut, and Kash (Chris Bisson) is happy screwing the council. And, just to make things even more interesting, this series will reveal the bizarre connection between Kev, Veronica, Marty, Sue and a Romanian baby! Next door at the Maguires, Jamie (Aaron McCusker) returns after a stint in prison and sparks fly with him and barmaid Karen (Rebecca Atkinson). Then there are his brothers--the not-so-bright Shane (Nicky Evans), and Micky (Claran Griffiths), a wannabe hard man struggling with his own secrets.

Synopsis

The fourth series of offbeat TV drama Shameless promises plenty of laughs from Manchester's most dysfunctional family, the Gallaghers, as they go about their hectic lives. Join Frank and his six kids--Fiona, Lip, Ian, Debbie, Carl, and Liam--, for whom there is never a dull moment on Chatsworth housing estate. Series 4 serves up a heady cocktail of sex, drugs, gratuitous violence, love, and scams, ensuring there's something for absolutely everyone!

Customer Reviews

Peerless!
Like a few others, I felt the third series represented a bit of a dip in the Shameless trajectory with not enough laughs and not enough of the Gallagher kids featured in the stories. I'm delighted to say that the fourth is a triumphant return to form.

The action is neatly divided among the main characters with a bit less of Frank, who I thought dominated the third series a little too much (though his fans needn't worry - he's still around in abundance). Some will lament the loss of Kevin and Veronica who, like Fiona and Steve, are now gone, locked in a Romanian jail. Others will dislike the Maguire family, who make the Gallaghers look like The Waltons...or at least The Simpsons. I think they add humour (despite the ever-present threat of violence). The key difference is that, in a programme where, at times, it's possible to sympathise with almost every character, you'd really be hard-pushed to like anything about Mimi and Paddy Maguire!

As always, the storylines have moments of incredible sadness among the comedy but this never descends into sentimentality or pathos. One of the delights in the writing is always in the reversal of conventional wisdom (such as the Maguires' horror that their son Jamie wants to get married without having got anyone pregnant). Carl and Debbie are now older and their storylines richer, giving them moments of joy and sorrow as intense as those of the other characters.

If you haven't seen it yet, I don't want to give too much away, but Shiela and Marty find happiness in ways you'd not expect and as for what happens to Ian...no, I mustn't reveal any more.

Shameless says more about Britain as it really is than just about anything on television. It's easy to focus on the sex, drugs and crime but its message that family, community and love are the most important things in life has won it an audience with viewers of every age.

Good but lacking the magic of the first two series
I'll start off by focusing on the bad points of Shameless series 4. Firstly, the Gallagher's ever-reliable neighbours, Kev and Veronica (Dean Lennox Kelly and Maxine Peake) leave the series in the first episode, swiftly followed by the wonderfully barmy Sheila (Maggie O'Neill) soon after. This void is filled by the gruesome Maguire family, who move in lock, stock and more than two smoking barrels next door to the Gallaghers. The Maguires worked best when they were semi-regular characters, but their promotion to main character status means that they aren't as effective any more. Meanwhile, the show's most popular character, Frank (David Threlfall), barely appears after the initial story arc! I would also argue that the writing isn't as sharp as it once was, and most episodes seem to be played for laughs, with less of the great drama we've come to expect from the show. Lastly, the conclusion of the series is a real Marmite moment: love it or hate it. I hated it!

Now for the positives. The characterisation of the Gallagher kids continues to be well-handled, and Debbie has firmly stepped into the role of mother figure left by Fiona (Anne Marie Duff). There's an excellent change in the dynamic when Frank's errant wife Monica (Annabelle Apsion) returns, announcing that she is no longer a lesbian! This creates some superb tension in the Gallagher household, as Monica and Debbie vie for 'mother' status. Lastly, the supporting characters, including Marty, Carol and Yvonne, get some interesting developments, and the ongoing Maguires storyline is nicely resolved. Overall, the show manages to adapt to the loss of more of its big characters, but its clearly lacking some of the sparkling writing of the first two series. If there's another series, hopefully we'll see some of the old stars pop in for guest appearances (hint hint, Mr. and Mrs. McAvoy!)

hard to beat !
season 4 of shameless was aired in 2007 and continues its form in fine style.There are changes to personel in season 4 with people leaving and people emerging and the maguire family getting greater screen time,they are a family that make the gallaghers look saintly for those in the dark.
The changes hurt at first if im honest but then make sense and the show flows perfectly.
I think series 4 is more down to earth and logical than previous series' and that has to be commended.One new tactic is to show peoples imaginations more,much like the way JD of scrubs does it,i liked that touch.
As usual the focal point is the gallagher clan led by the father of the family frank who is as good as ever here even if he is a waste of space in many ways but his family loves him and that will probably never change.
Throughout the 8 episodes alot happens and the blend of dark comedy,surreal segemnts all papered up with tragedy and doom makes for pefect telly,maybe the best series of them all perhaps,maybe.