Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2240 in DVD
• Released on: 2008-04-21
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 5
• Running time: 750 minutes

Synopsis
The fifth 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 menagerie of kids, his wife and his ex, for whom there is never a dull moment on Chatsworth housing estate. Series 5 serves up a heady cocktail of sex, drugs, gratuitous violence, love, and scams – so there's something for everyone!

Customer Reviews

Amazingly, it seems to get even better
I'll be honest: I'm writing this review before the fifth series has finished, but it's already clear that this one (twice as many episodes as usual) is not merely up to the usual high standards - it is, if anything, better still!

Apparently one-dimensional 'joke' characters like the Maguire sons Shane and Mickey are given meaty, fascinating storylines (not a little moving, at times). As always, everyone is flawed but no one is entirely unsympathetic - I'm really getting to like the Maguires, which I never thought I would (though Monica, the Gallaghers' mum, remains the least likable character).

Who would have thought that a character as central to the series as Lip (probably, along with Frank, THE central character) could disappear off to university and life carry on happily without him? He does appear - indeed, there is something very realistic about his estrangement from Mandy, the mother of his daughter - but he's no longer central to the action. If there is a new 'central' character, it looks as though Carl is stepping up to fill his shoes, though that would be unfair to Debbie, Ian and the others.

What is demonstrated in this series is how much of an ensemble piece Shameless is: everyone has their moments and everyone's contribution is excellent. And that, of course, is as it should be: it's all about community and helping one another out, after all. Shameless goes from strength to strength.

BEST ONE YET
I have watched Shameless from the start and like most Shameless fans have been sorry to see characters go and have struggled to believe that the series could survive the loss of such big characters
How wrong was I with out doubt Shameless has gone from strength to strength
and just when you think it wouldn't be possible to better the last series,along came series 5 wonderful the best yet. Thank you everyone at Shameless

Series 5 sees a return to form
Some people felt that Series 4 of Shameless wasn't up to the standards of previous series (in particular, series one and two), and there are those who bang on about how much they miss Kev and Veronica, Steve and Fiona, Marty, and so on, but for shows to be successful they have to move on.

The Maguires come into their own in this series, and there is a warmth and humanity to Mimi and Paddy which was only hinted at in Series 4. That said, I still wouldn't want them living next door to me! Norma also becomes a tragic yet likeable character in this series. Carl Gallagher has evolved, and he seems to take the place of Lip, who's away at uni for most of this series.

I know it's said all the time, but there really aren't enough shows like this on our screen. There's only so much dross like X Factor and Britain's Got Talent we can take! Well done to Paul Abbott and the other writers and actors for what, for me, has been the most enjoyable TV series since Auf Wiedersehen, Pet.