History Series / Shameless

** Also the {{Hollyoaks}} serial date rapist Andy Holt, in a similarly evil role, as Paddy's son and enforcer Donny Maguire.

* SortingAlgorithmOfDeadness: [[spoiler:Steve/Jimmy got his fair share of runs through it for the end of season 3 and all of season 4.]]

* Sorting Algorithm of Deadness: [[spoiler:Steve/Jimmy got his fair share of runs through it for the end of season 3 and all of season 4.]]

* BiTheWay: Svetlana

* {{Expy}}: AmySmart is basically playing the same character she plays in ''Film/{{Crank}}'' UpToEleven.

* InformedAbility: Ian supposedly knows how to kill people in a hundred different ways, is a good marksman and trains karate, but even armed with a tire iron, Mickey managed to get the upper hand of him easily and most of Ian's problems have been solved by either diplomacy or sex, so there's no much support for his alleged skills.

* KarmaHoudini: '''''Frank'''''. Though its subverted to hell and back in Frank's case. One moment he's in deep shit, then the next he's off the hook somehow.

* LastNameBasis: Mickey always refers to Ian as just ''Gallagher''.

* StarCrossedLovers: Ian insists that Mickey loves and wants to be with him and Mickey doesn't deny this. However things outside their relationship: Mickey's homophobic father, a forced marriage and Mickey's total inability to be out in the environment he was raised in is what drives them apart and (as of the end season 3) ends their relationship.

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** Svetlana's son Evgeni. Given that she is a prostitute it is as yet unclear whether or not Mickey is actually his father.

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* TheBusCameBack: Shameless enjoys [[KilledOffForReal killing off]], [[ChuckCunninghamSyndrome forgetting the existence of]], or [[PutOnABus otherwise disappearing]] much of its ensemble, but several old characters have returned at points:

* KilledOffForReal: [[spoiler:The two characters that are closest to being considered as their season's respective main antagonists, Eddie Jackson and Peggy Gallagher, have both been killed off.]]
** At the end of season 3, [[spoiler:Jimmy was seen getting on a boat with Estefania's dad, though it was left unclear as to whether or not he actually died; even the cast was left in the dark about Jimmy's fate. However, months after season 3 ended, Justin Chatwin confirmed on his Twitter that Jimmy was indeed killed off. During the Season 3 recap, they also ended in a gunshot to boot.]]

* {{Homage}}: The whole storyline involving Sheila's deceased ex-husband Sheldon is a massive homage to {{Brookside}}'s infamous body-under-the-patio storyline. It even gets a ShoutOut from Frank.
--->'''Frank''': "Dig him up!? It's not {{Brookside}}, he's a ''dead person''!"

* GenerationXerox: Fiona and Lip are beginning to show similarities to their dear old dad, particuarly some shades of selfishness. Fiona [[spoiler: slept with a married man even though she knew she would regret it]]. Lip is especially showing signs with [[spoiler: attempting to break Karen and Jodie up by sending Mandy to their house so Mandy would sleep with Jodie]]. This trope is even lampshaded in "A Beautiful Mess."

* ADateWithRosiePalms: Occurs twice in the season 4 premier episode.

** Happens again with Lip and Mandy, [[spoiler:after he had learnt she had ran Karen down and crippled her]]. He objects and Mandy doesn't listen because they hadn't done it in a week.

** "Frank The Plumber" hits more of a downer note. [[spoiler:Mickey and Ian break up, and Karen is ran over by Mandy (who was intending to kill her).]]

* CharacterizationMarchesOn: In combination with TheOtherDarrin; Mandy was originally portrayed as a PerkyGoth, but when she was recasted she became more of a [[TheStoic calm]] BrokenBird, yet [[TranquilFury still angry]], who ends up being a {{Kuudere}}.

** Mandy's one-off romeo Dex dies after ingesting a few too many pints and Ecstasy pills during sex. He comes BackFromTheDead after Mandy and Karen haphazardly dispose of his body in a ditch.