Among the many scheming and unconventional characters of Shameless, one of the most extremely dysfunctional was Frank Gallagher. The patriarch of the central Gallagher family, Frank drank all day, conned various people in order to get money, and always put himself first rather than his six children.
With such an unpleasant personality, it is understandable that many Reddit fans of the show had conversations on whether or not the alcoholic anti-hero was irredeemable or had some positive qualities. For some, Frank was a useless piece of trash through and through; for others, there was something there that you couldn’t help but appreciate.
He Could Have Won The Hunger Games
When fans think of the Shameless characters competing in the intense struggle for survival that is The Hunger Games, many of them see the winner being the intelligent Lip or the street-tough Carl rather than the constantly intoxicated Frank. However, this Reddit poll shows that the Gallagher patriarch could have been an underestimated victor.
Frank knew no boundaries when it came to getting what he wanted; he would have manipulated other tributes in order to save himself, then easily eliminated them without remorse in order to be the last man standing. It would be similar to how Haymitch won the games.
His Dementia Storyline Was Heartbreaking
When Frank developed dementia due to his alcoholism in Season 11, many fans saw it as his own fault and an act of karma. With all of the awful things he had done to the other characters on the show, he seemed to deserve it.
On the other hand, some fans felt empathy for the old man in his decline. While Frank was ultimately responsible for being in this condition, seeing the usually wily schemer wander in confusion and lose track of his life was heartbreaking to watch.
He Was Too Realistic
One thing that Shameless fans enjoy about the show is how the characters acted in ways that were too extreme to be authentic. For some fans, however, the depiction of Frank was too close to the real thing.
Many of them have had to deal with similar family situations and found that Frank’s behavior was so genuine that it was almost triggering. While in some ways realism is what makes a show great, in other ways it can get a bit too personal.
He Was A Fan Favorite
If there was ever a Gallagher that viewers were rooting against, it was probably Frank. The man was selfish, manipulative, and an all-around terrible father. Yet for some, Frank was one of their favorite characters.
Despite putting his kids through the wringer with each of his antics, it cannot be denied that there was love amidst all the dysfunction. Behind every con and every addiction, there was a person who truly cared for his children, even if he wasn’t able to properly show it.
He Doesn’t Get As Sick As He Should
It was well documented that Frank did some long-term damage to his health with his substance abuse, including severe liver problems and alcohol-induced dementia. However, this Reddit thread points out that Frank didn’t seem to suffer the short-term effects of his vices.
He was never seen being incredibly hungover or going through any sort of withdrawal that is common with addicts. Other fans theorize that this was due to Frank’s intoxication being so constant; he used so much, it was perpetually in his system.
He Was The Face Of The Show
The majority of Shameless fans tend to say that the face of the show was Frank’s oldest daughter, Fiona. However, this Reddit poll argues that the Gallagher patriarch himself earned that distinction.
The primary reasoning for this is the fact that he was the one person who fully lived up to the show’s title. Many of the characters in the series tried to better themselves in some way, with varying levels of success. Frank, on the other hand, remained completely and unapologetically shameless.
He Was A Tragic Character
Very few fans had sympathy for Frank due to his actions negatively affecting his kids. However, a handful of them state that Frank’s dark past was somewhat responsible for his atrocious behavior.
Both of his parents abused him in some way, leading him to start drinking at a young age. He then fell in love with the unstable Monica, who led him further astray and then abandoned him and their children. On the other hand, viewers argue that this shouldn’t be an excuse for Frank’s misdeeds.
His Death Wasn’t Fitting
Almost all viewers agree that the series had to end with Frank’s demise. However, several of them had an issue with how it happened; Frank did not succumb to his dementia or an overdose but became a victim of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Many fans felt that this ending came out of left field and was not fitting for the self-destructive Frank. Some, however, support this cause of death since it seemed that Frank was almost indestructible in the face of his constant vices.
He Was The Least Interesting Character
The character of Frank was compelling to watch; it earned actor William H. Macy five Emmy nominations. Despite this, there are fans who feel that Frank’s storylines were not as driving as those of other characters.
Besides his health issues in season 4, Frank only seemed to be part of the show as the comic relief. Some viewers do stand up for Frank’s importance to the show and argue that his antics affected the other characters in order to drive the overall story.