#mickey getting to hang around w the crew more regularly is one of the only saving graces rn

[josh-hobermans]

I can’t quite put it into words--someone smarter than me can--but I feel like the moment Shameless stopped treating the city of Chicago as a silent background character was the moment it started its decline. Now every time they mention the south side it feels like buzz word.

 Despite the subject matter they deal with, the later seasons don’t have anywhere near the grit and toughness that accentuates the comedic aspects and elevates the dramatic ones, and the little pieces of Chicago really made that work.