Billed as the "pick of the night" by critics far and wide, the beginning of the fourth of series Shameless failed to ignite much enthusiasm from last night's audiences.
The unusually high turnover of characters on Chatsworth Estate has meant that the brilliant Kev and Veronica, former neighbours of the Gallagher clan are moving on. Last night saw them thrown into jail in Romania, where they'd gone to buy an orphan baby. The plot begins with Frank Gallagher setting the kitchen on fire and being rescued by the dog that he subsequently, accidentally, murders.
Our own Sam Wollaston labelled the show the "disappointment of the night", lamenting the fact that it has "descended to the point of self parody".
The Times commented that the '"tough hard edges of Shameless crumbled", while Metro predicted that the series is fated by TV companies who will "squeeze every last drop out of a hit show until it is bled dry'" With so many key characters missing it has "lost its heart".
Speaking out against the majority is the Telegraph who gave the episode a shinning review, believing that the array of daft new characters offer "potential for plenty more laughs" and that the show has the energy to go strong "for another seven episodes at least, and into a fifth series".
So, what did you think of last night's show; on a downward spiral or still one of the best series on TV?
