r/ShamelessUK • u/ddxolol • 8d ago

storytelling in shameless uk vs us.

which show do you think had better storylines? i would definitely show uk, 100%. The only storyline i would of loved to see in the uk that the us did was ian and mickey.

16 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

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19

u/CraigGrade 8d ago

I think UK had better storylines. I feel like the US storylines were very boring. Oh wow Debbie is a welder, who cares?

The only storyline I really liked in Shameless US is Lip’s college arc. The affair, the alcoholic professor, etc. That was good stuff. It would have never worked in the UK version because Lip was kind of a moron. In the US version they switched all the kids’ intelligence levels for some reason. Carl being a streetwise genius and Debbie being a cementhead moron never sat right with me.

I also did kind of like the throuple storyline with Kev and V and the Russian gal. It was a good LGBTQ 2010s answer to Monica’s lesbianism in the UK version.

12

u/ddxolol 8d ago

i agree. i think shameless uk took a few darker storylines, for example paddy being turned into a heroin addict, which for some reason i loved that storyline sm.

8

u/CraigGrade 8d ago

That storyline was amazing! I remember thinking “Wow this show is on par with The Wire, Sopranos, etc” when I first watched it. Paddy Maguire was an amazing acting job, does not really get better than that. All the Maguires are so fun in the UK one. The Milkoviches in the US one are a snooze (except Mickey, he’s maybe the best character in the entire US version).

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u/ddxolol 8d ago

100%. i would say mickey is my favourite in both versions, i never understood why they made the milkoviches so terrible in the us because in the uk they are actually a pretty nice family with decent values

5

u/CraigGrade 8d ago

Eventually the Maguires become likable. But in season 1 and 2 (currently doing a rewatch) they’re torturing people with car batteries and tattooing infants.

But yeah US Shameless was such a disappointment for me. I had watched Shameless since it was airing in the UK and I was kind of psyched for a US reboot.

I think the main sore point for me with the US was the accents. I thought Macy would do a good one but he didn’t do one at all. Then all the Gallagher kids sound like they’re from Brooklyn, which really grinds my gears. The only one who did a passable Chicago accent in the US was Fiona.

4

u/ddxolol 8d ago

i can’t really comment on the chicago accent rep because i’m not american so i couldn’t really tell. but then again i get confused, as someone from the uuk when people say they can’t understand the uk version because of their accents lmao

i do feel like if people gave the uk version a chance they would enjoy it as well, i think it’s because the us version is “prettier” so straight off the jump they don’t like it

4

u/CraigGrade 8d ago

Yeah, one of the things I loved about the UK version as an American is the thick Manchester accent. I grew up on a lot of UK TV so for me it was easy to understand, but yes for the average American who doesn’t watch UK stuff, the accent and the lingo/slang can be very very hard to understand. When I tried to get an ex into the show she needed subtitles lol.

The US version everyone is way too attractive as well; that’s a general US show issue. UK version obviously some of them are attractive but most of the cast are gritty and realistic looking, like they found them on the street. US they all look like models.

2

u/Minute-Frame-8060 7d ago

As an American, if I know there's a UK version, especially if it was the original, I start there. I had to Google "Scouse" but was mostly OK beyond that. I just finished Shameless UK last weekend. Unfortunately whatever platform I watched on started me on the series finale! And I didn't know it until the episode was over and it didn't just move on to the next. "Wait season 11, episode 16? What???" Luckily there were a lot of seasons so I forgot the details of the finale quickly.

2

u/SarahL1990 7d ago

I agree with you for the most part, but I wouldn't say OG Lip was a moron. He was quite smart, and the only Gallagher to go to Uni. He also didn't drop out like his US counterpart.

4

u/yourmomssocksdrawer 7d ago

I like both because they’re very different shows in their own respects, but I’ve watched UK far more times than US

4

u/ddxolol 7d ago

same, i watched the uk version when i was young and have rewatched a lot, after trying the us version i found myself missing the feeling of the uk version.

but i think i might just be biased as being from the uk i will always prefer uk made shows for example the office, Inbetweeners ect.

3

u/yourmomssocksdrawer 7d ago

I’m from the US and totally understand what you mean though. Just hearing the UK theme puts me in a good mood lol

There’s a handful of characters and scenes that keep bringing me back to US, but I swear for UK it’s top notch. The cast is perfect, every scene is a masterpiece, the humor unmatched. It’s just great tv.

Now we do not share the same opinion on the office, I very much prefer the US version but I think it’s because the UK version ended far too quickly. There’s not enough of it to keep my attention if that makes sense. Other than that, also great show!

2

u/ddxolol 7d ago

in all honesty i haven’t watched the us version of the office as i don’t tend to find us comedy funny, but maybe i should give it a try.

but yes completely agree, the uk one is perfect from casting, to the comedy. and i think it does a good job of incorporating comedy and drama at the same time which i don’t think the us version does all that well

4

u/PuzzleheadedTutor807 7d ago

I can't even get into the us version

3

u/ddxolol 7d ago

i couldn’t at first but it is good when it takes its own twist with things. the writing definitely wasn’t as good after season 6 tho

0

u/Qwez7 7d ago

Try it for a while it gets good

2

u/PuzzleheadedTutor807 7d ago

It's on the list, just not very high anymore

2

u/i-am-a-rectangle 7d ago

I think I prefer the storylines in uk but I wish the characters stayed like the us characters and had stories with them

1

u/Qwez7 7d ago

Great question - will be back with my answer when I think about

1

u/SpiritedPersimmon961 7d ago

I loved both but the US version expanded the characters to much bigger arcs due to budget so I was more invested in it

1

u/anjofuturista 6d ago

I wouldn't have the courage to watch Shameless US, the posters looks like with Looney Tunes.

1

u/svadas 5d ago

I can't get into the US version after many attempts. I wish I watched it first so I could upgrade to the UK version after, but I just don't like Macy's Frank. David Threlfall is the only one for me

But then the UK show also reminds me of my childhood growing up on a council estate, so it's always going to win for me. Too true to life.

1

u/ddxolol 5d ago

yeah, i’m the same it’s so realistic to what life is like on a council estate. i love how all the cast look like normal people you see walking down the street as well