21 August 2017
A new season of shenanigans from the world’s most shameless schemer
Update: Shameless is no longer on Showmax. Find your next binge in the full series catalogue here.
That thing lying on the floor over there that looks and smells like a pile of unwashed dog blankets? Oh, that’s Frank Gallagher (William H Macy), sleeping off a binge in Shameless (2011-current; Seasons 1-6 are now available on Showmax). But don’t be deceived by his shambling, hangdog expression. He’s a man of many talents. Watch now »
Frank might be a compulsive liar, an alcoholic bar fly, a drug user, a deadbeat single dad (six kids and counting) and work shirker, a spendthrift and scrounger… but above all he’s a schemer. His charm hides an expert understanding of emotional manipulation and he knows every crevice of Chicago’s welfare bureaucracy labyrinth. From robbing his children’s piggy banks to burying an old auntie in the garden so that he can keep collecting her social security payments for 12 years (find out more in Season 1, episode 3 and Season 3, episode 5), there’s nothing that Frank Gallagher won’t do for money – aside from actual work.
Here are just 6 of Frank’s shifty, shirk-y, shockingly shameless schemes from Seasons 1 to 5. (Season 6 launched today on Showmax.)
Fake death
Season 1, episode 7
Frank has a $6 000 (R80 000) gambling debt on his back and his schemes – including starring in a Bum Fight video – fail. So he persuades his kids to help him fake his death with the help of some horse tranquilisers. The kids stage an old-fashioned Irish wake and once his debtors leave, Frank springs back to life and enjoys some karaoke. Watch now »
Heart attack
Season 2, episode 3
Frank leeches off women and there’s no place better to find a date than a transplant waiting list that’s full of desperate, lonely people. Frank woos and weds Dottie Corones (Molly Price) to get her government pension after she dies. He secretly intercepts a call from the hospital announcing that a transplant heart is available for Dottie and instead gives his new wife her last wish of, uh, “going out with a bang”. Watch now »
Carl’s cancer
Season 3, episodes 3 and 4
In a scheme to snag a signed baseball from a children’s charity (so that he can auction it off for cash), Frank convinces his little son Carl (Ethan Cutkosky) that Carl is dying from cancer. Frank also shaves Carl’s head and sends him to a kiddies’ cancer camp. Frank then tells the boy that while he’s away at camp, Frank will be hard at work at home searching for a cure. Watch now »
Gay for pay(off)
Season 3, episodes 8, 9 and 10
Frank moves in with a lonely man that he meets at his AA group, who’s just there because he wants company. Frank figures out that he should be able to claim benefits as the man’s live-in partner – if the city would just acknowledge gay couples’ rights – so he starts campaigning. Frank thrives on the attention, especially after an anti-gay group try to “cure” his homosexuality with free sex from women! Watch now »
Liver for love
Season 4, episodes 3 and 4
After being told that he needs a liver transplant, Frank tracks down his eldest daughter Sammi (Emily Bergl) that he abandoned as a baby, hoping for a donor match. Instead of just saying what he wants (or who he really is), Frank pretends that he’d like to date her and plays along when Sammi develops a romantic interest in him (we’re talking full-on kissing and grinding)! Watch now »
One crazy night
Season 5, episode 4
Frank goes to collect an insurance pay-out from an earlier scheme in which he got Carl to break his leg (Season 4, episode 4), only to be told that he’d already collected the money. Confused, Frank retraces his footsteps and finds out that he bought a fancy car, doubled his money gambling, partied with hookers… and invested $113 000 (R1.5 million) in an organisation that makes artificial limbs for homeless kids. Incensed, Frank tries to steal a prosthetic leg right off an orphan as pay-back. Watch now »
Rats, roaches and leeches, bow down. You could never! Watch Seasons 1 to 6 of Shameless on Showmax now.
Original African stories by local talent
Untying Kantai
Untying Kantai follows King Kantai, a man who has spent 30 years of his life working hard to provide for his family, only to be conned out of his life savings. Stream from 9 May, with new episodes weekly.
Big Girl Small World
Stream the new Kenyan romcom series Big Girl Small World from 8 May, with new episodes every week.
Empini S1
Stream the Showmax Original drama series Empini from 23 May 2024.
Original Sin: My Son The Killer
Original Sin: My Son The Killer follows the murder of Andrea Venter by Gerhard Jansen van Vuuren, who then went on the run from South Africa to Brazil.
Tracking Thabo Bester
From the makers of Devilsdorp and the director of Convict Conman comes the true-crime documentary South Africa has been waiting for. All the episodes are streaming on Showmax.
The Illuminated
The Showmax Original docuseries The Illuminated explores different religious movements in South Africa. All episodes now streaming.
Koek S1
The crime comedy Koek, starring Cindy Swanepoel. All the episodes are streaming on Showmax.
Ekhaya Backpackers S1
Stream the Showmax Original comedy series Ekhaya Backpackers. All the episodes are now streaming.
What will be the cost of vengeance? Empini S1, coming soon
The Roast Of Minnie Dlamini, now streaming
More Mzansi gold
9 most shocking moments in The Illuminated
Are you strong enough to binge Showmax Original documentary series The Illuminated? Here’s what you’ll need to prepare yourself.
Youngins Season 1 Episode 37-39 recap: Expelled!
While the five’s video goes viral, they’re swiftly expelled and forced to return home following a disciplinary hearing in Episodes 37-39 of Showmax Original Youngins.
What to watch on Showmax in May 2024
Stream Barbie and Oppenheimer in South Africa now, only on Showmax. Plus a ton more great stuff coming in May.
The Mommy Club Season 2 Episode 11 recap: Cutting through
In episode 11 of The Mommy Club S2, Hermajesty hosts a ‘Healing with Hermajesty’ night picnic that turns sour. New episodes every Monday.