Cameron Monaghan's Shameless exit was fitting yet frustrating

The A.V. Club

"When a main character exits a long-running series, it’s typically a time for reflection: for more than eight seasons, Ian Gallagher has been a critical part of Shameless, and one of the longest-running primetime explorations of homosexuality in the past decade," says Myles McNutt. "There are fans of the show who were drawn in by Ian’s story in particular, and whose relationship with the show has been shaped—for better and for worse—by the character’s experiences. Although we only learned earlier this week that this would be Ian’s last episode when Cameron Monaghan announced it via social media, it still marks a significant turning point for the series: the first Gallagher has left the nest, with another set to depart by season’s end. And yet 'Face It, You’re Gorgeous' is not in a particularly reflective mood...I buy that Ian might not want a big traditional sendoff, but it’s a character choice that also reflects a writing challenge: how could you possibly reflect on Ian’s story without acknowledging how thoroughly the show lost track of the plot over the past three seasons?" Ultimately, he adds, Monaghan's final episode "doesn’t attempt to dive into Ian’s past in any detail." ALSO: Ian Gallagher received the perfect farewell.