Showtime has slowly become associated with kicking off new shows with a great first season, then dragging them out for way too long, to the point where they become stale and boring. Shows that have fallen victim to this include “Dexter,” “House of Lies” and “Weeds.” This is why it is so nice to see “Shameless,” their most popular show since the fall of their last major critical and commercial hit “Dexter,” is still continuing strong, a whopping six years after its debut.

The Gallagher family is back, only this time, it looks like their days of constant bad luck and major debt are over. After the death of their mother Monica last season, it left them with several pounds of meth, which they end up deciding to use in their own ways.

Frank (William H. Macy, “Fargo”) smokes his share, travels to a Buddhist temple and emerges determined to repent for all the wrong he has done to people. Fiona (Emmy Rossum “Dragonball Evolution”) buries her and Liam’s shares and continues to renovate the apartment building she is leasing. Lip (Jeremy Allen White, “Movie 43”) tries to put an end to his alcoholism once and for all. Ian (Cameron Monaghan, “Gotham”) continues as an EMT while still pining over his ex, Trevor. Carl (Ethan Cutkosky, “The Unborn”), despite selling his share and investing in a hot tub, continues to abide by a rigorous military schedule. Debbie (Emma Kenney, “Epic”) is continuing to care for her daughter Frannie, maintain a parking attendant job during the day and go to welding school by night. Liam has now been enrolled in a private school that continually flaunts him in front of prospective parents to show “diversity.”

Meanwhile, after dealing with the loss of their bar to Svetlana, V (Shanola Hampton, “Things Never Said”) continues to waitress at Patty’s and plots to get their bar back from Svetlana, while Kev (Steve Howey, “Something Borrowed”) continues to work at Ian’s old strip joint.

Despite a set of familiar tones, it indeed looks like “Shameless” has turned things around for the Gallaghers, which is refreshing to see, considering all the hurt this family has gone through over the years. The premiere continues the rapid energy that has become a staple of the show, and does not look like it is stopping anytime soon. The performances are all still solid, as they have been since the beginning. As always, Macy proves that he is an acting force to be reckoned with, but overall, story wise, there is not that much that is different.

The premiere is still wildly entertaining, but the majority of the joy comes from seeing this family’s string of bad luck seemingly come to an end. After dealing with Frank’s constant antics, death, alcoholism, prison, almost drug overdose, bipolar disorder and much more, the Gallaghers deserve a break. Will it last? Who knows, but for now, we can relish in the fact that it looks like their troubles are finally over.

Image from Shameless via YouTube.com