The series ended its 11-season series on April 11, 2021. Frank Gallagher (William H. Macy) is diagnosed with the coronavirus in a hospital and will soon die while in a ventilator – a very disturbing warning scene amid the current pandemic. The character, who rarely wore a mask, was initially admitted to the hospital after showing severe symptoms of his alcohol-related dementia and after having a suspected suicide attempt due to overdose.
As he dies, he imagines himself rising above the roofs while sitting in a chair in his hospital gown while reciting a letter, filled with words of ‘advice’ he left for his family. In the post-credits, his body, saturated with alcohol, is cremated, with explosive results.
Despite much hope among fans, Emmy Rossum, who left the show in season nine in 2019, did not return for the finale to reprise her role as Frank’s eldest daughter Fiona Gallagher. However, old footage of her was recorded in short family flashbacks that Frank experienced.
Apart from his final entry, the final also left even more in the air: Lip (Jeremy Allen White) gets an offer to sell the family home and hopes to start a new life with Tami (Kate Miner), their son Freddie and his brother Liam (Christian Isaiah). Debs (Emma Kenney) plans to move to Texas with her daughter Franny (Paris Newton) and a new girlfriend. Ian (Cameron Monaghan) and Mickey (Noel Fisher) adopt their new yuppie lifestyle. Carl (Ethan Cutkosky) holds a new position in the police department that will enable him to remain true to himself. Kev (Steve Howey) and V (Shanola Hampton) plans to move to Kentucky.
One thing does end nicely: Lip is admitted that he acted and did what Frank could never do for his family.