"Cascading Failures" is the sixth episode of the third season of the American television comedy drama Shameless, an adaptation of the British series of the same name.
The series is set on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, and depicts the poor, dysfunctional family of Frank Gallagher, a neglectful single father of six: Fiona, Phillip, Ian, Debbie, Carl, and Liam.
According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 1.48 million household viewers and gained a 0.7 ratings share among adults aged 18–49.
CPS takes Lip (Jeremy Allen White), Ian (Cameron Monaghan), Carl (Ethan Cutkosky), Debbie (Emma Kenney) and Liam, with Brittany (Keiko Agena) not disclosing the identity of the person who reported the Gallaghers.
However, his lawyer, Lou Deckner (Alex Borstein), tells him his case will not be taken seriously unless he is accompanied by his wife for the signatures; Frank and Fiona ask Sheila (Joan Cusack) to pretend to be Monica for the petition.
While Lip challenges the orders of the group home's superior, Ian is allowed to leave to continue working at the store and meet with Mickey (Noel Fisher).
"[4] John Vilanova of Paste gave the episode a 8.1 out of 10 rating and wrote, "If they can handle a hearing next week, the Gallagher network will be back online.
"Cascading Failures" brought all of those emotions to the table, as the Gallagher kids were yanked from Fiona's home and scattered in foster care.
"[6] Your Entertainment Corner wrote that the episode "takes you on a roller coaster of emotions and makes powerful political statements about foster care and homosexuality.