Hope Springs Paternal

"Hope Springs Paternal" is the eighth episode of the fourth 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 1.77 million household viewers and gained a 0.8 ratings share among adults aged 18–49.

Carl (Ethan Cutkosky) is suspended from school due to his constant bullying, and faces a possible expulsion if his legal guardian does not accompany him on Friday.

Meanwhile, Sammi (Emily Bergl) comes up with the idea of pretending to sell Sheila's house to earn some money for Frank's transplant.

Fiona is visited by Robbie (Nick Gehlfuss), who wants to reconcile after learning she did not reveal he supplied her with the cocaine, but she shuts the door on his face.

Falls from grace are usually portrayed more dramatically, with people plummeting from the highest rungs of society to the lowest, but what is happening to Fiona feels much more tragic.

"[5] Rosie Narasaki of Hollywood.com wrote "The look on her face when she wakes up to Liam patting her cheek and Lip smiling ruefully at her from across the room is like the light at the end of a long tunnel of angst.

"[6] David Crow of Den of Geek gave the episode a 4 star rating out of 5 and wrote, "Tonight's Shameless is entitled "Hope Springs Eternal," yet the only silver lining I can see around this most dark Gallagher storm is that we could have finally bottomed out.

"[7] Leigh Raines of TV Fanatic gave the episode a 4.5 star rating out of 5, and wrote, "I've said it before and I'll say it again: where are the awards for Emmy Rossum?