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.
Frank (William H. Macy) is trying to settle back at his house, but the family is refusing to give him a room, with the exception of Debbie (Emma Kenney).
Meanwhile, Jimmy (Justin Chatwin) is dismayed to discover that Nando has sent a henchman, Beto (Bernardo de Paula), to check on him and prevent him from getting into trouble.
Sheila (Joan Cusack) grows tired of caring for Hymie, to the point that she accidentally leaves him in the dumpster just before it is grabbed by the city workers.
At the Alibi Room, Frank laments the actions of his children, and he decides to call CPS to inform them that his family is living in an abusive environment.
Club gave the episode a "B–" grade and wrote, "Shameless does two things especially well: observational nuggets from the Gallaghers' cartoonish world of poverty and goofy, weird, perverted little capers.
"[5] Alan Sepinwall of HitFix wrote, "what's most interesting about "The American Dream" is that Frank isn't the most destructive force within or without the Gallagher family this week.
It's not the disaster I feared it would be when she started kiting checks to the mob, in that all she loses is a hundred bucks, but that's only because of Lip's efforts in sending the rich kids there with the bogus Wilco tip.
"[6] David Crow of Den of Geek wrote, "It felt far too convenient for the plot that a character who has driven BMWs and bought houses on a whim is suddenly broke and cannot think of a way to turn a dollar that is less obvious than stealing a car.