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 0.52 million household viewers and gained a 0.11 ratings share among adults aged 18–49.
Kevin (Steve Howey) and Veronica (Shanola Hampton) sell their house for $175,000 to a developer, planning to move to Louisville.
Carl (Ethan Cutkosky) is forced by Sergeant Stamps (Kimleigh Smith) to apologize to the wealthy man for the "assault incident."
Debbie (Emma Kenney) laments her failed attempts in relationships, and asks Kevin, Veronica and Tami (Kate Miner) over any explanation.
He tries to steal chairs from the pool, but Ian stops, causing an angry Mickey to leave back for the Gallagher household.
[1] In its original American broadcast, "The Fickle Lady is Calling it Quits" was seen by an estimated 0.52 million household viewers with a 0.11 in the 18–49 demographics.
Club gave the episode a "D+" grade and wrote, "It's a decision consistent with the show's unwillingness to decenter its most destructive character long past the point Frank was dragging down the rest of the show, and thus a decision that combines with everything else to inspire little but dread for how exactly, after more than five years of thinking about it, John Wells and his writers believe the story of the Gallagher family should come to an end.
"[4] Daniel Kurland of Den of Geek gave the episode a 3.5 star rating out of 5 and wrote "“The Fickle Lady Is Calling It Quits” is the strongest episode of Shameless' final season, it contains some of William H. Macy's absolute best work from the show, and it instills some optimistic confidence for what the series has planned for its final installment.
"[7] Meaghan Darwish of TV Insider wrote "Shameless's penultimate episode sees a family struggling to come to terms with life-changing issues.