Shameless Season 2 Best < TRUSTED · 2027 >

— The highest-rated episode of the season examines the responsibilities of parenthood across multiple characters. Frank schemes to break Monica out of the psychiatric facility.

Key characters & developments

Frank's bipolar ex-wife Monica returns, bringing a brief period of joy that quickly spirals into disaster when she and Frank blow through the children’s "squirrel fund". This arc peaks in a harrowing Thanksgiving suicide attempt. shameless season 2

However, it also highlights the resilience of the South Side. The Gallaghers are survivors. Their ability to find joy in a kiddie pool in the backyard or a stolen moment of quiet is what makes the audience root for them despite their questionable choices. Why Season 2 Stands Out

Lip and Ian: The brothers deal with growing pains. Lip’s relationship with Karen Jackson takes a toxic turn when she becomes pregnant, leading to a mystery regarding the baby's paternity. Meanwhile, Ian continues to hide his sexuality while pursuing a relationship with Mickey Milkovich, setting the stage for one of the series' most beloved long-term arcs. — The highest-rated episode of the season examines

Fiona Gallagher (Emmy Rossum) is balancing bartending at a local club with managing a makeshift betting parlor in the backyard. Lip (Jeremy Allen White) uses his intelligence to run illegal gambling rings and sell weed out of an ice cream truck with Kevin (Steve Howey). Meanwhile, the patriarch, Frank Gallagher (William H. Macy), spends his days finding increasingly convoluted ways to avoid honest work, eventually weaponizing his children's lives for a quick buck.

: A major plot point involves Mandy Milkovich becoming pregnant, leading Lip and Ian to investigate the identity of the father. Episode Guide "Summertime" Frank loses Liam in a bet; Fiona bartends at a club. "Father's Day" Lip deals with the possibility of being a father. "Can I Have a Mother?" This arc peaks in a harrowing Thanksgiving suicide attempt

The season finale, "Fiona Interrupted," ties the threads together with a bittersweet bow. Fiona and Steve are separated (for now), Lip is heartbroken, Sheila is left alone, and Frank is left for dead in a ditch by his own children after almost donating a kidney for money.