Shameless

Season four picks up a few weeks after season three left off – with the Gallaghers braving another brutal Chicago winter and waiting on the medical fate of their flawed and permanently pickled patriarch Frank. With oldest daughter Fiona (Rossum) in a stable job and relationship, and newly graduated Lip (series star JEREMY ALLEN WHITE) enrolled in college, can the Gallaghers finally realize the middle class American dream? It looks like the Gallaghers might have a shot at happiness. But when you’re down and out, moving up isn’t so easy.

Fiona begins to enjoy the perks of living life just above the poverty line – using her newly activated health benefits to take the kids for checkups. Everything’s great – until her boss/boyfriend Mike gets mad that she didn't call the night before when she said she would. Fiona chalks it up to a little white lie. However, when a road rage incident damages the company car, Fiona tells a much bigger lie about how it happened. When Mike catches her, they’re both forced to confront their relationship issues. Meanwhile, Lip seems to have lost his mojo with the ladies as he struggles in school. Kev inherits the Alibi Room from Stan, but the good news is short-lived when Kev realizes the bar is basically bankrupt and Veronica learns she's actually carrying triplets! When Fiona turns out to be a blood match for Frank's liver, she refuses to help her dad – sending Frank on a mission to find his other oldest daughter.

While Frank gets (maybe too) close to his unsuspecting daughter Sammi (EMILY BERGL), Fiona hits it off with Mike’s drug addict brother, Robbie (NICK GEHLFUSS).

Against her better judgment, Fiona continues her secret affair with Robbie. And the situation nearly boils over, when Mike shows up at Robbie’s apartment while Fiona’s inside. Fiona is able to hide just in time before her infidelity can be exposed. In increasingly dire health straits due to liver disease, Frank attempts to contrive an “accident” that will provide an ample insurance payout to cover the cost of a potential transplant. Too physically weak to injure himself, he enlists the help of an overeager Carl. With the odds stacked against him, he gets more bad news when it is revealed that Sammi isn’t a match for a transplant. Lip continues to struggle with the full plate in front of him and shows up at Mandy’s out of loneliness, while Debbie’s age difference with Matt puts their relationship on the rocks.

Fiona’s series of bad decisions involving Robbie finally boil over when he alerts Mike of their affair – leaving Fiona horrified and in employment limbo. Frank and Sammi continue their pursuit of curing his liver trouble, while also catching up on the father-daughter time that Sammi’s always craved.

The aftermath of Liam’s accident lands Fiona in county jail – unsure of Liam’s condition or her future. Meanwhile, the family (minus Frank) waits nervously for any update on Liam’s condition at the hospital.

In the aftermath of Fiona’s release from jail, the Gallaghers deal with some changing dynamics. With Fiona under court order to remain inside the house and Frank’s illness keeping him out of commission, the weight of their guardianship lies squarely on Lip’s shoulders. As he simultaneously struggles to keep up with his responsibilities at school, Lip gets some unexpected assistance from his roommate’s girlfriend, Amanda (guest star NICHOLE BLOOM).

Fiona prepares for a visit from her probation officer and must rid the house of all suspicious items – a mission that puts her directly at odds with Debbie and Carl. Meanwhile, Ian gets kicked out of Mickey’s house by a hammer-wielding Svetlana (guest star ISIDORA GORESHTER), and finally makes his long-awaited return to the Gallagher house.

In detention, Carl shares a connection with a troubled girl named Bonnie (guest star MORGAN LILY). Lip grows close to his roommate’s now ex-girlfriend, while Debbie sets out to make life miserable for the new girl in Matty’s life. Sheila returns from her trip to the reservation with big plans to adopt the Native American kids. Fiona experiences the struggles of job-hunting with a criminal record, while Mickey ignores the birth of his son to spend time with Ian, whose behavior is becoming increasingly erratic.

Fiona goes off the rails – violating multiple terms of her probation by partying with Robbie’s degenerate friends. When the family doesn’t hear from her, it sends them into search party mode, not too unlike their past experiences with Frank.

Fiona is hauled away to a rough correctional facility as Frank wakes up from his operation suffering from post-operative delirium. Meanwhile, Ian is annoyed at the lack of commitment he sees from Mickey and delivers an ultimatum. After meeting Amanda’s parents, Lip makes a decision that he hopes will help his family while also keeping his new ‘girlfriend’ happy. Debbie meets an older student, Henry (guest star AUSTIN ABRAMS), who has a dark ulterior motive.

A more cognizant Frank begins to recuperate from his liver transplant, as Sheila fights for custody of the Native American kids, and clashes with Sammi about where they will all live once Frank is released. Meanwhile, Lip catches up on bills. After Fiona passes a drug test and returns home, her parole officer Gayle (special guest star REGINA KING) finds her a job at Patsy’s Pies. Also, Carl is heartbroken when he is deserted by Bonnie. Frank is feeling like his old, troubled self.