Meet the fabulously dysfunctional Gallagher family: Dad's a drunk, Mom split long ago, and eldest daughter Fiona tries to hold the family together.
When Frank is nowhere to be found on the day his disability check arrives, the family starts a manhunt and panic sets in.
When a government official suspects that someone might be cashing Aunt Ginger's social security checks, the Gallaghers set out to find her.
After a lonely Debbie steals a boy from a birthday party, the family hatches a plan to return the child without attracting attention from the police.
Even though Kevin is already married, the Gallaghers help pull off a fake wedding when Veronica's mother offers a cash gift for her wedding day.
When a letter from Carl's teacher arrives at the Gallagher home, Fiona must prove it's a suitable place for rehabilitating a delinquent.
Desperate to come up with a plan to pay two goons looking for the $6,000 that he owes, Frank stumbles onto a risky solution that might work.
When Frank gives up drinking, Carl and Debbie enjoy having their dad back despite Lip's warning it won't last.
Frank has some settlement money coming his way. The only catch: He needs his ex-wife's signature on the documents.
Monica's return to the family wreaks havoc on the Gallagher clan, leaving the children determined to find out if Frank is their real father.
Debbie convinces Fiona to get involved with her Classroom Moms, where Fiona finds a new friend in the alluring Jasmine.
Steve tries to convince Fiona to leave town with him after Tony discovers his true livelihood and threatens him with jail if he doesn't leave.
The Gallaghers are hustling in summertime Chicago, with Fiona bartending at a hotspot, but Frank's luck runs out and he loses Liam in a bet.
As Sheila makes progress in conquering her agoraphobia, Frank sets his sights on an ailing bar patron he sees as a potential meal ticket.
Fiona reconnects with her high school crush despite his being married, Frank contemplates marrying Dottie, and Debbie becomes obsessed with death.
Fiona must deal with the consequences of sleeping with Craig when his wife shows up at her door, while Frank plots to scare Sheila back inside.
Frank wants to claim Eddie's insurance benefits, but he's also a prime suspect in Eddie's disappearance, and Fiona lies at a high-profile wedding.
The arrival of Grammy Gallagher brings Frank and Fiona together, while Steve returns and asks Fiona out on a double date.
Jasmine invites Fiona on David's boat for a party, but Steve and Estefania are also there; meanwhile, Frank desperately wants to kick Grammy out.
When Lip quits school, Fiona makes a bargain with him that she'll get her diploma if he does, but he's got bigger problems with Karen and their baby.
Monica is back, cooking, partying and scamming with Frank just like old times, but the kids wonder if she's back for good.
With Monica around to help out, Fiona pursues her GED and a management position at the club, while Steve plots a course to win her back.
While Fiona plans a nice Thanksgiving, Monica becomes more depressed than ever, and Steve's plan to win back Fiona gets complicated.
Jimmy (Steve) has finally won his way back into Fiona's heart, while a lonely Frank wants to break Monica out of the psychiatric facility.
Fiona puts the family in debt to promote her own night at the club; Frank wakes up from a bender in Mexico with no money and no passport.
Fiona panics over the money she spent on her club night; Frank returns home unwelcomed; Lip turns his community service into a scam.
Frank pretends Carl has cancer in order to scam a charity foundation; Fiona is harassed at her new job; Debbie gets Lip to search for local pedophiles.
Carl makes the best of cancer camp; Sheila urges Frank to be Jody's sex coach; Fiona rallies her co-workers; Lip helps Mandy rescue her half-sister.
Frank is forced to find Aunt Ginger's skeleton; Jimmy faces his first true family crisis, and when Fiona fails him, he turns to Este.
Frank and Fiona fret when the DFS hauls their kids away; Lip and Ian endure a prison-like group home; Carl and Liam live in style with a gay couple.
Frank and Fiona go to extremes as they battle in court for sole custody; Debbie is forced into slave labor; Sheila stages an intervention for Jody.
When the family gathers for Aunt Ginger's fake funeral, Frank's cousin shows up with his own forged will that grants him ownership of the house.
Fiona begins a new job and has to adjust to the office culture; Frank fights for medical benefits and becomes the new face of the gay rights movement.
Jimmy drops a bomb, disrupting Fiona's newly balanced life; Frank, the face of gay rights, considers changing sides; Mickey's marriage plans irk Ian.
Fiona and the kids go camping; Carl sneaks an essentially homeless Frank into the Gallagher van for the night; Jimmy's carelessness exacts a price.
Frank is released from jail on medical furlough; Fiona learns of a new job opening at World Wide Cup; Lip graduates from high school.
Fiona has a job and a boyfriend, but her life is upended when Frank resurfaces, addicted to drugs and deathly ill. Meanwhile, Ian is still missing.
When a road rage incident damages a company car, Fiona lies about how it happened; Lip struggles in school -- and with the ladies.
Frank learns that he is a grandfather; Mike invites Fiona to dinner with his family; Carl tries to earn some drug money for Frank by kidnapping dogs.
Fiona continues her secret affair with Robbie; Frank tries to contrive an "accident" that will bring an insurance payout to cover his transplant.
Fiona's bad decisions involving Robbie finally boil over when he tells Mike about their affair; Sammi helps Frank pursue a cure for his liver trouble.
The fallout from Liam's accident lands Fiona in jail, unsure of Liam's state or her future; the family, minus Frank, awaits updates from the hospital.
With Fiona under court order to remain inside the house and Frank sick, Lip strains under the weight of responsibilities, but gets unexpected help.
Fiona cleans house before her probation officer visits; Ian gets kicked out of Mickey's house and finally returns to the Gallagher home.
Carl connects with a troubled girl; Lip grows close to his roommate's ex-girlfriend; Fiona endures the struggle of job hunting with a criminal record.
Fiona goes off the rails, violating multiple terms of her probation. The family goes into search party mode, like they have with Frank in the past.
Fiona arrives at a rough correctional facility; Frank awakens from surgery delirious; Ian gives Mickey an ultimatum; Debbie meets an older student.
Frank recuperates from his liver transplant; Sheila vies for custody of the Native American kids; Fiona passes a drug test, comes home and gets a job.
Lip is homeward bound. While working her waitressing job, Fiona encounters an unexpected romantic possibility.
The specter of gentrification rears its ugly head in the neighborhood. Fiona's house arrest ends, and she's ready to roll.
Debbie finds herself in an unexpected situation with Matty. Frank gets Carl's help in derailing the women who want to buy the house.
When Frank heads over to Lou's expecting to get his hefty insurance payout, he learns some very disturbing news: He already got it.
Lip tries to show off and winds up getting in over his head. Fiona tries to figure out how to let everyone know she's married.
Ian runs off with a baby. Fiona is taken aback when Jimmy shows up again and declares his love for her.
Ian winds up in a hospital. Fiona is faced with a turning point in her marriage.
Lip enters into some illicit activities in order to pay for his tuition. Lip and Fiona come to bring Ian back from his hospital stay.
While Frank and his doctor get to know each other better, Fiona tries to help Carl face the music when the time comes for his sentencing.
An unexpected kind of relationship begins to blossom between Frank and his doctor. Lip's schoolmates have a bad drug experience.
Frank begins to worry about Bianca when she starts acting strangely and putting herself into perilous situations.
Frank is doing whatever he can to make Bianca as happy as possible, but she makes an unexpected, unsettling request.
As Frank continues to reel from a devastating loss, Fiona tries to get Ian to take his meds, Carl gets released from jail, and Debbie lies to Fiona.
Debbie tries to prove to Fiona that she could raise a child, but Fiona's dealing with a major issue of her own. Frank's pain leads to a new scheme.
Frank lends his support to Debbie, and the pair plans to confront Fiona, who's trying to reconnect with Gus. Kevin attempts to make amends with Yanis.
Fiona tries to secure funds to buy back the Gallagher home at auction. Ian learns he was saved by a gay fireman. The Alibi has financial problems.
As the Gallaghers scatter, Debbie and Frank try to prove their worth to the Wexlers so they can get a place to stay, while Fiona stays with Sean.
Lip testifies to a disciplinary committee about the Helene scandal. Fiona stops by the house. Debbie negotiates an uncomfortable situation.
Carl takes over the Gallagher house and turns it into his "crib." Frank also returns to the house with Queenie. Ian and Caleb attend a wedding.
Fiona tries to get closer to Sean's son, Will. Carl wants to straighten out his life, but it won't be easy. Lip has a strange encounter with Queenie.
On the run from G-Doggg, Frank joins Debbie and Queenie at a commune. Fiona tries to make amends with Sean. Lip's partying gets out of hand.
Sean moves into the Gallagher house. V and Svetlana plan a green-card marriage. Debbie asks Frank to get her out of the commune.
Frank offers to pay for Fiona's wedding reception, then clashes with Sean. Lip and Youens continue to butt heads. Ian becomes an EMT trainee.
The Gallaghers convene at the wedding. Debbie brings Franny, while Ian shows up with Caleb. Meanwhile, Frank reveals shocking news about Sean.
Fresh out of a coma, Frank looks for answers. Single mother Debbie gets crafty to make ends meet. Ian begins to have second thoughts about Caleb.
Frank erects walls around the Gallagher house. A new waitress at Patsy's Pies introduces Fiona to dating apps. Kev and V's polygamy gets complicated.
Fiona gives the rest of the Gallagher kids a strict ultimatum. Frank finds a new family. Kev, V and Svetlana launch a kinky new business.
Worried about the homeless shelter's future, Frank shows some initiative. Fiona throws a speakeasy party at Patsy's. Ian meets a new love interest.
An emboldened Fiona contemplates a new business move. Debbie's money-making antics land her in hot water. Carl looks into his family heritage.
Frank faces some backlash from his new family. Lip juggles Sierra and his wire fraud scheme. Ian struggles with mixed feelings for Trevor.
Lip helps Sierra through a dire situation. Frank agrees to help Liam get into a private school. A frantic Debbie makes a decisive to-do list.
Fiona rustles up some help to keep the laundromat afloat. Kev begins to worry about V's acceptance of Svetlana's increasingly questionable behavior.
Monica returns to the skeptical Gallagher family with some surprising news. Fiona tries to keep her cool after a nasty Yelp review.
A conflicted Ian must make a difficult relationship decision after a sudden development. Fiona advises Kev on how to deal with Svetlana.
Frank and Monica attempt to renew their marriage vows. Fiona takes her professional life in a new direction. Lip tackles his alcohol relapse.
An unfortunate event brings the Gallaghers together and reveals a family secret. Ian has a talk with Trevor. Debbie learns a new trade.
Fiona decides to make some changes as Frank attempts to make amends. The diner gets some surprise visitors while Kevin has a startling discovery.
Frank lands a job as Fiona adjusts to her role as a landlord. Kevin seeks support before going under the knife. A shady play comes back to bite Lip.
Lip helps Youens after a run-in. Kevin's interest in genetics yields surprising results. To address Eric's demand, the Gallaghers must dig deep.
Fiona is caught off guard by a surprise return. Carl takes action after a local veteran is robbed. V accompanies Kevin on a pilgrimage to Kentucky.
Carl takes extreme measures with a particular addict. A fellow parent takes a keen interest in Frank. Fiona seeks a favor from Mel.
Fiona has a complication with a tenant. Frank's hard work gains him recognition. Debbie deals with the ramifications of a wild few days.
Kevin desires dominance. Ian rallies reinforcements to harass Fiona. Frank tests the job market. Carl's basement-centric scheme expands.
Frank's new business venture is in full swing. Brad wears out his welcome. Kevin's boldness extends beyond the bedroom. Ian takes on the church.
Ian continues pursuing a newfound cause. Frank hits a snag north of the border. Kevin alters his approach with Svetlana while Fiona gets to know Ford.
Lip gets a surprise during a visit to prison. Ian's unexpected celebrity grows. Fiona's charitable ways come back to bite her. Kassidi pressures Carl.
Debbie and Fiona deal with the consequences of two injuries. Sierra gets some very unsettling news. Frank and Svetlana are both on a quest for cash.
Kassidi grows more possessive. Kev and V help Svetlana with a plan as Frank devises a scheme of his own. Fiona confronts her legal troubles head-on.
Frank's sexual antics have an unexpected impact on the Hopkins Academy PTA. Ian's crusade as Gay Jesus continues in jail. Lip struggles to care for Xan.
Fiona ignores Ford's advice about a high-risk investment. Frank discovers that there's money in local politics. The Gay Jesus movement overwhelms Ian.
Carl asks for V's help in securing a congressional recommendation to West Point. Ian embarks on a spiritual quest. Xan's injury compromises Lip.
Ahead of Election Day, Frank and Fiona try to round up votes for opposing candidates. Carl is challenged to a duel and wonders if he's gone soft.
Frank's new liver meds have a painful side effect. Debbie tries to patch things up with Alex. A day off leaves Lip struggling with sobriety.
Lip becomes a sober coach for a famous actress. Kev and V's daughter brings a sex toy to show and tell. Fiona struggles to manage her investment.
Debbie tries to help Fiona when she hits a low point. Frank and Ingrid's honeymoon phase is short-lived. Kev and V are at odds about building a family.
Fiona's alarming downward spiral continues. Carl and Kelly continue their secret romance. Ingrid enlists Frank in fulfilling a lifelong dream.
Frank needs money to make Ingrid's vision of their future a reality. Fiona's anger causes a problem at Patsy's. Lip faces his true feelings for Tami.
Frank meets his match in a fellow Hobo Loco competitor. Fiona gets scared straight. Carl takes a dangerous job. Lip sees Tami in a new light.
At the Hobo Loco, it comes down to Frank versus his friend and greatest opponent. Meanwhile, Ingrid grows nervous about his commitment to their future.
When a blackout strikes the South Side, Kevin and V try to unite the neighborhood. Carl grows suspicious of Debbie's attempts to befriend Kelly.
Frank's injury is a pain to everyone in the family. Fiona tries to get her life on track. Carl gets some bad news while Debbie makes a move.
Frank's kids get him a nurse. Carl goes back to school. Fiona makes a big decision about her future.
Frank milks his injury while Debbie, the self-appointed new head of the family, devises her own scheme. Carl returns home from military school.
Frank tries to make money to secure his place in the house but Mikey has other plans. Lip struggles with fatherhood. Carl has a mystery coworker.
Liam gets to know the family while Frank enjoys his new role in the house. Lip looks for support. Ian and Mickey make a decision. Carl woos Anne.
Frank and Mikey have a day of adventure. Debbie finds a new income source. Liam becomes suspicious of his flawless mentor. Carl offers to help Anne.
A visitor to the house inspires Frank with a new scheme. Tami returns but Lip is reluctant to yield control of Fred. Debbie fights for child support.
Debbie tries to protect Franny from Pepa while Frank and Liam meet prospective buyers. Carl has an idea to protect Anne's family business.
Frank meets his ideal woman. Ian and Mickey are roped into a scam. Kev and V go undercover when tragedy strikes the Alibi. Carl does his civic duty.
Debbie considers a career option. Frank learns the truth about Faye. Lip and Tami argue over Fred's care. Ian and Mickey have a miscommunication.
Frank discovers his past connection to Faye. Debbie's day with Claudia's daughter does not go well. Carl tries to toughen up his cadets.
Lip and Tami get a new opportunity. Feeling betrayed, Frank ends up in court. The rift between Ian and Mickey widens. Carl makes a surprising discovery.
Frank finds a new home. Lip is reluctant to embrace Tami's future plans. Debbie's love triangle may be ending. Ian sees Mickey in a new light.
Trying to persuade Tami to stay, Lip struggles with sobriety. Liam outmaneuvers Frank. Ian and Mickey's wedding day stirs up intense emotions.
Frank fights encroaching gentrification as the pandemic forces Kevin and Veronica into a new line of work. Carl trains to join the police force.
Mickey gets Ian an interview at an Amazon fulfillment center. Debbie overspends for Franny's upcoming fifth birthday party.
Ian and Mickey's marital issues worsen. Kevin's conspicuous success leads to a crime. Frank becomes disoriented while dropping Franny at school.
Frank, Kevin and Liam scheme to get rid of the Milkoviches, who have moved in next door. Lip reluctantly meets with Tami and her former music teacher.
Lip and Tami go house hunting and find a sketchy property. Ian and Mickey get robbed on the job. Veronica canvasses to pass a rent-control bill.
Frank receives a diagnosis for his confusion. Veronica is appalled by pandemic protocols at the girls' school. Debbie learns that Sandy is married.
Lip wants to sell the family home. Carl feels paranoid after his one-night stand. Frank tries to use his situation to his advantage.
The family discovers Frank's condition. Carl is put on a new assignment. The feds question Lip. Terry comes into the care of a fearless nun.
Debbie is resistant to change while Lip and Brad wind up being kidnapped by the mob. Frank wants to pull off one last caper.
Veronica's desire for her mom to move back to Chicago takes an unexpected turn in Louisville. The police look for a painting that Frank stole.
Ian and Mickey have different experiences in their new home and neighborhood. Carl uses his position to stick it to the rich.
The family gathers to celebrate Ian and Mickey's first anniversary as Frank faces his mortality.