Although it was adaptedfrom the British seriesof the same name, one would be hard-pressed to find a more compelling and emotionally involving American TV drama than Showtime’s hit series,Shameless. While every character within the dysfunctional Gallagher family and their orbit is real and relatable as they come, the clear heart and soul of the series remains Fiona Gallagher, played brilliantly by Emmy Rossum in the first nine seasons of the show.
Forced to grow up much too fast, Fiona is the eldest sibling who becomes the de facto matriarch tasked with holding the family together while navigating her messy personal life. Despite often learning what not to do from her irresponsible alcoholic father, Frank (William H. Macy), fans of the domestic drama were up in arms when Fiona departed fromher family in Chicagoat the end of Season 9. After nearly a decade on the show, Rossum felt it was time to explore other career opportunities, but Fiona’s decision to leave makes sense with or without Rossum’s real-life departure.
With nearly five years since her fateful decision that altered the course of the show, it’s time to reflect on what happened to Fiona Gallagher inShamelessand the decisions that fueled her departure.
The Death of Fiona’s Mother
While it’s easy to focus on Season 9 ofthe popular Showtime dramaas the turning point for Fiona’s dramatic arc inShameless, the roots of her departure from Chicago stem from the death of her mother, Monica (Chole Webb), in Season 7. Due to Monica’s abandonment when Fiona was a child, Fiona was forced to take her place as the family caretaker. As such, Fiona resents both of her parents even though she still harbors some love for them deep down. Fiona expresses more love for her siblings and gives them unwavering support even when they don’t see eye to eye.
All that begins to change when Monica passes away in Season 7. Once Monica dies, Fiona disagrees with her family regarding the funeral arrangements and callously insists on burning Monica’s corpse in a parking lot bonfire. More tellingly, Fiona opts to burn her portion of methamphetamine left behind by Monica and forgo the fortune it would grant her. Afterward, Fiona reconciles with her father and allows him to sleep in the Gallagher household.
Through brilliant writing, the creators ofShamelesswere subtly planting the seeds of Fiona’s farewell. By saying goodbye to Monica and burning her mother’s inheritance, Fiona is subconsciously letting go of her own matriarchal role within the Gallagher household. Breaking ranks with her siblings' funeral arrangements and enabling Frank to be a father again hints at Fiona’s impending departure.
Fiona Gained Autonomy With Her Own Business
In Season 8, Fiona becomes the owner of an apartment building and throws herself into becoming a successful realtor in Chicago’s southside. The more time she spends learning the tricks of the trade, renovating her building, and finding new tenants, the less time she has to take care of her family. As Fiona becomes more independent and estranged from her family, her attention is also divided by Ford, a dashing Irish lad with his own real estate tips. By Season 9, she learns Ford is a married man, which partially prompts her decision to get out of dodge.
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In addition to becoming more independent, Fiona’s moderate success as a building owner gives her the strength and courage to begin thinking about life beyond her time in Chicago. Fans of the show know full well all the dead-end jobs and humiliating things Fiona has done for money, but legally becoming a successful entrepreneur on her own without privileged connections and charitable handouts proves to herself that she can forge a better life after years of caring for others. Without learning on the job and taking her lumps as a sole proprietor, Fiona never would have had the financial means or the personal gumption to leave her family behind.
She Was No Longer Needed By her Family
Those who watchedShamelessfrom the start saw the young Gallagher kids grow up in real time. In the beginning, Fiona was paramount in ensuring her adolescent siblings Lip (Jeremy Allen White in one of his best performances), Ian (Cameron Monaghan), Debs (Emma Kenney), and Carl (Ethan Cutcosky) were fed, bathed, clothed, sheltered, taken to school on time, etc. Indeed, the kids were at an age when they genuinely needed a mother figure in their life. Despite the inconvenience, Fiona was always there to keep her family afloat. The crushing truth is that, as the characters grew older and became adults, they simply no longer needed Fiona to take care of their problems.
For example, by Season 9, Debs has her own baby to care for and a plethora of adult problems to navigate. Meanwhile, Lip is busy taking care of Xan and tries to become the underage boy’s legal guardian. Elsewhere, Ian has gone to jail for being a controversial social leader and Carl has found order by joining the military. In every case, as Fiona’s siblings grow into their own and take on their own adult issues, she can feel that there is less of a need to constantly be at their side and support them at all times. This freeing sense of liberty untethers Fiona from her familial responsibilities and removes the burden she’s been carrying her whole adult life.
Moving on to Greener Pastures
Before her understated farewell in Season 9, Episode 14, “Found,” Fiona is seen working as a gas station clerk. Just when it seems like her bad real estate investment will haunt Fiona forever, a former business associate arrives with a $100,000 check and tells her that a successful deal went through. Fiona accepts the cash buyout and distances herself from the real estate business. Now unburdened with the domestic responsibilities she’s known her whole life and the financial freedom to carve a new life path, Fiona considers the options for her future.
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Fiona’s options consist of more real estate investment, but she’s too wise to repeat the mistake, telling her best friend Vee (Shanola Hampton), “Hell no…fool me once.” An extravagant shopping spree is another option, much like she did after turning her first real estate profits. However, it’s the wise words from her attorney and a surprising visit to her brother Ian in jail that inform Fiona’s ultimate fate. In passing, Fiona’s lawyer advises her that it’s, “Time to leave this Southside hood rat crap behind you and get on with being an adult.”
With that sentiment fresh in mind, Fiona visits Ian in jail and informs him about her decision to potentially leave town. Fiona expects Ian to be upset about her departure. However, when Ian gives a full-throated blessing, declares the family will always be there for her, and says, “Go away as far as you can and never look back,” Fiona knows she has the support of her sibling to find greener pastures and begin life anew.
An Unknown Warmer Climate
While Fiona certainly left Chicago, there’s no telling where her final destination will be. In “Found,” Fiona admits that she’ll probably end up “Somewhere near the equator…I hate winters,” suggesting she’ll venture far away from the American midwest. Bailing on the farewell party arranged by her family, Fiona says goodbye to her siblings and walks out the front door with a suitcase in tow. Frank pridefully grits his teeth and utters, “You stepped in and helped. Thanks.” In classic Fiona fashion, she sharply rebuts by stating, “Helped? I did it all, Frank,” and walks out of her father’s life knowing how much of his job she did for him.
Fiona’s final moment inShamelesscomes when she boards an airplane beside a little girl, both of whom are flying for the first time in their lives. For as fast as Fiona was forced to grow up and leave her childhood behind to take care of her family, the final image of Fiona likens her to a vulnerable little girl with the starry-eyed wonderment of the endless possibilities of what lies ahead in the world. It’s a poetic cap on a remarkably well-drawn character played with honesty and heartfeltpathos by Emmy Rossumfrom beginning to end. As for Fiona’s legacy, she couldn’t help but leave her family behind without giving one last show of gratitude: $50,000 and a fond farewell that reads: “Love You.“Stream on Netflix.
