Top 10 Best Fiona Gallagher Moments on Shameless
This Showtime dramedy will never be the same without Emmy Rossum. Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 10 Best Fiona Gallagher Moments.
For this list, we're taking a look at Fiona's defining moments from the first nine seasons of “Shameless.” In case you’re not caught up, keep in mind there will be spoilers.
#10: When She Visits Ian in Prison
"Found"
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With Season 9 confirmed as her last, it was only right that the headstrong matriarch of the Gallagher clan be given the opportunity to tie up some loose ends. One of the most poignant moments of Fiona’s final episode was her prison sit-down with Ian. After filling him in on the happenings of Frank, Lip, and the others, Fiona informs Ian that she is leaving to start a new life someplace else. With a wealth of shared history between them, Fiona is taken aback by Ian’s response, who tells her to leave, because she deserves to. It’s an extremely touching moment between two of our favorite characters, wrapped up beautifully when Ian spots Fiona’s plane taking off at the end of the episode.
#9: Saying Goodbye to the House
"Refugees"
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Bidding adieu to the home you grew up in is never easy. That goes double for the Gallagher abode, which played host to so many crazy and life-altering events we don’t have time to list them all. In Season 6, the house was put up for public auction, much to the dismay of Fiona and company. Watching Fiona walk through her former home, which has been stripped bare of everything that made it a home, is heartbreaking. For our money, the hardest part to stomach comes when she touches the closet door bearing the heights of all the Gallagher children over the years. The home would be back in their possession soon enough, but this scene remains one of Fiona’s most iconic.
#8: When She Testified Against Frank
"A Long Way from Home"
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Perpetually in a state of disarray, things were particularly dire for the Gallagher family in the middle of season three. A visit from child protective services led to the children being taken away and culminated in a court battle between Frank and Fiona over who should retain custody. Fiona delivered an impassioned plea to the judge and recounted a traumatic moment in which she was forced to care for Lip and Ian when she was just six years old, because Frank was off being Frank. Emmy Rossum’s brilliance is on full display in the scene, transporting us into the courtroom and making us feel all the emotions. Few moments make us feel for Fiona’s lifelong plight quite like this one.
#7: When She Was Right
"God Bless Her Rotting Soul"
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In the Season 7 finale, the Gallagher’s were shocked to discover that Monica had left them an inheritance. However, in true “Shameless” fashion, that inheritance was $70,000 worth of meth. Despite her pleas, Lip, Ian, Debbie, and Carl decide to sell it, becoming straight up meth dealers in the process. This is not lost on Fiona, who lambasts her siblings when they run into problems with their newfound meth business. Watching her scold them is incredibly satisfying, particularly if you’ve ever had to do the same with your own siblings. With a military-esque drum roll playing in the background, Fiona makes each sibling admit that she was right, and they were wrong. Emmy Rossum owns this scene from start to finish!
#6: When She Punched the Racist Neighbor
"Los Diablos!"
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Fiona never shies away from a fight. So, when a neighbor called the police on Liam for setting up a lemonade stand in front of her house, she was more than a little upset. Her anger stemmed from the belief that the neighbor only called the cops because Liam was black. In response, Fiona organized a block party in front of the woman’s home. However, seeing as how she was fired earlier in the day, Fiona wasn’t exactly in the best frame of mind. Perhaps that’s why she leapt over the fence and decked the neighbor in the face. Even as the cops take her away, Fiona’s smile tells us that in her mind, justice has been served.
#5: When She Cleaned up Monica’s Blood
"Fiona Interrupted"
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In a rare moment of family harmony, Frank, Monica, Fiona, and the rest of the Gallagher clan sat down for Thanksgiving dinner together in the Season 2 episode, “Just Like the Pilgrims Intended." However, it comes to a horrifying halt when Monica is found covered in blood in the kitchen, having attempted to kill herself. When everyone returns home the following episode, Monica’s blood is still all over the kitchen. As she starts cleaning up, Fiona can’t help but let her emotions show. It’s not enough that she has to deal with the original situation, she must also be there to clean up the aftermath. We can think of no better way to show the never-ending cycle of abuse Fiona is forced to endure.
#4: When She Realized She’d Become Like Frank
"The Hobo Games"
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Season 9 was a tough one for Fiona. She lost her boyfriend, her money, and her one business opportunity. This caused her to enter a downward spiral, filled with booze-filled nights and bad decisions. One of which, was when she got Jason, the alcoholic Lip was sponsoring, drunk; ending his 100 days of sobriety. Lip tears into Fiona, who is apathetic about the situation. It isn’t until Frank stumbles in that Fiona realizes she’s no better than her deadbeat father; using alcohol to escape her situation, regardless of how it affects those around her. The look on Fiona’s face as she comes to this realization is devastating and a testament to Rossum’s acting skill.
#3: When She Lost Sight of Liam & He Overdosed
"There's the Rub"
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Five seasons later and this one is still hard to watch. During a party at the Gallagher house, cocaine is left unattended on the kitchen counter. Drunk, high, and distracted, Fiona fails to notice when Liam enters the kitchen and gets a hold of the dangerous narcotic. He’s discovered shortly thereafter unconscious, having snorted an unknown amount. As Fiona shouts, “oh my god,” over and over, her voice shakes, as she becomes increasingly aware of what just occurred on her watch. Rossum’s performance in this scene is truly incredible, expertly conveying Fiona’s fear with little to no dialogue.
#2: When She Found Out About the Squirrel Fund
"A Great Cause"
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Fiona is constantly trying to make the best of a bad situation, but often gets the short end of the stick. This was never more apparent than in the Season 2 episode, “A Great Cause.” After wrongfully believing that Monica has changed for the better, Fiona finds out that she spent the family’s squirrel fund and got herself arrested. Fiona tearfully confronts her mother, although the latter is unresponsive. The sheer heartbreak in Fiona’s voice as she screams at her deadbeat mother says it all. However, after taking her emotions out on the washing machine, she rolls up her sleeves and gets to work. Proving that while life may not be fair, that’s not an excuse to give up.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are some honorable mentions:
When She Confronted the Yelp Reviewer
“Ouroboros"
When She Found Out About Ford's Secret Family
"Face It, You're Gorgeous"
When She Found Out Her Fiancé Is a Dope Fiend
"Familia Supra Gallegorious Omnia!"
When She Brought the Money Back... Then Kept It
“I'll Light a Candle for You Every Day"
When She Got Drunk on the Subway
“BOOOOOOOOOOOONE!"
#1: When She Confronted Monica
"Nana Gallagher Had an Affair"
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Fiona and Monica rarely saw eye to eye. In fact, when she died, all Fiona cared about was keeping costs to a minimum! Near the end of Season 1, Monica returns, hoping that she’ll be able to convince the rest of the family to let Liam live with her. In response, Fiona verbally decimates her mother with the one thing she can’t argue with: the truth. The truth being that she raised her siblings, not Monica. Fiona’s the one who helps them with school and pays the bills. Most importantly, she’s the one who’s there for them when they need help. The scene set the bar high for Fiona and Emmy Rossum, both of whom continued to impress with each passing season!
