7 Things To Remember Before The Season 9 Premiere Of Shameless

Fans of the Showtime original series Shameless have been abuzz following the shocking news that leading lady Emmy Rossum (who plays Fiona) will be leaving the show after the upcoming ninth season. As the eldest of the core six Gallagher children, Fiona has had to be the family matriarch, making sure her younger siblings were okay, trying to establish a roadmap for her own future, and keeping up with her own tumultuous love life. Both literally and figuratively, she has been a more present member of the family than her dad Frank (William H. Macy). News of Rossum’s departure has left fans of the wondering what will come of the Gallagher clan without its most responsible member, and how the show will send Fiona off.

But with all eyes on the future of Shameless, it’s worth taking a look at the Gallagher family past, since season 9 premieres on Sunday. While the unruly bunch has remained firmly stuck on Chicago’s working class Southside, loyal viewers know that there is always some new relationship, scam, or drama looming on the horizon. Here's a refresher on what viewers need to remember before the new season starts. Warning: spoilers ahead.