Ep 1. Episode 1

Season 6 of Shameless opens with Episode 1, which sets up the drama and struggles the show's characters will face in the upcoming season.

The episode picks up shortly after the events of the previous season's finale. The Gallagher family is still reeling from the departure of their matriarch, Fiona (Emmy Rossum), who has left town to search for a new path in life. This leaves her younger siblings, Lip (Jeremy Allen White), Ian (Cameron Monaghan), Debbie (Emma Kenney), Carl (Ethan Cutkosky), and youngest Liam (Brennan Kane Johnson) to fend for themselves.

Lip, who was on the brink of graduation in the previous season, is now left to navigate college on his own. He's struggling with addiction and trying to reconcile his feelings for his ex-girlfriend, Amanda (Nichole Bloom). Meanwhile, Ian is dealing with his own turmoil after being diagnosed with bipolar disorder. He's trying to find a way to manage his moods and maintain a relationship with his boyfriend, Caleb (Jeff Pierre).

Debbie has taken on the responsibility of caring for her baby daughter, while also dealing with the after-effects of giving birth at such a young age. Carl, still on the road to redemption after being released from juvenile detention, is now working for a shady organization that forces him to make difficult moral decisions. Liam, the youngest Gallagher, is dealing with his own struggles as he starts school and is forced to confront issues of race and class.

As the episode progresses, we see each of the Gallagher siblings tackling their own problems, with varying degrees of success. Frank (William H. Macy), the family patriarch and perennial screw-up, is as always causing trouble, but also faces his own challenges as he struggles with a health condition. In typical Shameless style, the episode is filled with humor, drama, and a healthy dose of chaos as the Gallaghers try to make their way in the world.

The show explores a variety of themes, such as addiction, mental illness, poverty, and the struggles of working-class families. It's a realistic portrayal of a family in crisis, and the ways in which they rely on each other to survive. The characters are complex and flawed, but also endearing in their own ways.

Overall, Episode 1 of Shameless season 6 sets the stage for a tumultuous season filled with ups and downs for the Gallagher family. It's a strong start to the season, with plenty of intrigue and drama to keep viewers hooked.