Ep 1. Episode 1

The season 7 premiere of Shameless starts off with a bang, picking up right where season 6 left off. The Gallagher family is at a crossroads - Fiona has just broken up with her boyfriend and is struggling to keep her business afloat, Lip is dealing with the fallout from his alcoholism and recovery, Ian is coping with his bipolar disorder, Debbie is navigating life as a single mom, and Carl is still serving time in juvie.

In Episode 1, we see Fiona at her wits' end, trying to juggle her job, her siblings, and her own personal life. She's feeling the pressure of being the de facto parent in the house and is struggling to keep things from falling apart. Meanwhile, Lip is attending his first meeting with his new sponsor, Brad, as he tries to navigate his sobriety in the wake of his near-fatal accident.

The episode also explores Ian's ongoing struggle with his bipolar disorder. He's working at a diner but is struggling to keep up with the demands of his job, and his erratic behavior is starting to make his coworkers nervous. He also runs into Trevor, a trans man who he met at his psychiatric hospital, and the two strike up a friendship that could potentially develop into something more.

Back at the Gallagher house, Debbie is trying to figure out how to make ends meet as a single mom. She enlists the help of her siblings to babysit Franny while she works, but quickly realizes that they're not exactly equipped to handle the responsibilities of parenting. And as for Carl - he's still in juvie but is starting to make trouble for himself by getting involved with the wrong crowd.

Overall, the season 7 premiere of Shameless is a strong start to the new season, bringing back all the characters we know and love and setting them up for new challenges and struggles. As always, the show is a perfect mix of drama and comedy, with plenty of heart and humor to balance out the darker moments. Fans of the series will definitely not be disappointed.