The Undeniable Appeal of Lip: 20 Hidden Secrets That Will Leave You Astonished

Shameless, the hit comedy series on Showtime, featured an exceptional ensemble cast. However, there are several issues with the character Lip Shameless that viewers have chosen to overlook over the years. The show introduces audiences to the Gallagher family, who live together in poverty on Chicago's South Side. The family is led by their absent alcoholic father, Frank, and primarily cared for by their eldest sister, Fiona.

While Lip is the second oldest sibling after Fiona, Debbie takes on the caregiver role when Fiona departs in season 9. Among the Gallagher children, Lip is the most perplexing character. Portrayed by Jeremy Allen White, Lip constantly struggles between his academic achievements and his troubled upbringing. Although he excels in school more than his siblings, Lip fails to graduate college and makes several detrimental choices in his relationships. Unfortunately, Lip does not receive the satisfying ending that viewers had hoped for in the series finale of Shameless. His choices accumulate, resulting in him remaining stuck.

Lip Didn't Recognize Ian's Sexuality — Season 1, Episode 1, "Pilot"

From the very beginning of Shameless, it was evident to viewers that Ian and Lip shared a bond closer to best friends rather than brothers. Despite their inseparable relationship, the character of Lip in Shameless failed to recognize that Ian was exclusively attracted to men and was involved in a secret affair with his married boss from the convenience store. It didn't take long for Lip to embrace Ian after he came out, but it remains highly surprising that Lip was unaware or that Ian didn't feel comfortable disclosing this truth to his most trusted confidante.

He Used Karen To "Test" His Brother — Season 1, Episode 1, "Pilot"

When Lip Shameless discovered that his brother Ian had feelings for men, he initially lacked support and even doubted Ian's truth. Driven by the fear that Ian was being manipulated, Lip resorted to violence and punched him for having an affair with their boss. In an attempt to question Ian's sexual orientation, Lip took him to Karen's house. In a highly offensive act, Lip asked Karen to engage in oral sex with Ian, hoping to prove Ian's confusion and potential for pleasure with women. This disrespectful act not only hurt Karen, the girl Lip eventually developed feelings for, but also demeaned Ian, whose sexual preference was not a choice and should never have required proof.

Lip Didn't Want To Live Up To His Potential — Season 2, Episode 8, "Parenthood"

Most of the Gallagher children grew up with low expectations for their future. Fiona struggled to balance her family obligations and personal ambitions, Ian's bipolar disorder hindered his self-acceptance, Carl initially desired to be as reckless as his neglectful father, and Debbie aspired to be a teenage mother, causing many issues along the way. On the other hand, Lip, a character from Shameless, knew he had the potential for success but lacked the desire to pursue it.

Lip resented his family's expectation for him to be their main source of financial support. Choosing not to put in much effort, he relied more on his street smarts than his intelligence. This created a major conflict with Fiona in season 2, as Lip wanted to drop out of school, while she insisted he continue. Lip even accused her of viewing him as the family's financial provider, a burden he couldn't bear.

He Didn't Step Up As Liam's Guardian Until He Had To — Season 4, Episode 6, "Iron City"

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When Monica Gallagher divorced her husband and left her children, Frank began spending more time at the local bar instead of taking care of his family. This forced Fiona to step up and become the primary guardian for her siblings, despite juggling multiple jobs and various other responsibilities. While Lip was intelligent enough to assist Fiona and relieve some of her workload, he didn't truly start doing so until circumstances forced him to.

After Liam suffered from an overdose caused by substances accidentally left around the house by Fiona, Lip, a character from Shameless, stepped up as his main caregiver. He took on the responsibility of caring for his baby brother and worked harder to provide for his family. However, it shouldn't have required such a significant mistake from Fiona to prompt Lip to take action, as he had a habit of avoiding responsibility for as long as possible due to his growing resentment towards his family's opinion of his academic abilities.

Lip Didn't Take His Education Seriously — Season 6, Episode 12, "Familia Supra Gallegorious Omnia!"

The character Lip in Shameless is often praised for his intelligence, but he displays the least respect for the education system compared to the other characters. During high school, Lip resorted to taking money from his peers to take their SATs for them. Despite Fiona threatening to kick him out of their home, he dropped out of school in Shameless season 2.

Although Lip eventually obtained his GED, it was only due to Fiona constantly pushing him. Additionally, he wouldn't have even attended college if Mandy hadn't applied on his behalf. The final blow to his educational journey came in season 4 when Lip failed to graduate college. Despite making some effort, his inability to control his temper resulted in him assaulting a campus guard and subsequently being expelled. He failed to comprehend the consequences of his actions, leading to a disappointing ending for him in the Shameless series finale.

He Failed Mandy — Season 2, Episode 11 "Just Like The Pilgrims Intended"

Lip Shameless, primarily fixated on Karen Jackson in the first three seasons of Shameless, completely overlooked the goodness and loyalty of Mandy Milkovich. Initially engaging in a casual "friends with benefits" situation, their bond grew significantly over time. Mandy graciously offered Lip a place to stay after he was expelled from the Gallagher household for dropping out of high school. Additionally, she took the initiative to apply to various colleges on his behalf, genuinely believing in his potential. Despite Mandy's unwavering support, Lip made the regrettable decision to pursue a clandestine relationship with Karen, thus betraying Mandy's kindness. Mandy holds a significant place as one of Lip's most fulfilling experiences, enduring considerable hardships throughout her time on Shameless. Regrettably, the toxic dynamic between Lip and Karen eventually triumphed.

He Loved Getting Into Fights — Season 6, Episode 11 "Sleep No More"

All the Gallagher siblings have a tendency to engage in physical confrontations when challenged or pressured, but none of them exhibit the same level of enthusiasm for fighting as the character Lip Shameless. Lip occasionally participates in choreographed fights to earn some extra cash, but his motive isn't necessarily to win or lose; rather, he thrives on the adrenaline rush it provides. He is fearlessly unafraid to take on anyone, regardless of whether or not he stands a chance against them.

When faced with frustration resulting from failed relationships or disappointments, Lip finds solace in two favorite forms of release: fighting and destructing property. He doesn't hesitate to throw a punch at his best friend Ian if he disagrees with his actions. However, Lip's proclivity for brawling reaches its climax in season 6, leading to his failure to graduate college. He is expelled for vandalizing Professor Youens' car and assaulting a security officer, all while in a drunken rage over losing his teaching assistant position.

He Has Clear Abandonment Issues — Season 2, Episode 12, "Fiona Interrupted"

Lip, unlike his siblings Fiona, Debbie, Ian, and Carl, is highly self-aware. While they often fail to recognize the consequences of their actions, Lip is intelligent enough to understand when he is in the wrong. Strangely, though, he has yet to comprehend why he continuously finds himself involved with emotionally unavailable women, nor has he shown any progress in learning from his past relationship errors.

The character of Lip in Shameless harbors lasting resentment towards his mother, who abandoned him and their family. As a result, he has developed a pattern of seeking out women who will eventually leave him, causing him to endure the same heartache repeatedly. This tendency becomes most evident in his tumultuous relationship with Karen, when she, just like his mother, abruptly leaves without a proper goodbye at the end of season 2.

He Blames Frank For Everything — Season 2, Episode 4, "A Beautiful Mess"

Frank is an incredibly inept father, consistently causing numerous problems for the Gallagher siblings. His financial mismanagement makes it incredibly difficult for them to make ends meet, his failure to instill any sort of moral compass in his children has led to various issues, and he often behaves more like a child than a responsible adult. While Frank certainly deserves a significant amount of blame, the character Lip Shameless unfairly places blame on him for certain things that were not actually his fault.

In one particular episode of the second season titled "A Beautiful Mess," Karen, in an effort to spite her own father, took advantage of Frank while he was heavily intoxicated. Instead of discussing the situation with Karen and trying to understand the circumstances, Lip immediately lashed out at Frank and assumed the worst. His own resentment towards his father prevented him from seeing the truth about his girlfriend's actions. This pattern of reacting negatively towards Frank has been evident on multiple occasions throughout the series Shameless.

Lip Doesn't Care About His Relationships — Season 8, Episode 4, "F**k Paying It Forward"

Lip frequently criticizes Frank for his substance dependency, but it's evident that he also struggles with his own addictions and eventually attended AA for a period. While it's common for teenagers to want to explore multiple partners, the character of Lip in Shameless has been involved with numerous women throughout the series, despite lacking genuine feelings for most of them.

When Lip attempted to sober up and take a break from dating, he discovered that he couldn't focus on his work as his thoughts were consumed by his desire for a relationship. In season 8, he engaged in a purely physical relationship with Eddie, even though he didn't particularly enjoy her company. He isn't quite the romantic he appeared to be while pursuing Karen, Helene, and Sierra.

He Ruined His Relationship With Amanda To Be With Helene — Season 5, Episode 12, "Love Songs (In The Key Of Gallagher)"

The character Lip Shameless consistently chooses Karen over Mandy, despite Mandy being more supportive of his future. This pattern repeats when he chooses his married professor Helene over his perfect girlfriend Amanda. Although Amanda initially dislikes Lip, their physical relationship leads to genuine feelings. Amanda assists him with money, organization, and taking care of his brother Liam, but Lip fails to appreciate her contributions. He becomes obsessed with his relationship with Helene, leading to his downfall and ultimately, his failure to graduate college. In the season 5 finale, Amanda confronts Lip, blaming him for making her fall in love with him, and physically confronts him in the library.

He Let A Married Woman Destroy His Future — Season 6, Episode 5, "Refugees"

While Lip was in a relationship with Amanda, it appeared that his life was finally on the right track. He successfully took care of Liam as his main guardian, secured a resident adviser position with a private room on campus, and performed well in his classes, thanks to Amanda's support in organizing his schedule and keeping him focused on studying. However, everything changed when he started dating Professor Helene Runyon, who was already married. This decision led to utter chaos in Lip's life.

In the fifth season episode "Refugees," Amanda exposed Lip and Helene's relationship to the school by sharing a nude picture of Helene in Lip's dorm. As a result, Lip found himself abruptly single and heartbroken. Regrettably, Lip turned to heavy drinking, leading him to destroy a professor's vehicle and assault a security guard. These actions ultimately led to his expulsion from college and were among the many factors contributing to his failure to graduate.

He Shares His Father's Struggles — Season 6, Episode 12, "Familia Supra Gallegorious Omnia!"

Content: The Lip Shameless character's greatest desire was to avoid becoming like his father. He even went to the extent of getting a DNA test to prove that Frank was not his biological father. However, after his breakup with Helene, it became evident that he was indeed Frank's son. During his periods of depression, Lip closely resembled Frank, and unfortunately, his battles with substance abuse resulted in his expulsion from college.

Following the tragic events that led to his arrest and expulsion in the season 6 finale of Shameless, Lip had no choice but to seek help and enter rehab. This was his way of addressing his struggles with substance abuse and avoiding further legal troubles. Given his upbringing, one would expect Lip to be more cautious when it came to drugs and alcohol, considering he witnessed Frank's destructive path from a young age. Surprisingly, Lip's exceptional intelligence did not translate into him learning from his mistakes.

He Made Sierra's Life Even More Complicated — Season 8, Episode 12, "Sleepwalking"

Lip Shameless had a tendency to be drawn to women he wanted to fix in the first six seasons of Shameless. However, in the seventh season, he finally met Sierra, who was mature and stable. The two of them had great chemistry and could have been very happy together. Unfortunately, their relationship started during a difficult time in Lip's life.

At the time Lip got involved with Sierra, he was still struggling with his own problems and emotions after being expelled from college. Sierra was hoping to find a partner who could be a father figure to her son, but Lip wasn't ready for that level of responsibility. In the heartbreaking season 8 finale, Lip couldn't decide whether to fight for Sierra or let her go. Just when it seemed like they were ready to be together, Lip broke her heart and left her in order to find himself.

Lip Tried To Sabotage Charlie To Win Over Sierra — Season 8, Episode 2, "Where's My Meth?"

In the season 8 episode "Where's My Meth?", Lip's resemblance to Frank became even more evident as he battled with substance abuse. Despite already facing heartbreak from Helene, getting expelled from college, and losing his relationship with Sierra temporarily, Lip's actions mirrored his father's when he attempted to sabotage Sierra's boyfriend Charlie, who was also struggling with substance abuse.

While the character of Lip in Shameless typically doesn't engage in the heartless and manipulative schemes that his father is known for, he resorted to cruel tactics when Charlie tried to reconcile with Sierra. Lip went to extreme measures by tricking Charlie into consuming meth, luring him with a pizza topped with the substance. Such twisted actions should not be easily forgiven by viewers.

He Was Jealous of Professor Youens' Relationships — Season 8, Episode 10, "Church Of Gay Jesus"

Lip Shameless and Professor Youens shared a remarkable bond. Youens was always there to guide Lip towards the right path, even forgiving him after Lip's expulsion for damaging his car. Recognizing Lip's intelligence and potential, Youens arranged for a tech start-up internship for him. Aware of his own struggles, Youens aimed to steer Lip away from repeating his own mistakes. He supported Lip through his rehab journey and continued to mentor him long after he ceased being his professor.

Regrettably, in the eighth season episode "Church of Gay Jesus," Lip discovered that their relationship wasn't as unique as he believed. During Youens' funeral, several students spoke about their close connection with him. This revelation stirred intense jealousy and frustration within Lip, leading him to refuse reading a heartfelt recommendation letter penned by Youens before his demise.

He Resents His Own Intelligence — Season 2, Episode 8, "Parenthood"

Lip, a character in Shameless, harbors a deep dislike for his own intelligence because he feels burdened by the responsibility of improving his family's situation. This is evident early on in the show when he argues with Fiona about being the family's main source of support in the episode "Parenthood" of season 2 and decides to drop out of high school, disregarding Fiona's warnings. Many characters in Shameless envy Lip's intelligence and would do anything to possess it. Even Fiona, who is driven and ambitious, often struggles with jobs that require high mental capacity.

Furthermore, if Frank had the same level of intellectual capabilities as Lip, he could have achieved great success in life due to his cunning nature. However, Lip himself seems to resent his own intelligence, despite his love for his family. He despises the idea of them relying solely on him and dislikes the pressure placed on him because of his intellect. Unlike Fiona, who has her own ambitions, Lip doesn't make concrete plans for his future, which ultimately leads to an unsatisfying ending for his character in Shameless.

He Isn't Always Appreciative of Fiona — Season 4, Episode 6, "Iron City"

Despite the existence of numerous unfavorable opinions about Fiona, it is undisputed that she played a crucial role in keeping the Gallagher family intact. However, her decision to pursue unhealthy relationships with manipulative and toxic partners has made it challenging for viewers to genuinely like her character on Shameless. Nevertheless, it is undeniable that she fulfilled her responsibilities remarkably well in raising her siblings, and she deserves recognition for that.

At the beginning of the series, Fiona consistently prioritized her family's well-being over her own happiness. However, her siblings never truly displayed any gratitude towards her sacrifices. Lip, in particular, always criticized her parenting abilities, and when she made a mistake that resulted in Liam being rushed to the emergency room in season 4's "Iron City," Lip lost all trust in Fiona's ability to care for her siblings and never fully forgave her. Their relationship has never quite recovered since then.

Lip's Money-Making Schemes Are Just As Bad As Frank's — Season 5, Episode 4, "A Night to Remem... Wait, What?"

Despite Lip Shameless character's reluctance to admit it, he undeniably shares a strong resemblance to his father, Frank, and may even be the Gallagher child who is most alike to him. At first, it appeared that Carl would embody Frank's traits, but it is Lip who not only faces similar struggles with substance abuse but also possesses his father's knack for clever yet questionable money-making strategies. This becomes highly apparent in a scheme during season 5, where he cunningly exploits his girlfriend's parents for financial gain.

One of Lip's most dubious endeavors involved persuading Amanda's parents that they were engaged in a serious relationship, prompting them to pay him a sum of $10,000 to break up with her. Prior to that, he and Kevin resorted to peddling illicit substances from an ice cream truck, shamelessly parked in public parks teeming with children. While Lip may present himself as noble, his schemes and brainwaves are strikingly similar to those of Frank.

Lip Has No One To Blame But Himself — Season 11, Episode 12, "Father Frank, Full Of Grace"

Lip Gallagher, a character often seen as a tragic hero by Shameless viewers, unfortunately, finds himself facing the consequences of his own misguided decisions throughout the 11 seasons of the show. The final episode of Shameless reveals the culmination of Lip's choices. In an emotionally charged farewell speech, Frank Gallagher, Lip's father, acknowledges his intellect but notes his tendency to self-sabotage, saying, "Lip, you're incredibly smart, but you can't seem to get out of your own way." Ultimately, Lip is compelled to sell the Gallagher house for $75,000 instead of its potential value of $250,000, as he pushed the developer too far and lost the deal.

Despite growing up in a challenging environment with lacking parental guidance, Lip had the opportunity to attend college and carve out a successful future. Frank, serving as a cautionary example of what not to do, failed to influence Lip positively, leading him to squander his potential and choose ill-suited partners, further complicating his life. While Lip may not be inherently bad, the weight of his decisions greatly impacted his circumstances, resulting in one of the most disillusioning character arcs in the Shameless series.