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The Burden of Fiona: Showtime's 'Shameless' finale bittersweet, some thoughts

By April MacIntyre Mar 29, 2011, 5:03 GMT

Emmy Rossum - New York City, NY, USA © Janet Mayer / PR Photos

Mixed feelings initially about Showtime's "Shameless," first screened for me at their offices. The graphic sexualization of an under-aged Ian (15) and the drug use in front of the younger kids put me off initially.

But I watched some more, mostly because of Emmy Rossum's Fiona, a truly lovely young female character dealt a shitty hand, so burdened yet such a stand-up human being.

I fell in love with Fiona and admired her willingness to sublimate any selfish needs to care for her abandoned siblings, the children of truly vile and derelict parents.  Lots of shock value, humor and heartbreaking scenes in a jam-packed emotional first season.

But the center of it always remained to be Rossum's Fiona, and in these narcissistic and self-absorbed times, her performance is a teachable moment in caring for others and placing the needs of the family before your own. It's quite commendable, actually. We need more giving Fionas, they shame the Franks out there who take and take, never owning up to their responsibilities.

Frank (William H. Macy) tried to help Karen (Laura Wiggins) and wound up being her pawn, taken advantage of when he was hazy. But the net result of her emailing actions and his son Lip's (Jeremy Allen White) subsequent anger woke Frank out of his rotgut fog, and made him stop and pause in the finale.

A moment of praise to Lip (Jeremy Allen White) and Ian (Cameron Monaghan) whose fraternal loyalty and kindness to each other and matter-of-fact acceptance of Ian's sexuality shows how it should be, just as Fiona, too, tells Ian she knows, and whatever.

Ian is given that great gift of unconditional love and support, another blessing inside a household with not many good things going on.

Steve (Justin Chatwin) loves Fiona but he does not know her. She will never leave her family high and dry, regardless of her feelings.  Steve's impulsive action is smashed by the rock of Fiona's fidelity.

There's a lot of story left to tell for the Gallaghers of the South Side; I am glad I stayed with it. What about you?