Aired on Showtime, Shameless is a TV series that is brimming with angst. On South Side of Chicago, it's easy for drama to run amok, and this is most certainly the case for the Gallagher clan. There's always something to be up in arms about and whatever it is is the cause for some serious teenage angst. It's hard to blame the Gallaghers, though — these guys truly have it rough. So, of all the young Shameless characters, who takes the crown for most hormonal issues? Is it perhaps Debbie? Could it be Lip? Mandy? Ian? Keep reading to find out.
FIONA GALLAGHER
At the beginning of the series, Emmy Rossum's character was 21 years old. While she may no longer be a teen when viewers meet her, she often has moments that feel like the result of teenage angst. It makes sense that she would slip up and make juvenile mistakes even in her twenties due to the fact that she never really got to experience a childhood of her own.
Considering the fact that Fiona had to essentially raise her siblings because Frank and Monica were never around, she often acted out and behaved like a teenager whenever she was allowed to let loose. She could rarely have fun though because she felt responsible for the other Gallaghers. On the rare occasion when Fiona did party, she'd act with the maturity level of a high schooler.
CARL GALLAGHER
Carl Gallagher went from a psychopathic child to a lovable teenager who ended up surprising viewers with his strong work ethic. While Carl has a history of being involved in crazy schemes and he is certainly no stranger to chaos, he doesn't seem to deal with the same teen angst that the rest of the characters on the show possess. He may do a series of regrettable things and he often has the maturity level of a twelve-year-old, but when it comes to angst, Carl's got more important things to deal with.
DEBBIE GALLAGHER
It's hard to believe that little Debbie Gallagher was once the heart and soul of Shameless. She was, at one point, the only character who still maintained a sense of innocence despite the turmoil that constantly surrounded her. "Debs" was also the only person in the family to refer to Frank as "Dad" because she still had faith in him.
Yet around season 3, Debbie finally realized how unreliable and disappointing her father really was. That's when she stopped being the perfect little angel and instead morphed into a teenager who actively searched for trouble. Still, Debbie was able to maintain a good head on her shoulders and she eventually took on a responsible role as provider of the household.
KAREN JACKSON
Remember Karen Jackson? It's been awhile since she's been on the series, yet despite this, she left a big impact on the Gallagher clan. Lip's high school sweetheart — who was no sweetheart — had her fair share of angsty teen moments throughout the first three seasons. These included destroying the furniture at the purity ball with a baseball bat, chopping off all her hair and getting a nose ring, and sleeping with Frank Gallagher.
IAN GALLAGHER
Ian had his fair share of unstable moments throughout the series, yet this was more due to his undiagnosed mental condition than teenage angst. Before Ian's symptoms started to show, he was on the quieter side of the Gallagher family and he didn't seek out trouble as much the others. Sure, he'd sometimes mess with the wrong crowd, but overall he's a good kid.
LIP GALLAGHER
Lip Gallagher may have a carefree bad boy attitude, but this doesn't exclude him from having genuine teen angst throughout the duration of Shameless. He may do a good job acting as though he doesn't care about love or relationships, but these are at the forefront of his mind for the majority of the time.
His angstiest moments are all in the name of love and he often goes a bit off the deep end when faced with rejection. Perhaps he's got mommy issues?
AMANDA
Amanda was Lip's girlfriend for a small amount of time during his college years. However, she felt less like his girlfriend, and a bit more like his dictator. She made an entire schedule for him that he never asked for, and she controlled his every move despite his protests. She most certainly had her share of teen angst.
MANDY MILKOVICH
Mandy Milkovich is brimming with teen angst. She even ran Karen over with her car out of pure spite. If that isn't teen angst, what is? Mandy has always struggled with insecurities, and her home life with Mr. Milkovich has never been a walk in the park. Her issues run deep, and Mandy's teen angst seems to be her only outlet. As the series progresses, Mandy seems to calm down a bit, but she still carries her South Side pride throughout the seasons.
MICKEY MILKOVICH
Mickey Milkovich is a one-of-a-kind character who most definitely struggles with teen angst. He is nearly always caught running through the streets of Chicago, swinging baseball bats at glass windows, ready to start a fight. He is a physical man who has thrown his fair share of punches. The King of Teen Angst crown goes to Mickey Milkovich, despite how much he likes to play it cool.
KASSIDI GALLAGHER
Ms. Kassidi Gallagher undoubtedly wins the award for most teen angst on the series. Kassidi is a wild card, which is saying a lot considering most of the characters on Shameless are total loose canons in some way or another. Yet Carl's girlfriend and eventual wife most certainly takes the cake. She even got married at 15 years old and tied Carl to the bed so he couldn't pursue his dreams. Only someone with serious teen angst issues would do such a thing.