User Reviews

This was such an emotional good-bye and to see her go left a very empty feeling; it was a good move and I hope we will hear where she went and what happened, but it will not be the same without her. She was the glue.

I actually had tears the last few minutes ,so touching , such a wonderful episode, i would miss seeing emmy on the show, she made it worthwhile.

In this episode, we say goodbye to Fiona. Fiona's character spent her entire teen-early adult life in a role as a parent, breadwinner, crisis solver, etc., that was unfair, and unjust; a responsibility that not many people would have succeeded at in real life. Her circumstances put her at a severe disadvantage emotionally, socially, and economically. However, her ambition to not only climb out of poverty, but to climb out with her siblings on her shoulders, was what makes this show endearing; it gives it heart, it gives our protagonist empathy. Her mistakes, occasional selfishness, and self destructive / sabotaging behavior spoke truth to her childhood trauma, and how it bled into her choices as an adult. She couldn't allow herself happiness or success, despite desiring it or needing it, thus she sabotaged far too many opportunities.

Her alcoholism was a brilliant addition to her story and I'll explain why: this character, like so many people, had to reach rock bottom to make a radical change. What better way for Fiona to reach rock bottom but to find herself becoming the parent she's spent her life despising and trying not to be? To find that she shares similarities with Frank, for her to have a closer relationship with him via their shared vice, inevitably leads Fiona to recognize that the toxicity of her family is making her toxic. When you are tethered to a toxic person, you have to escape or you'll be sucked down the toxic rabbit hole. You have to break that tether - and that's what Fiona does. She finally recognizes a good opportunity ( to get out of a bad investment ) and sees it as a catapult to freedom. She makes the right, healthy choice to leave and refuses to sabotage this grand opportunity. Finally!

Fiona's generous decision to leave half her earnings for her siblings only amplified the truth of this character's empathy, love, sacrifice, and goal to not only get herself out of poverty, but also her siblings.

My absolute favorite part, albeit it is heartbreaking, is her goodbye scene with Frank. That scene is not a father struggling to show his love; that scene is a father who is a abusive narcissist refusing to give his daughter the appreciation and love she deserves. It's cruel. It's heartbreaking. It's authentic to a narcissistic personality. It shows us Frank's heart and it's as dark as night. Sure, frank tears up, but that could also be him recognizing his rock is leaving; the one person who saved the house, buys the food, raises his kids and absolves him of any responsibility. He's on his own now.

Tears flowed as I watched this episode. What excellent writing for Fiona's exit, what brilliant character development (packed into the last few episodes), and how authentic was her performance. Thank you, Emmy! Brilliant! Brilliant!

The most beautiful part for me was the motivation talk that Kely had with Carl in her truck. The second one was Frank crying when he saw Fiona with a suitcase. It touched me deeply because deep down Frank loves his kids but it seems that he is not in control of his situation and become the kind of father that he wants to be.

Overall, this episode had some really great/emotional moments. Fiona's scene with Ian definitely stood out to me. Considering Ian would have the most unbiased opinion being in jail, it makes perfect sense she would go to Ian first to make sure she's making the right choice by leaving with all that is going on. With Lip, he really didn't have to say much for Fiona to know how much he appreciates everything she's done. A big smile on his face was enough for her to know it's time for her to put herself first finally. Also with Frank, it was pretty much the goodbye you would expect and ended on the best note it could between the two I thought. Not even looking at each other, with Frank saying thanks to Fiona for "helping" with Monica absent. Frank means well at times, he just has a difficult time showing it. The only goodbye I feel they could have done a better job with was her goodbye with Kev and V as she doesn't really get a proper one with V and doesn't even have a scene with Kevin. I mean they are her best friends, right? Though near the end of the episode when Debbie finds the $50k check and reads a note out loud saying "Love you", Veronica simply says "She really does". So I guess that was good enough.

That aside, there were some other really good moments in the episode that were good indications of what the show will be like without Fiona. For one, they definitely seem to be dialing up the drama with Carl and Debbie's characters. Ethan Cutkosky had perhaps one of his most dramatic scenes in the show for his character in this episode. I have a feeling Carl and Debbie are sort of going to be the "new Lip and Fiona". The episode before pointed at this as well, with their scene sitting on the front porch (something Lip and Fiona did often). I'm not a huge fan of Kelly's character, but she redeemed herself a bit in this episode. The same goes for Tami, though I still feel Lip deserves much better. But if they do have a baby, it will be interesting to see who "takes over" the household next season. I'm thinking since Ian tells Fiona he'll always be there for her, it could be him (and hopefully Mickey perhaps).

All-in-all, a solid exit for Fiona and it's sad to see Emmy Rossum go. I wish the setup throughout the season was better as it hurt the payoff here a bit as it seemed contrived at times. But hopefully she shows up again near the end of the series. And on a side note, it was rumored that Jimmy/Steve and Mickey would be in this episode, but we never see them. Makes me wonder if that is who Fiona is going to see, since IMDb had Justin Chatwin billed as "Dr. James Lishman". Perhaps he has grown up a bit. I'm thinking we might hear about that in passing next season too. Anyway, I think next season (if it is the last) will be weird without Fiona, but with Ian (and hopefully Mickey!) coming back I think it could work very well.

I was really sad to see Fiona's story come to an end, but Emmy Rossum's acting made it work and felt believable. I was expecting Jimmy to show up and Fiona running away with him. I don't think Fiona would of got her act together so soon and the story would of made sense if Jimmy showed up at the most disfunctional time of her life. I was hoping for a Mickey cameo since Ian was in this episode. Dissapointing? Yes. Bad? No. I still really enjoyed the episode and I'm happy Fiona got a happy ending, just not the ending I would have ever pictured for Fiona. Frank and Fiona's last scene should of been longer and deeper, very dissapointing. Fiona is south side, and it's really hard for me to believe she just leaves, even though her life was going really bad. Let's hope Season 10 is a better season, with more Mickey & even more old school Shamless vibes... Hopefully winter will return! Face it, You're Gorgeous & You'll Know The Bottom When You Hit It, are the best episodes that came out of this season. They're the greatest episodes of the series (imo). Season 4 is still the best Season! Let's hope the next season has even more Season 4 Shameless vibes.

I absolutely love how the writers wrapped up Fiona's story on the finale episode. Fiona has been the core character for the show since day one but throughout the last couple of years, the writers have cleverly built up the rest of the siblings to be just as important in preparation for this day to come, Fiona leaving the show. I'm so glad it wasn't some cheesy storyline such as her leaving for a new job, a new found love, Jimmy or died. The characters have developed over the years and I know one of the reviewers was complaining about how the siblings are not as closed as they used to be in early seasons. They are still very much very closed but they've all also grown up to be their own person with adulthood drama and problems of their own. Just because they don't all cling to each other like they used to anymore, it doesn't mean they're not closed. They still got each other's back but in very subtle ways. And what a beautiful way to say goodbye to Fiona. She has been through so much for her siblings and gone through such dark times in this season but had a wake up call because she had hit rock bottom. It's very realistic aside from all the chaos and madness that have made the show so good. This is the most realistic way and true to Fiona's character to leave the way she did. She finally feel comfortable enough to move on with her life knowing her siblings are all grown up now and gives herself a real shot in life. Even though Liam is still a minor, she knows that he will be in good hands with how Debbie and Lip's characters have evolved. Fiona will definitely be missed but I'm sure she will come back for a couple of scenes just like Ian and Mickey. Thumbs up to the creators and writers of the show.

Was it a perfect sendoff for Fiona? No, but her being happy and trying to leave the family in good hands was the best way to go. I wish we got more of a Frank/Fiona conflict, but I understand why they kept that encounter short and sweet.

Every other story in this episode is great. However the major focal point of this episode is Emmy Rossum's departure. However this departure is anticlimactic and deprives the viewers of any satisfaction. Rather than have an honest end for the beloved character, after a season of downward spiral, she suddenly has herself put together enough to up and leave her family. Despite the fact that she just realized she may be an alcoholic and needs support of her family, she decides to fly away to parts unknown, never planning return, with a large sum of money. The fans are treated to no goodbye between Fiona and her eldest brother Lip, only a sly glance from him when her room is emptied. After seasons of little interaction between best friends Fiona and Veronica, there is no goodbye scene between the two. We are only granted one satisfying goodbye, between Fiona and Ian, which is long past due, as we were not treated to one when he went to jail early in the season. Rather than do something interesting for the show such as writing Fiona out through death(they have never dealt with the death of a main cast member in the show), and having her family actually fracture for the first time due to the loss of the woman who raised them, they played it safe and left the door open for Emmy to return, which is commendable, but does not add anything interesting to the story.

I've been in a situation like that...surrounded by junkies, insanely greedy in laws (who cheered when my father dropped dead, thinking they've just hit the lottery), and the tensions were just as awful as depicted in this show. (Had to get an Evil White People jab in there, right?) So glad I'm Asian.

All that out of the way, I was so so happy to see so many happy resolutions, finally. Maybe I am getting too old to enjoy unnecessary hatred in cinema/television, I don't know. Seen enough in my real life/experiences, not sure I can enjoy watching it over and over and over (per episode).

This was probably my favorite episode of the season. And yes, more Carl please.

It was a great ninth season but honestly, I don't know what to think about this episode, especially about Fiona. She is one of the best characters in this show, the "cornerstone of Gallaghers", and I expected something unbelievable for her last episode. Unfortunately, I must admit her leaving is a bit "light" : it is very sudden, very fast, and executed too briefly... (no real explanations, no hugs, no kiss, almost no goodbye with all Gallaghers, I regret that choice...). For a brillant actress as Emmy Rossum, it is a nice goodbye but not a great one. So, 8/10. Good but not perfect :)

Kev and Lip's heart to heart was a real highlight. It brought tears to me instantly. There were lots of beautiful touches through the episode. Well done!

Best thing about this episode, and the whole season is that Fiona is out... no more crazy control, no more narcissism. By far she was the worst character in the show, and throwing her out was a late but a great decision.

She was dreadful through the whole season, maybe to ensure that whatever little fan base she might have had wouldn't object kicking her out.... It is a Frank show, and it should be a Frank show... Carl, Deb, Liam, Ian and Lip are doing great "loveable characters " as well as V & Kev and the bar crew... Expecting to have the best two seasons in the whole show starting from the next one....

I assume most people are reviewing the show immediately after it aired and typing mostly based on emotion because objectively (and after watching it twice) this episode was just a little better than "ok". In terms of a lot of what's on TV these days, "ok" Shameless is still better than most but this episode did not really have much to get excited about. Fiona's exit was rushed which somewhat had to be done based on them scrambling to re-write scripts, but in addition to being rushed, just wasn't handled in any way that felt satisfying. Her last exchange with Frank was just the same old stuff we'd heard throughout the entire series, visiting Ian in jail with him being like "GO, GO!" was overly convenient to the story... just felt flat to me

After going past the "meh" from the Fiona storyline, you get into all of the "B" storylines which have been bad all year, Kevin can last long in bed again, cool. Lip's baby-mommy is still on the ridiculous side of insane and he puts up with it, cool. Deb and Carl are pissed at Kelly who did absolutely nothing wrong, cool.

I absolutely love this show and have from the start, but this has been one hell of a bad stretch of episodes IMO

So this is Fiona last episode. I don't really like what she became the later seasons. And she was on her way to redemption , which is cool, but we never saw that redemption. A touching scene is when she finally goes to one of Lips meetings. I was hoping for very touching farewells, but she has no farewell with anyone cus she just leaves. Or Frank knows, but why can't he just give Fiona a real compliment for once. two episodes earlier he defended Fiona from Lips rage, and when he was hospitalized and almost dying in season 4 he was chanting her name. I think he even said "sorry" . Surely he knows she raised the kids, she did it all. It would be such a touching moment for him to finally admit it, for everyone to recognize it, but especially Frank.

There was just so many missed opportunities with this farewell, and the rest of the episode was just a normal episode. It felt anticlimactic. Also how did Ian know that was Fionas flight there must be hundreds of flights every day, ad she didn't even know where she would be going when she met him... It doesn't matter but it's goofy and a bit lazy. I feel like Shameless is taking the same route as weeds later seasons.

Beyond disappointing!!

This has to be one of the most anticlimactic farewells to a lead in a series, if not the most. It felt rushed, didn't have any closure with the other important characters of this of the show

She turned the page from being an alcoholic and Lip forcing her to go to AA meetings, to everyone accepting and encouraging her departure, including Lip, without having an actual closure, or at least hinting what is going to be the future of Fiona, who has been one of the main characters of the series for nine years.

Shameless is suffering the same catastrophe as The Simpsons, extending the storyline, without a natural ending in mine.