Summary

• Ian Gallagher made questionable choices in Shameless, like sleeping with a married man, dating a friend's brother, and dating a married man's father.
• Despite being a likable character, Ian's impulsive behavior led to decisions like kidnapping a baby, choosing crime, and abandoning relationships.
• Ian struggled with mental health issues and relationships, often making selfish decisions that hurt those closest to him.

Ian Gallagher was one of the most popular characters on Shameless, and while he wasn't the most problematic of the Gallagher kids, he's far from flawless. While Frank's kids aren't quite as problematic as their father, they still get into all sorts of trouble that keeps their character arcs interesting and the audience on the edge of their seats. This includes Ian, who was one of the few Gallagher kids who grew up to become somewhat successful. However, there were also several things Ian Gallagher did wrong throughout the show.

The redheaded Gallagher sibling has overcome countless relatable relationships, career, and mental health struggles since Shameless began. His capacity for comion and constant efforts to help his family and other loved ones helped him become one of Shameless' most likable characters. However, even with all that, Ian has made some questionable choices over the years. While Ian's story had a great ending, there are things that many fans might prefer to overlook about Ian Gallagher.

Ian Was Sleeping With A Married Man

Ian's Affair With Kash Destroyed A Family Unit

When viewers were introduced to Ian Gallagher in the very first and one of the best seasons of Shameless, they immediately discovered that he was secretly having an affair with his convenience store boss, Kash. Their relationship was incredibly strained, as Kash was considerably older than Ian, and he was married with two children.

Ian didn't seem to care about how wrong his affair with Kash was.

Ian didn't seem to care about how wrong his affair with Kash was or how much it could hurt Kash's wife, Linda, whom he saw at the store regularly. The unlikely couple constantly snuck off during work to be with each other. Even after Linda found out about their relationship via security footage, they continued to be with each other, with the condition that Kash had to provide his wife with another child.

Ian Secretly Dated His Close Friend's Brother

Knowing Mandy Liked Him Didn't Stop Ian Pursuing Mickey

Mandy Milkovich, a character who ended up recast in season 2, once had a huge crush on Ian. When he didn't return her affections, she claimed he took advantage of her, so her brothers would attack Ian out of revenge. Ian was forced to confess the truth about his sexuality to her, so she'd call off her family. From that moment on, Ian and Mandy became very close friends.

Most friends have an unspoken rule about not dating each other's siblings, but Ian entered into a relationship with Mandy's closeted brother Mickey. He saw Mickey for weeks before finally confessing, which was a sign that he knew he was doing something wrong. Luckily, Mandy had gotten over her feelings for Ian and reacted well to the potentially friendship-ending news.

Ian Dated Jimmy's Married Father

Jimmy's Parents Divorced Because Of Ian

In Shameless' second season, Ian Gallagher began seeing Ned, an older man. When Fiona's boyfriend Jimmy arranges a dinner for the Gallaghers and his family, Ian discovers that Ned is Lloyd, Jimmy's married and supposedly straight father. Secrets seem to run in the family, as Jimmy's identity was one of the biggest kept secrets on Shameless.

Ian didn't bother telling Jimmy the truth about his father and didn't end his relationship with Lloyd upon finding out that he had a secret wife and family, either. He even started seeing Lloyd more frequently after that point. While he viewed Jimmy's dad as a mere friend with benefits, Lloyd developed genuine feelings for Ian that seemingly contributed to the end of his marriage.

Ian Impersonated Lip To Get Into The Army And Tried To Steal A Helicopter

Lip Was Almost Arrested By Military Police Because Of Ian

One of Ian's goals in life at the start of the series was to the army, but when he grew tired of waiting to be old enough to enlist, he stole Lip's identification and pretended to be his brother. This started as a fairly minor case of identity theft, but things got serious when military police officers showed up at Lip's door to arrest him for crimes he didn't commit.

While impersonating Lip, Ian started experiencing mania and tried to steal a helicopter, then proceeded to go AWOL. He claimed that he simply started the helicopter's rotors and didn't steal anything, but his crimes were severe enough that he was wanted for the crimes, and he initially was okay with that blame being placed on Lip, who was trying to go to college.

Ian Wouldn't Commit To Mickey

Knowing Mickey Loved Him Wasn't Enough To Make Ian Settle Down

At the start of Shameless' fifth season, Ian and Mickey were finally open about their relationship with all of their loved ones and living together in the Milkovich house. Mickey overcame his insecurities about being attracted to men and developed into a very ive and loving partner, but Ian struggles with recklessness and impulsivity, leading him to be unfaithful.

Ian ends up with many strangers whom he has no feelings for.

Ian ends up with many strangers whom he has no feelings for and doesn't care how much he hurt Mickey by doing so. Although the two Shameless characters have the best romantic partner potential, Ian resents Mickey for trying to take care of him.

Ian Kidnaps Baby Yevgeny And Could Have Hurt Him

The Police Arrive And Take The Child Into Custody

When Mickey confronts Ian about his erratic behavior, Ian is so upset that he takes Mickey's son Yevgeny on a "drive" and leaves Chicago with him. Ian makes some questionable decisions and fails to bring any sort of food or supplies for their "road trip" and even accidentally leaves Yevgeny in his hot car.

Luckily, a woman notices the baby in the locked vehicle and calls the police, who come and take Yevgeny away. When Lip, Fiona, and Mickey arrive at the police station to explain Ian's actions, it is a wake-up for Ian to finally take his bipolar diagnosis more seriously, and he enters into treatment.

Ian Wasn't A Responsible Sex Partner

Promiscuous Ian Risked ing On STDs To His Multiple Partners

When Caleb reveals to Ian that he is HIV positive and asks if he's ever been tested, Ian its that he'd never bothered to get himself checked at a clinic, and his first visit ends up being one that Caleb takes him to, to make sure that everything is okay.

Ian was having unprotected sex with multiple partners for quite a while, which was not only dangerous to himself but also to the people who he slept with. While there's nothing inherently wrong with people exercising sexual freedom, they should practice safe sexual practices and Ian could have been unknowingly transmitting diseases to multiple people.

Ian Helped Throw Frank Off A Bridge

They Could Have Easily Killed Frank By Doing This

Frank Gallagher was never a particularly good father to any of his children. He constantly ignored his kids, gave them bad advice, took advantage of them, and even stole from them, but that doesn't quite justify what Ian and his friends and siblings did to Frank at the end of the sixth season.

Frank could have easily perished in the fall, but Ian didn't care.

When Frank ruined Fiona's wedding day by revealing Sean's continued substance use, Ian and the others worked together to throw him off a bridge into the freezing Chicago River. Frank could have easily perished in the fall, but Ian didn't care. His relationship with Frank was understandably never the same after that, as Frank struggled to get over this act of betrayal and cruelty.

Ian Left A Healthy Relationship To Be With Mickey

Trevor's Heart Was Broken By Ian's Decision

When Ian started dating Trevor, it seemed like he was finally on the right track and ready to be in a healthy, committed relationship. Trevor taught Ian all about the LGBTQ+ community and helped give him purpose, but Ian cast Trevor aside when Mickey broke out of jail and returned to the South Side.

Mickey planned on running away to Mexico and wanted Ian to go with him. Ian promised Trevor he wouldn't get involved with Mickey again, but he soon found himself staying with Mickey and driving with his ex to the border. He decided at the last second to say goodbye to his former flame and go back to Chicago, but his relationship with Trevor didn't survive.

Ian Tried To Blackmail An Old Client For Money

Ian Gallagher Chose Crime Rather Than Making Money Legally

Ian spent most of Shameless' eighth season trying to help his ex Trevor launch a new youth shelter for teenagers. They found an abandoned church that would make for a great shelter, but they didn't have the funds needed to purchase it. Ian may be one of the most intelligent Gallaghers, but he routinely gets himself into trouble.

Instead of raising the money honestly, Ian chose to visit an old client from his time working at the Fairy Tail dance club and blackmail him into funding the shelter. When it turned out that the man's wife knew all about his time at the club, Ian stayed with the wife to ensure he'd still get their money. He grew up wanting to be nothing like his father, but this whole money-making scheme was straight out of the Frank playbook.