Episode synopses 1-3

Episode 1 - Pilot
In the series premiere, we spend time with the fabulously dysfunctional Gallagher family of working-class Chicago. Dad's a drunk, Mum split long ago, eldest daughter Fiona tries to hold the family together, eldest son Philip (Lip) tutors the neighborhood girls in physics and is repaid in kind, the middle son Ian is grappling with homosexuality - and being grappled by his married Pakistani employer at the corner liquor store, youngest daughter Debbie is stealing money from her UNICEF collection to help put food on the table, ten year old Carl is a budding sociopath and arsonist and finally toddler Liam is - well, he might actually be black, but nobody has a clue how. Meanwhile, the electric bill is due, there's no money, and someone has to look after the baby. It's one day at a time for this crazy dysfunctional family, but their mutual love and support for each other always see them through.

When we first meet the Gallaghers, the three oldest kids are all hot and bothered, in one form or another. Having her handbag stolen proves to be a blessing for Fiona when handsome stranger Steve, comes to her rescue. Lip is shocked to discover Ian could be gay and decides his brother should pay a ‘visit' to the ever-accommodating Karen Jackson down the block. The sudden arrival of her furious father ensures Ian's already slim chances of happiness with Karen take a severe blow. Meanwhile, Steve, a rich player with a flashy car and a loose credit card, buys Fiona a romantic gift - but for some reason she is less than impressed with her brand new washing machine.

Episode 2 - Frank the Plank
Drunk as a skunk, Frank has a run in with Karen Jackson's father and returns home to take it out on Ian. The next day is Friday, however, and Frank is nowhere to be found - which is a bit odd since he never misses disability check day. The family starts a manhunt and panic sets in when a body is found under the El; but when Frank turns up in Toronto - with no passport and no clue as to how he got there, Steve has to figure out how to get him back to Chicago.

Episode 3 - Aunt Ginger
Having blown off Steve, Fiona turns her attention to Tony, the cop who's had a crush on her since childhood.   After having sex in his cop car with Fiona, Tony pursues a relationship with her.  Steve, however, has not given up the fight.  A woman from the Office of Inspector General suspects that someone may be stealing and cashing social security checks belonging to Aunt Ginger, the Gallagher's elderly aunt who owns the house they live in.  Now Frank and his whole clan must find their aunt and bring her home before the government woman comes back the next morning to interview Aunt Ginger.  Ian rejects the advances of Mandy Milkovich, one of the girls in his class.  So she tells her three thug brothers that Ian took advantage of her and they set out to give Ian a beat down.