Shameless’ Ian is not only one of the coolest LGBTQ+ characters on TV, but he also has dozens of incredible quotes from the show’s 11 seasons.
The year 2022 has been rather quiet for actor Cameron Monaghan. After starring in Shattered early in the year, not much has been heard from the actor, who is best known for portraying twin versions of the Joker in Gotham and Ian Gallagher in Showtime'a hit series Shameless.
Nonetheless, Monaghan has earned a break after playing one of the most intriguing TV characters for over a decade. Fans love Ian Gallagher not only for the brilliant manner in which the character highlights the plight of the LGBTQ+ community but also for his memorable dialogue.
In the episode, the writers get creative with the “previously on Shameless” segment. Through a voiceover quote, Ian states that his medication has made him unable to think clearly, but he still remembers what happened in the last episode.
It’s a clever way for the show’s production team to pat itself on the back and acknowledge that the previous episode was quite an eventful one. And it sure was, with Gus announcing he is going on tour and Cark being asked to run drugs. It’s also a boastful remark, implying that the show’s events are so captivating that even those that aren't fully conscious can be entertained.
Ian makes one of the most questionable decisions in Shameless when he steals Mickey and Svetlana's baby, then goes with it on a road trip. In the morning, he realizes the baby needs diapers, so he improvises by using a Motörhead T-shirt.
Ian’s parenting skills aren’t the best, hence he struggles to make the baby stop crying, but his dubious solution is entertaining to watch. Tension lingers while he tries to soothe the baby. As Ian improvises, viewers can’t help but hope that it all works and that his impulsive decision to take someone else’s child doesn’t lead to disaster.
Mickey isn’t too thrilled when he finds out Ian has been seeing someone else. He asks him what he sees in his new love interest, and Ian goes into details.
Ian and Mickey’s relationship is a seesaw for most of the series. During their lowest moments, the two don’t hesitate to make each other jealous, and Ian scores major points on the petty games this time. In spite of that, viewers refrain from feeling any pity for Mickey since he hadn’t been a great partner yet at that point.
When Lip suggests connecting with their uncle, Ian isn’t so enthusiastic. He reasons that because their uncle is a Gallagher too, he’s likely to be like Frank.
With time, the woeful experiences the Gallagher siblings have under Frank make them less thrilled about meeting any of their relatives. But while the other Gallaghers try to be optimistic, Ian learns to expect the worst so as not to be disappointed.
Ian lashes out at Frank when he tells him to be respectful when talking about his mother. According to him, Frank is in no position to give any such advice.
Frank has a habit of being hypocritical when it comes to offering guidance. Since he gets away with it, it’s nice seeing Ian pointing that out to him for once. For a person who doesn’t seem to be devastated about the death of his child's mother, Frank should be in no position to lecture Ian.
When Frank finds Ian and Mickey getting intimate, Mickey becomes so worried that he contemplates killing Frank. Ian is shocked by such extremes, explaining to Mickey that being gay isn’t something to be ashamed of.
Unfortunately, Mickey doesn’t appear to share his opinion at that particular moment. At the same time, Mickey’s fear isn’t totally unjustified since the society depicted in the show early on happens to be very homophobic.
Ian gets angry when his family members keep making noise while he is studying for his exams. He thus barks at them, ordering them to be quiet.
It’s an interesting quote because things turn out the opposite of what Ian wanted. The dream to graduate fails to materialize after he illegally enlists in the army during the third season. From there, life becomes difficult for him, but he does his best to make the best of it.
Lip is shocked when he finds out Ian is enlisting in the army. He asks him why he has settled for getting shot in the Middle East and Ian simply declares that he is a patriot.
As one of the bravest Shameless characters, it’s no surprise that Ian suddenly becomes so keen on joining the military. Curiosity is a factor in his decision-making too as he wishes to find out what life is like away from his troubled family. Unfortunately for him, his dream doesn’t come to pass.
Becoming an EMT is undoubtedly one of the best things to happen to Ian Gallagher, but his boss fires Ian after discovering he didn't mention his bipolar disorder in his application. Seeing it as unfair, Ian calls her out for her actions.
Ian stands up for himself better than most characters in the Showtime series. Though he hid some information, he argues that he was right in doing so because mentioning he was bipolar would have made him get locked out of the recruitment process, yet he’s excellent at what he does. Thanks to his refusal to give up, he ends up getting his job back.
Ian and Mickey bring dates to a bar in an attempt to make each other jealous. When Ian sees Mickey’s date being disrespectful, he pounces on the man and assaults him before pulling out a ring and proposing.
Ian is one of the most romantic Shameless characters and he proves that once again by proposing right after being a knight in shining armor. It’s a moment that confirms to viewers that no matter how many tribulations they are dragged through, Ian and Mickey aren't leaving each other.
NEXT: 15 Best Shameless Characters, Ranked
Philip Etemesi is an author, journalist, screenwriter, and film critic based in Nairobi. Kenya. As a child, he preferred watching movies like Goodfellas and North By Northwest instead of Home Alone. His girlfriend constantly has to pull him from the front of the TV, but he just keeps returning. Stubborn dude! An animal lover, Philip also has a pet giraffe called Refu.

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