Shameless will never be the same now that Emmy Rossum announced she is leaving

Shameless is about to lose one of its original cast members. As Emmy Rossum announced on Facebook that she is officially leaving the series.

For eight seasons, Shameless has been telling the story of the Gallagher family, and their assortment of friends and acquaintances. And while we all prepare to continue watching the family through their many ups and downs when the show comes back for its ninth season, it will be with the sad news that Emmy Rossum is leaving.

On August 30, Rossum took to her Facebook page to share an emotional message with her fans. In the post, she said, “I know you will continue on without me, for now. There is much more Gallagher story to be told.”

And Emmy Rossum is correct. There are more Gallagher stories to be told. But for the last eight (and soon to be nine) seasons, she has been at the heart of the family. As Fiona Gallagher, she has been everything from a big sister, to a surrogate mother. She has run businesses and been in love. And we have watched it all unfold.

It’s a hard thing to put into words, feelings. But I’m going to try.This business is always an adventure, full of…

Posted by Emmy Rossum on Thursday, August 30, 2018

Now we are having to prepare ourselves for a Gallagher family without the person who has held it together year after year. And that means that Shameless will never be the same.

Emmy Rossum told her fans that they should, “Try not to think of me as gone, just think of me as moving down the block.” Even down the block seems like a long way off from the rest of the Gallaghers.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, John Wells, the showrunner for Shameless, said in a statement that, “Emmy Rossum will forever be part of the Shameless family.” He called this moment bittersweet, but at the same time, he also offered hope that even with Fiona Gallagher no longer there to hold the family together, we will still get to see more of the family.

Wells said that he is looking forward to “continuing the stories of this wildly unpredictable family, and all of us on Shameless will miss Emmy and her wonderful Fiona.”

While it sounds like there is still a future for the series beyond season 9 and the departure of its leading lady, we know that things will be different now. And maybe this is exactly what the show needs to keep us coming back for more.

Now it is time for other members of the Gallagher family to step up and fill the void left behind by Fiona. This could be an opportunity for Lip, Ian, or Debbie to shine and be the glue that holds the family together.

No one can replace Emmy Rossum or Fiona Gallagher, but there is nothing that says the show can’t thrive with a new look at the family. It’s time for a change. And what better way to make that happen than with someone else stepping into the role of head of the family? (And yes, we know Frank is everyone’s father, but he doesn’t really count as the head of the family.)

Things are changing on Shameless, and while it is sad to see Emmy Rossum go, we have hope for the series. Of course, we still have plenty more Fiona to look forward to, as she is still set to be a part of season 9.

Sept.  9 marks the return of Shameless to Showtime, and that means plenty more drama, mishaps and humor. And of course, it’s our last chance to see Rossum shine as a Gallagher.