The Gallaghers brave another brutal Chicago winter and wait on the medical fate of their permanently pickled patriarch Frank. With oldest daughter Fiona in a stable job and relationship, and newly graduated Lip enrolled in college, it seems like the Gallaghers might finally have a shot at the middle class American dream. But when you're down and out, moving up isn't so easy.

Political fervor hits the South Side, as the Gallaghers take justice into their own hands. While Frank sees financial opportunity in giving voice to the underrepresented working man, Fiona tries to build on her real estate success and takes an expensive gamble, Debbie fights for equal pay and Ian faces the consequences of his crimes as the Gay Jesus movement takes a destructive turn.

Spring roars like a lion in season three! Frank's latest schemes range from gigs as a drug mule and gay rights spokesperson to calling Child Services on his own kids. While Fiona finally finds relative stability in the corporate world, househusband Jimmy develops a full-blown midlife crisis. Lip does his best to handle an out-of-control love triangle, and Ian struggles with Mickey's impending marriage- to a girl! Deb deals with growing up. Carl wraps...

Meet the Gallaghers. Mom went AWOL years ago. Dad stayed home with the six children only to hit the bottle, and sometimes the kids. The real head of the family is big sister Fiona, who looks after Carl, Debbie and baby Liam. She is occasionally helped, more often hindered, by streetwise "Lip" and the actively gay, but very private, Ian.

Workaholic Walter Davis invites beautiful southern belle Nadia Gates to a corporate dinner, expecting to impress his associates with this dazzling beauty. But all hell breaks loose when Nadia has "one too many" and reduces the evening to a shambles.