Shamelessstar Justin Chatwin has looked back at his character Jimmy’s toxic romance with Emmy Rossum’s Fiona Gallagher in the hit US comedy series.Shameless, which was adapted from the successful British series of the same name, follows the poor, working-class Gallagher family as they battle drugs, alcohol, affairs, scams, and petty crime in Chicago. Jimmy and Fiona were two characters central to the ensemblecast ofShamelessthroughout its run, where the couple had one of the most intense and tragic romantic relationships.
In an interview withScreenRantat SXSW, to discuss his new movieSweetness,Chatwin reflects on his time onShameless, and how the dynamic of Jimmy and Fiona’s coupling was a toxic and tragic. The actor describes how sometimes when people have such a deep and intense love, it can be destructive, and he details the duo as having an “unhinged romance,” before suggesting that that was the story showrunner John Wells was trying to tell. Check out Chatwin’s comments below:
It was an unhinged romance. Sometimes those people that you have the most deepest, toxic love for, you need to walk away from just to live your life and go on. For me, that was the story that [John] Wells was telling. Sometimes you’ve got to push away from the thing that feels the best. But I think Jimmy Steve’s out there somewhere.
What This Means For Jimmy & Fiona’s Shameless Relationship
The Couple Were A Classic Case Of Two Damaged People Seeking Solace In One Another
Jimmy and Fiona were a popular couple with viewers, and are certainly one of the most iconic and enduring couples fromShameless. But,as Chatwin’s comments show, they had a toxic and unhinged relationship that was not healthy for either of them. They are the classic case of damaged people seeking solace and comfort in one another, and this was certainly an interesting dynamic for the show to explore. There were somethings that don’t make sense about Jimmy and Fiona’s relationship, but it is easy to see why the two ended up together.
Shameless was a show about complicated and damaged people trying to navigate life one day at a time, and making poor decisions along the way.
The on-again off-again dynamic that fueled their coupling, which was also impacted by circumstances outside of their control, is a great example of a toxic, co-dependent relationship. As Chatwin mentions, sometimes relationships that seem right are actually not, and it is important to walk away. He suggests that this is one of the key themes that Wells was looking to explore, andthis is something that helped to shape the show in a more grounded and realistic way.
Our Verdict On Jimmy & Fiona’s Shameless Legacy
The Characters Were A Key Part Of The Narrative Direction The Show Took Early On
Jimmy and Fiona were a prominent couple in the show’s early years until Chatwin’s departure inShamelessseason 5, and they played a big role in shaping the direction of the show.Shameless was a show about complicated and damaged people trying to navigate life one day at a time, and making poor decisions along the way. Jimmy and Fiona’s toxic, co-dependent, and tragic relationship was a key example of the lives and characters the show was looking to examine. They remain a fan-favorite duo, and one of the most compelling, important, and interesting couplesShamelessever produced.
Shameless
Cast
Shameless is a Black Comedy, Family Drama created by Paul Abbott and starring William H. Macy, Emmy Rossum, and Justin Chatwin. The premise follows the Gallagher family and their closest friends as they deal with a not-so-helpful father, Frank Gallagher. His children each find their own path, growing into their own flawed people without much guidance or help from the family patriarch.
