After a long nine months, Season 5 of "Shameless" premiered, and the Showtime hit is back with a hard act to follow as Season 4 was far and away the most comprehensive the show has been in terms of character development, twists and turns.

Some of our favorite characters are back from life-altering decisions, trials and tribulations: Last season, Frank got a new liver. Fiona got shipped to a woman's correctional facility after falling off the rails and getting caught up with another bad boy. Mickey and Ian finally became a full-fledged out and open couple. Deb started dating. Ian may have inherited his mother's bipolar disorder. Kev and Vee gave birth to twin girls -- phew!

Season 5, Episode 1, titled "Milk of the Gods" kind of gave a glimpse into the calm before the perfect storm building up and will test the Gallaghers more than ever before.

At the start of the show, Frank (William H. Macy) abruptly woke up from his slumber and found himself squished between Sheila Jackson (Joan Cusack) and his tragically hapless grandson Chuckie (Kellen Michael) and solved this by kicking the little guy out of bed. Ironically, the poor boy was donning an "I Love My Grandpa" T-shirt at the time. We're sure he won't be wearing that anymore. As it turns out, Frank was getting his beauty sleep to make the final touches on his "contribution to mankind." Tagging Debbie (Emma Kenney), whose been having some difficulties with her friends (who are arguably a bad influence on her to begin with), Frank was able to create the "strongest beer ever made." Who knew a bit of playground maneuver and a used condom could do the trick? After determining that his new liver "can support one beer a day," Frank chugged the entire homemade bacon-flavored 130-proof brewed beer with a timbered undertone and passed out, only to wake up the next day a la emperor's new clothes and being studied by a class of young painters.

The zaniest moments came between the outrageously side-splitting stepmother-daughter rivalry between Sheila and Sammi (Emily Bergl). Sammi parked her trailer next to Shelia's house last season and appears to be suffering from hyper-sexualized abandoned child syndrome. Both ladies are fighting over Frank's attention, who remains ambivalent and self-indulgent. Feasibly the biggest indicator of the season came when Sheila warned Frank, "If you don't start playing daddy, things are only going to get worse." Perhaps this will be the biggest theme of the season for all of the Gallagher clan.

Sheila's not the only one up to her wits end "playing mommy." Vee (Veronica Fisher) doesn't seem to be enjoying motherhood like she had hoped, especially the beautiful act of breastfeeding her baby girls, who like to chomp on her nipples. The babies are also covering her in spit-up and are having troubles going to the bathroom. Kev (Steve Howey) developing Madonna-whore complex, refusing to engage in lovemaking with his wife and spending all of his time in internet chat rooms speaking to career parents, doesn't help either. All she needs is some free time, so she spend her day serving shots at the Alibi and leaving the busy dad at home with the kids.

Fiona (Emmy Rossum) continues where she left off, taking care of her family and everything seems to be under control: She's working at a diner with people who been through similar dramas and the customers seem to have taken a shine to her, especially an Australian bad boy musician (Axle Whitehead) who requests her by name. She seems to be the belle of the ball this season; there are many men who are barking up her tree, like her new boss Sean (Dermot Mulroney) and Angela (Dichen Lachman), who gave Fiona a $100 tip for a slice of blueberry pie and a coffee. Fans of the show may remember Angela: She was last seen during the credits of the fourth season finale in a car alongside Jimmy/Steve/Jack (Justin Chatwin). Perhaps they're working in cahoots together to get Fiona and him back together again?

Lip (Jeremy Allen White) seems to have met the real love of his life in Amanda (Nichole Bloom). Since going off to university, he's grown significantly and it seems like he may be backpedaling going back home for the summer. Before Amanda returned to her home in Miami, the two came to an understanding that each would date around during the break. But Lip seems to be experiencing growing pains since returning home, he's doesn't seem all that interested in catching up with his wild and crazy crew. Neither does Mickey (Noel Fisher), who is in domestic bliss with Ian (Cameron Monaghan) and his making an "honest living" as a con artist by day and pimp by night. Ian, however, is in "manic" state and when he's not exercising or food shopping; he's hooking up with random strangers at the supermarket or being cruised by a bus boy at Fiona's restaurant. Hopefully Fiona and Lip can save him before he spirals further out of control and hurt himself... or others.

"Shameless" will returns Sunday, Jan. 18, with Season 5, Episode 2, "I'm The Liver." Check out the shocking sneak peek below.

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