the beginning stages of the series, she is very sweet. However, her character does take a massive turn for the worst as the show progresses, which honestly results in a lot of the audience disliking her. Yet, one should direct the blame for this on the fact that she has a tumultuous childhood, as her parents do not participate in her upbringing.
Debbie's story is also full of a lot of hardship as a result of this. Even if many aspects of her character get worst as the show moves forward, one cannot ignore the struggles she experiences that make her this way. This is why, at times, it is actually quite nice to see good things go her way. She does deserve good karma for certain events that occur in her life, even if she is far from perfect as a whole.
She Snaps On Frank
At the beginning of the series, Debbie is extremely forgiving of Frank and even shows him unconditional love. He, of course, does not deserve this, as he is an absent figure in her life and only causes problems for the family.
However, she hits her breaking point with him after he breaks her dollhouse. From there, Debbie hits Frank repeatedly with her bag of soap. Although it is sad in the moment, it is important for her, as she accepts that Frank is an abysmal father.
She Gets The House Back From Uncle Patrick
Uncle Patrick is aiming to take away the home from Debbie and her siblings. His efforts are on the verge of succeeding too, as the family is told by Tony that they have to move out by the end of the night.
However, Debbie's quick thinking gets them out of this dilemma, as she lies to him and says that Patrick touches her. Although the measures she does are definitely deep, it is honestly a necessity, as the Gallagher siblings would be homeless.
She Beats Up Her Bully
Debbie is being relentlessly bullied at the pool by her classmates, which definitely is sad in the moment. It even gets to the point where she feels nervous and does not want to go there anymore.
Yet, she ends up taking a stand against them and satisfyingly beats them up. It is just a wonderful moment for Debbie, as it shows how she is able to handle herself. It also definitely sparks a new sense of confidence for her.
She Has Franny
Although the circumstances of Debbie getting pregnant are definitely bad, she does turn out to be a good mother. Franny brings her a strong sense of happiness, even if it is very stressful for her at the beginning stages.
Although Debbie's character worsens significantly in the series, one cannot ignore the fact that she is a great mother, especially for her young age. She also does this without the help of Derek, so that does deserve some praise.
She Finds ion In Welding
With a child and a need for a steady income, Debbie struggles to find a career path. This is largely because she is still quite young and now in a position where it is essential to provide for her and Franny.
She does find something she loves in the process thankfully, as she is spectacular at welding. It may not be the best job when it comes to benefits, but it is apparent that she enjoys it immensely, so that is a true plus for her.
She Explores Her Sexuality
As the series progresses, Debbie starts to question her sexuality. This makes a lot of sense, as it is something that many people experience in their lives. She does eventually realize she is attracted to women and it displays wonderful growth for her.
Although her dating life is not the most healthy in the series, she does seem far more confident in herself, which is certainly a necessity. Perhaps before the series comes to a close, she will find a long-term and compatible partner.
She Helps Fiona Get Revenge On Ford
After it becomes known that Ford is not being faithful to Fiona, Debbie makes it her goal to get revenge for her. Thankfully, she succeeds in her efforts, as she is able to trap Ford.
From there, she quickly gets Fiona to walk down to the street where Ford is and certainly makes her feel better. Also, this leads to Fiona famously hitting Ford with paintballs in his lower region. It definitely has an old Shameless feel to it, which is also a nice bonus.
She Keeps Custody Of Franny And More
After seeking a portion of Derek's death benefits for Franny, his wife, Peppa, says she will only allow this if she is able to take Franny. Debbie naturally does not want this, as Franny is her child.
She thankfully is successful with keeping her, while also being able to secure the benefits. She hands Peppa a Franny look like and pays them for her to act as badly as possible. As a result of this, Peppa gives her the benefits to keep Franny away from her.
She Takes Over Fiona's Job In House
When Fiona leaves, the house definitely is in need of a new leader. Fiona is the heart of the Gallagher family, as she is constantly the one who takes care of them while on the show. Debbie, being seen as the most responsible, then takes over the role.
Debbie is definitely a bit harder on the family but does handle the position well, as she holds everyone able. She will never be as beloved as Fiona, but it is apparent that she is at least doing her best to keep everything in check.
She Helps With Ian and Mickey's Wedding
As a way to ensure that Ian and Mickey can get married at their on-the-spot venue, Debbie pretends to be the bride. The venue is known for being against gay marriage, so Debbie stalls by pretending she is having cold feet.
While doing this, the actual wedding is occurring. This is truly a generous move by Debbie, as it shows that she wants Ian to have his happy day with Mickey. It is easily one of the nicest acts she participates in during the entire series.
