'Shameless’ Season 5 Spoilers: New Season Teased To Be ‘Outrageously Funny’ Following Season 4’s Darker Plot

We can’t be the only ones counting down the days until “Shameless” airs its Season 5 premiere on Sunday, Jan. 11, right? According to William H. Macy, who portrays the alcohol-loving Gallagher patriarch on the dramedy, fans won’t want to miss the 2015 season premiere considering the fifth installment is chock-full of “outrageously funny” moments – a big change from Season 4’s grim plot.

“Last season was incredibly dark. Probably our darkest yet,” said Emmy Rossum, who plays Fiona. She recapped her character’s struggles in a promo video for the new season. But during an interview with Variety, the actress teased that things will start to turn around for the show’s protagonist when Season 5 premieres.

“Things have to get better for Fiona,” Emmy Rossum said, “because they got really rough last year for her with jail and drugs. She’s going to be a little more introspective, and a little slower to throw the first punch.”

Rossum added that contributing to Fiona’s sunny Season 5 demeanor is that the coming installment will kick off a few months following the show’s Season 4 finale, which means the Gallagher’s will be basking in the warmth of the summer sun. “It’s summer, which is always fun," Rossum continued. "The Gallaghers are outside, they’re rowdy." And according to the actress, they’re also looking for a summer romance!

“She’s hot in pursuit of Dermot Mulroney, who’s not that into her,” Rossum explained of Fiona falling for the recovering addict Sean Pierce. “So she’s kind of a mess. He’s in NA [Narcotics Anonymous] and trying to keep on the straight and narrow, and with her drug history, she’s not good for a recovering junkie like him.”

But from the Season 5, episode 1 promo photos, it looks like Sean may be falling for Fiona whether he likes it or not! And Fiona's not the only one who will be bit by the love bug during Season 5. The actress revealed during an interview with She Knows that Frank will also be getting butterflies around a special someone.

"There's definitely a lot that's really funny, but Frank falls in love -- real love -- for the first time, too," Rossum revealed to the site. "So we'll see that happen, which will be really interesting. And one of our main characters gets married, as well, so it'll be an interesting season."

Besides the Gallaghers getting all gushy, Macy added that his TV daughter will also be delivering some intensely dramatic scenes. One of the struggles Fiona will face is coming to terms that she might not be so different from the father she despises. “In a very left-handed way, they smack her in the face with it,” Macy revealed to Variety.

Are you excited to see what’s in store for the Gallagher family when Season 5 of “Shameless” returns to Showtime on Sunday, Jan. 11, at 9 p.m. EST? Sound off in the comments section below with your thoughts on the new season.