At first, it seemed weird, writing an entire article about the infatuation we all have with a fictional character. But Lip Gallagher really isn’t so fictional because we all know one, which is what makes him so irresistible. Unlike most idolized male television stars, Lip is really just the epitome of any regular guy trying to find his way. "Shameless", originally a U.K. produced television show, was recreated in the U.S. where it caught fire, and eventually took off when Netflix released the first four seasons providing easy viewing access for all Netflix lovers. For those of you who watch "Shameless", you know, it is easily the most addicting show you have ever watched and you immediately regretted starting it once you finished the first episode because you knew you probably wouldn’t leave your room until you were done with all four seasons. Anyways, I’m not here to talk about "Shameless", I’m here to talk about the famously infamous Lip Gallagher, and share with you the 5 reasons why we all love him:

1. Sour, Sweet, Gone

The Sour Patch Kids motto. Who ever thought it could so perfectly describe a person, let alone Lip Gallagher. Lip loves to put on the “tough guy” front, but once he gets comfortable, it is obvious that he is nothing but a soft inside with a hard coating. Lip’s heart is bigger than he knows, but he only reveals it when he is in his most vulnerable state. When Lip falls in love with Karen (before she goes crazy) you can start to see the real him. It becomes obvious that the real Lip is so caring and loving he almost can’t even handle it himself, which is when he proceeds to run away from it. Nonetheless, when he catches himself falling face first into the “sweet” part of himself, it is only moments before he’s gone. We saw it with Karen, we saw it with Mandy, and I’m sure we’ll see it again in Season 5, which were all waiting impatiently for (if you’re not the type to keep up with it every Sunday night).

2. Too Smart for His Own Good

Lip, the diamond in the ruff. He’s the first one in his family to go to college, and we all adore him for it. But what we love more is the way he is so nonchalant about the genius he knows he is. He casually strolls into the University of Chicago like he’s making his way into the club. The best thing about it though: he doesn’t forget where he comes from. Even though Lip is the only one in his family that seems to “make it,” never for a second does he forget about his family, which leads me to my next point.

3. Family First

Wherever he is, whatever he’s doing, Lip will drop everything and anything for his family. He never fails to come to the rescue when one of his siblings is in trouble, and he’s never scared to tell it how it is. He always makes sure to protect his younger siblings from Fiona and Frank’s B.S., along with pushing them to be the best they can be. Although it might seem like he gives up on them at times, he always comes back and continuously proves us wrong every time we think he might fail.

4. Bad Boy

We all want a bad boy, don’t we? Well, maybe not in reality, but Lip’s bad boy qualities in the show are definitely reel us in. He’ll be running from the cops one second, and sitting in his English Lit class the next. For some odd reason, even his totally inappropriate relationship with his professor only makes him that much more thrilling. The balance of his bad boy side, with his sweet and smart side keeps our eyes locked on Lip, probably for way too many hours at a time.

5. Lady’s Man

Lastly, we all know Lip is the lady’s man. Lip has that charm that makes heads turn and makes you want more...of "Shameless", of course. Whether it’s his “I don’t give a sh*t” attitude, his smile, or his style, all the girls are chasing him. Lip is definitely the most intriguing character in the show because of his complex personality, and his addicting appeal. He might hop around, or be with more than one girl at a time, but we’re all waiting for the moment that Lip finds that perfect girl that mirrors his perfectly imperfect persona. Maybe he’ll find a match almost as great as Dom and Carl? I guess we’ll have to wait and see. But, until then, we’ll enjoy him while he’s single.