I laughed, I cried... and then I went into total shock, capping off my viewing of Shameless Season 4 Episode 12 with the biggest grin ever.

Spoiler Alert: do not read ahead if you don't want to know the ending.

Jimmy/Steve is ALIVE. After allegedly being killed off by the Brazilian mafia at the end of Shameless Season 3, something the writers basically confirmed, none other than Justin Chatwin made a drive-by appearance during the credits of tonight's finale.

Apparently he goes by the name of Jack now too.

According to the Twitter-sphere, this was such a big secret that star Emmy Rossum didn't even know about it! 

I admit that I, as well as some other fans, had been holding out for a Jimmy/Steve appearance all season. First, when Fiona made bail in Shameless Season 4 Episode 6, and then this week when she got released from prison, I hoped he was there. It just goes to show that sometimes the best things get saved for last!

When I initially thought about what to title this review, I was going with a very "Family First" vibe, but something about the way Frank stood with Carl in the middle of the frozen tundra of Chicago yelling "I'm still here" just made me rethink that.

Then the reappearance of a supposedly dead character? Yeah, "I'm still here" won out.

But that's the Gallagher family in a nutshell. They go to hell and back and they are still here and more importantly there are still here for each other. 

Shameless Season 4 did not kick off that way. Everyone was over Fiona, Carl and Debbie were growing up and too busy to care. Ian was MIA. Lip was at college. Things felt disjointed.

Then Mickey got pulled into things to help search for Ian, Sammi came into the picture, Sheila came back, and eventually and most importantly, Lip and Fiona made up at the end of Shameless Season 4 Episode 10. 

When Debbie came downstairs and started sobbing as she saw Fiona, I cried too. Even Carl got a little emotional.

Now the family is back together just in time to help Ian as the lows part of his manic depression made itself known. I love how Mickey insisted that Ian was not leaving.

We're taking care of him here. You, me, us. He's f**king family.

Mickey [to Fiona]

• Permalink: We're taking care of him here. You, me, us. He's f**king family.

Mickey's character became such a huge part of this season and fans really took to "Gallavich." I, for one, am a huge fan of this duo.

Sammi was also an entertaining and necessary addition. I mean, who the hell else was going to take care of Frank at this point?

What's the point of getting a new liver if the damn thing won't do what it's designed to do?

Frank

• Permalink: What's the point of getting a new liver if the damn thing won't do what it's designed to do?

Sheila and the whole Native American storyline really didn't do it for me, but Joan Cusack brings it with every performance she gives so I'm always glad to have her. I was thoroughly entertained when she and Sammi were going at it at this hospital, while Carl just slipped out with Frank and Chuckie waved goodbye.

I thought this episode was a great way to wrap up what has been an emotional season and it also left us wanting more for Shameless season 5. With the additions of Sammy and Mickey, and now Jimmy/Steve? Let's start the countdown. 

So how did you feel about the Jimmy/Steve reappearance?