If that’s true, it doesn’t necessarily have to be a negative development though, and the producers might actually decide to drop a pleasant surprise on their fans. It sounds like it would be an appropriate move at some point during the season anyway, with all the negative developments they are apparently planning.
Fans of “Shameless” have gotten used to the idea of their characters suffering a lot and getting in all sorts of trouble, but it still looks like season 7 could put the emotions of some viewers to the test.
If Debbie does end up in prison, this could lead to some rearrangement of the roles of other characters. It might also strain her relationships with certain family members even more, and all in all it sounds like it’s the kind of move that will push the plot forward in a major way.
That makes it even more likely that the writers are planning some jail time for Debbie, and it could also indicate that they’re looking to make some changes to the general structure of the plot too. Some fans suspect that new characters might be brought on during the season, and that Debbie might even be phased out eventually.
This might take things a bit too far, but considering that the show is already entering its seventh season, it’s also not out of the question. The producers will have to make some more drastic changes to keep things fresh and interesting sooner or later, after all.