The best episodes of It’s always sunny in Philadelphia highlight the series’ unique sense of humor and its hilariously flawed main characters. Created on a micro-budget by stars Rob McElhenney, Glenn Howerton and Charlie Day, It’s always sunny in Philadelphia is an outrageous comedy that explores the dark and destructive lives of the Paddy’s Pub gang. With Kaitlin Olson and Danny DeVito also starring It’s always sunny created one of the most beloved ensembles on television, making these characters some of the worst people on television.
With 16 seasons and counting, It’s always sunny in Philadelphia became one of the longest-running comedies of all time. While this leaves plenty of episodes for new fans to explore, there are a select few that stand out as the best the series has to offer. These episodes highlight how ridiculous these characters are, embrace their darker tendencies, and even subvert the audience’s expectations of what a TV episode is. It’s always sunny in Philadelphia it could be like.
10
The gang gives Frank an intervention
Season 5, Episode 4
While the original cast members helped bring the show to life, the casting of Danny DeVito in It’s always sunny in PhiladelphiaThe second season changed everything for the better. Frank Reynolds has become the group’s most disgusting member and this episode highlights that. “The Gang Gives Frank an Intervention” shows Frank coming to the realization that he may not have many years to live and he wants to “very strange about this.” This causes the rest of the gang to step in to straighten him out.
While the title might suggest that the gang shows real concern for one of their own, they actually just want to stop Frank from being such a pain in the ass. In truth, the episode is a lot of fun showing how these are the last people who should try to guide someone in the right direction. There’s also a hilarious running gag where they keep suggesting interventions for each other’s disabilities, including Charlie’s illiteracy.
9
Hero or hate crime?
Season 12, Episode 6
There’s a lot of talk about what’s acceptable in comedy these days, but despite It’s always sunny having had several episodes banned, it has also proven that it can continue to push boundaries with its humor. “Hero or hate crime?” is an ideal example of the show’s edgy comedy, as it sees the group hiring a referee to resolve a situation where Frank may have saved Mac’s life, but he used an offensive slur to do so.
In addition to the flashbacks to the incident in question, this is a fantastic bottle episode It’s always sunny This shows how much fun it can be to put these dysfunctional characters in a room together and just let them argue. However, it was also an early sign of the show’s evolution in its storytelling, as it addressed Mac’s sexuality in a more direct way, leading to a surprisingly moving conclusion.
8
The gang buys a boat
Season 6, Episode 3
Another way in which Frank was a great addition to the series is that he could finance all of the gang’s craziest ideas. ‘The Gang Gets a Boat’ is a perfect example of how the series could take the simplest scenario and allow these characters to mess it up. After purchasing the boat, which needs a lot of work, Frank, Charlie and Dee start cleaning it while Mac and Dennis try to turn it into the ultimate party spot.
There are some wonderful moments of hilarity as the gang proves that they have nothing to do with being in the water. Kaitlin Olsen continues to prove herself as the most talented physical comedian of the group, with Dee learning dance films from an inflatable tube man. However, The standout moment in the series is Dennis describing his dark “implication” theory to invite women to party on his boat. It’s a key moment to solidify Dennis as a villain.
7
The gang hits the road
Season 5, Episode 2
Although the show has ventured into different places in more recent years, including an entire season of It’s always sunny Set in Ireland, “The Gang Hits the Road” was the first time the characters decided to leave Philadelphia. The gang decides to visit the Grand Canyon, but finds that their adventures are continually hampered by their constant attempts to turn it into the perfect trip.
It’s a lot of fun to watch these characters fail in even the smallest attempts to broaden their horizons.. With all the frequent stops along the way, there are endlessly hilarious moments for the characters, from picking up a young hitchhiker to Charlie trying fruit for the first time, to Dennis and Charlie accidentally poisoning themselves in the RV. It all leads to the hilarious conclusion that they can’t even leave Philadelphia.
6
Chardee MacDennis: The Game of Games
Season 7, Episode 7
While game nights with friends can be a lot of fun, it makes sense for the gang to turn such an activity into an aggressive, offensive, and mean-spirited night. While at the bar with nothing to do, the younger members of the gang decide to introduce Frank to the board game they invented years ago, Chardee MacDennis (named as a combination of their names). As they play it, it becomes clear that this is a ridiculous and horrible game that only these people could invent.
The game obviously includes a lot of drinking, but also categories like “emotional battery” and “public humiliation.”. Frank acts as an audience surrogate as he is led through the absurd game and its ever-changing rules, with the confusion of it all making it even funnier. However, the episode is a great highlight of how these people are terrible friends, but also strangely perfect for each other.
5
The DENNIS System
Season 5, Episode 10
Dennis’s villainous arc in It’s always sunny in Philadelphia it was gradual at first, but this is one of the episodes that fully embraced him as a dark, twisted man. ‘The DENNIS System’ is a hilariously dark episode in which Dennis reveals his method for seducing women before completely cutting them out of his life, which includes manipulation and emotional torture. While Dennis tries to prove he can use the system on a girl he’s already used it on, the rest of the gang adopt their own approaches to the method.
Glenn Howerton gives an incredible comedic performance in this episode and is clearly having a lot of fun embracing all of the character’s worst traits. Although Dennis’ actions are reprehensible and disturbing, the series keeps it funny by showing how pathetic he is at the center of it all. Additionally, while Dennis’ villainy takes center stage, the episode also shows that the rest of the gang isn’t much better off.
4
Charlie Work
Season 10, Episode 4
Charlie is often seen as the most incompetent and stupid person in the gang, but “Charlie Work” gives a behind-the-scenes look at his work on a particularly busy day at Paddy’s Pub, suggesting he may be the group’s most important member. team. With deliveries and health inspectors visiting the pub, Charlie frantically tries to get everything ready while the rest of the gang offers no help or recognition for his hard work.
The episode is directed by Matt Shakman, director of the upcoming Fantastic Four: Getting Startedand it’s clear that “Charlie Work” has a more cinematic feel. The episode is told in real time and filmed in one continuous take, giving it a sense of tension and relentlessness that increases Charlie’s determination.. It manages to get laughs as Charlie weaves in and out of other conversations, creating a unique and extremely satisfying episode.
3
The gang solves the gas crisis
Season 4, Episode 2
One of the show’s most recurring themes is that the gang is full of arrogance and at the same time doesn’t realize how dumb they really are. This brutal combination leads them to try to solve complex situations with hilarious results. “The Gang Solve the Gas Crisis” finds Dennis, Mac and Charlie upset about rising gas prices and deciding that they will start selling gas themselves.
What makes the episode special is how it tries to break down this strange group dynamic, with each of them having their own strengths to play in the operation.. This makes for a hilarious running gag, as Charlie is eager to embrace his role as the group’s “wild card,” creating an oil tycoon character and threatening to blow up several gas stations. The aimlessness of the gang’s mission is made even funnier by their constant confidence that they’re smart enough to figure it out.
2
Mac and Dennis move to the suburbs
Season 11, Episode 5
It becomes clear throughout the series that the Paddy’s Pub gang can operate within their strange sphere of existence, but as soon as they try to interact with the rest of the world, it turns into a disaster. After Mac and Dennis suggest that they would like to move to the suburbs, Frank bets that they cannot last in such an environment because they are “city scum”.
It’s another dark comedy episode in the series, which takes little time for the pair to encounter problems and frustrations with their new life.from the commute to work to boring home life and annoying neighbors. Mac and Dennis have always had a twisted relationship and this episode wonderfully highlights their couple’s dynamic in a dark way.
1
The Nightman comes
Season 4, Episode 13
The Nightman was previously established as part of It’s always sunny tradition, but the concept took on a life of its own leading to this wonderful musical episode of the series. Charlie reveals to the gang that he wrote a musical, supposedly without ulterior motives, and seeks their help in putting it together. Of course, the rest of the gang has their own take on the material, including Mac’s cat eyes, Dee’s objection to the lyrics, and Frank’s problematic pronunciation of some of the lyrics.
It’s great fun to see Charlie so passionate about the project that it leads him to take command of the group, a rarity on the show. Yet as passionate as it is, the musical is as strange, incoherent, and surreal as one might expect from Charlie’s mind. Still, the songs are as catchy as they are funny, with the musical episode becoming so popular that the cast of It’s always sunny in Philadelphia in fact, it took him on the road.
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia is a sitcom and black comedy created by Rob McElhenney. It stars Rob McElhenney, Charlie Day, Kaitlin Olson, Glenn Howerton and Danny DeVito. The series follows a group of friends who own and frequent Irish bar Paddy’s Pub and get involved in all sorts of disturbing adventures.
- Release date
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August 4, 2005
- Seasons
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16
- Presenter
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Rob McElhenney