No other show is quite as crude, controversial, and consistently comedic as It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Premiering during an era when sitcoms were often built around wholesome friendships and polished sets, IASIP emerged as television’s DIY bad boy, following the rude and reckless Gang—Dennis (Glenn Howerton), Dee (Kaitlin Olson), Charlie (Charlie Day), Mac (Rob Mac), and Frank (Danny DeVito)—as they attempt to run and sustain their questionable establishment, Paddy’s Pub.
Taking inspiration from Seinfeld‘s classic “show about nothing” format, It’s Always Sunny takes the concept to outrageous extremes, creating absurd situations that expose the dysfunction of five hilariously flawed people who often seem incapable of functioning as respectable members of society. Yet, for all its politically incorrect humor—some of which understandably hasn’t aged well—there is a surprising level of comedic craft behind the chaos. From a musical built around personal trauma to elaborate fake suicides that spiral spectacularly out of control, here are It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia episodes that are perfect from start to finish.
“Charlie Work”
Season 10, Episode 4
The day has come for Charlie to shine. With an episode title so fittingly on point for this often-underestimated character, “Charlie Work” is an intense, anxiety-inducing, and, dare we say, purely cinematic work of art by IASIP standards. A cross between the styles of Whiplash and Birdman, “Charlie Work” starts with a panicked Charlie after learning that Paddy’s Pub is due for a surprise health inspection. With the bar clearly unfit to operate, let alone earn a passing grade, the typically soft-spoken Charlie whips The Gang into mission mode. If they can’t fix Paddy’s Pub in time, the least they can do is make it look like it’s fixed.
Complete with an impressive 10-minute one-take sequence (which literally makes up half of the episode), “Charlie Work” is the character’s most notable redemption episode. He’s often portrayed as the clueless member of the bunch, literally on the verge of bursting into tears at the thought of having to make a decision. But “Charlie Work” proves that he’s always been the most reliable employee, as he orchestrates the gang’s charade for the inspector while tending to the filthy floors, killing rats, and managing the plumbing—all without the inspector noticing. Of course, said charade relies on Dennis, Dee, Mac, and Frank’s limitless imaginations, which, bafflingly, work.
“The Nightman Cometh”
Season 4, Episode 13
For one night only (or repeated plays on streaming), “The Nightman Cometh” is Charlie’s most inglorious directorial debut. It’s about a “Little Boy” who is loved by a princess and a sinister villain called the Nightman who steals his innocence. But there’s also a troll involved, along with a supposedly coming-of-age transformation in which Little Boy transforms into the Dayman. If none of that makes sense, that’s the point, because Charlie wrote this musical by himself, allegedly based on a traumatic incident involving his highly inappropriate uncle. It’s up to the Paddy’s gang to bring his vision to life, with all of them taking creative liberties to spice up the show a bit.
It wouldn’t be a musical without show tunes. “The Nightman Cometh” has not only one, but a whopping five main musical numbers. Fan favorites include “I’ve Got a Troll in My Hole,” which Frank enthusiastically sings, complete with the tongue-twisting lyric, “You gotta pay the troll toll if you want to get into this boy’s hole!” And not to mention the standout hit “Nightman,” which features the borderline-incestuous line, “It’s just two men like lovin’ brothers.” The best part about the episode is just how seriously everyone takes the play. Nobody is ill-intentioned enough to deliberately screw up the show, and if it does go haywire, it’s only because The Gang feels like they have better ideas than Charlie (Charlie would strongly disagree, though).
“The Gang Dines Out”
Season 8, Episode 9
IASIP can be outrageously fictional at times, but “The Gang Dines Out” is arguably the most relatable episode ever, if only because it brings up the good old-fashioned, painfully awkward experience of the “running into friends in public spaces” conundrum. At Guigino’s, Dennis and Mac enjoy their monthly dinner while Charlie and Frank celebrate their anniversary at another table, unaware that Dee is dining alone nearby. Refusing to acknowledge each other, the two pairs launch an increasingly petty battle of upstaging, using drinks, speeches, and eventually the entire restaurant to trade insults.
“The Gang Dines Out” is just pettiness on top of pettiness, primarily stemming from Dennis’ narcissistic need for attention. He becomes increasingly fidgety over minor inconveniences, like a wobbly chair and a seat right in front of the kitchen door, but these are really just excuses because Dennis isn’t getting the attention he wants from Frank and Charlie, which ultimately makes Mac annoyed. Surprisingly, it’s Mac who pushes Dennis to start thinking about someone other than himself, encouraging him to compliment Mac. Dennis eventually does, leading to a surprisingly heartfelt tribute featuring a quick riff on “Wind Beneath My Wings” by Bette Midler.
“Mac & Charlie Die”
Season 4, Episodes 5 & 6
This classic IASIP two-parter is the epitome of Mac and Charlie’s friendship. When Mac’s newly released, treacherous father gets parole from jail, Mac proposes that they fake their deaths. But planning their fake suicide is a lot more complicated than they realize, and every attempt to erase their traces ends with them literally getting hurt. While all that’s happening, the rest of the gang discover a glory hole in the pub’s bathroom, Frank copes with his grief by getting a mannequin that looks like Charlie, and Dee realizes that Mac and Charlie are very much alive and living on the rooftop.
“Mac & Charlie Die” is a staple IASIP episode that goes completely haywire and literally off the rails. From Mac slamming the door on Dee and Charlie throwing not one but two chairs through the windows, to stealing Dee’s car and blowing it up, The Gang takes their increasingly ridiculous plan to absurd extremes. Mac even crashes the car into a brick wall, leaving himself bloodied, before they resort to buying a grenade from a pawn shop. Ironically, all these elaborate attempts to fake their deaths ultimately fail, making the payoff even funnier.
“The Gang Gets Analyzed”
Season 8, Episode 5
Nobody despises doing household chores more than the Paddy’s gang—so much so that they take their little dilemma to Dee’s therapist in “The Gang Gets Analyzed.” On her therapist’s advice, Dee holds a “cooperative” dinner with The Gang to talk things over in a more civil manner. Of course, things quickly go to shambles when it comes to who’s doing the dishes. Everyone has their own reason for not having to do said chore, most notably Charlie, who goes to all the trouble of getting a “fowl” for dinner, which, in actuality, is just a grocery trip to get pheasant. But because they believe in the therapist’s objectivity, they decide to let her choose who does the dishes—not without first taking a deep dive into their respective psyches.
If you’re new to the It’s Always Sunny lore, “The Gang Gets Analyzed” is the perfect episode for a hyper-specific, individual character study. Throughout the series, we constantly watch The Gang bounce off each other’s chaotic energy, but it’s a completely different story when they’re by themselves. It’s rare to see each member of the Paddy’s gang separated from the others in the same situation, let alone holed up in a room with a professional therapist, and it’s in this episode that everyone gets to show their true, ugly colors. Whether it’s Mac doing aggressive martial arts in the room to protect his fragile masculinity, Charlie smashing his head against the wall under all the pressure, Frank completely rejecting therapy because of childhood trauma, Dennis challenging the therapist’s intelligence, or Dee compulsively lying about her psoriasis, there’s really no predicting where each session will go.
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
- Release Date
-
August 4, 2005
- Directors
-
Matt Shakman, Fred Savage, Todd Biermann, Daniel Attias, Richie Keen, Randall Einhorn, Heath Cullens, Pete Chatmon, Jerry Levine, Kat Coiro, Megan Ganz, Jamie Babbit, John Fortenberry, Maurice Marable, Kimberly McCullough, Imani Hakim, LP, Tim Roche
