It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia has become a beloved comedy series known for its dark humor, outlandish characters, and outrageous storylines. With over 15 seasons, narrowing down the best episodes is no easy task. However, we've compiled a list of the standout episodes from each season that have left fans in stitches by pushing the boundaries of comedy.
Season 1 Episode 3: "Underage Drinking: A National Concern"
The gang faces the consequences of their reckless behavior. When a high school reunion approaches, Dennis, Mac, and Charlie recall their old partying days and try to relive them by organizing a wild night of underage drinking, determined to prove their coolness and impress their former classmates.
Meanwhile, Dee and Frank are on a mission to expose the dangers of underage drinking. Dee takes on the role of an overzealous mother and Frank poses as a concerned citizen, but their efforts to educate the youth about the perils of alcohol consumption quickly devolve into absurdity.
As the night progresses, chaos ensues. The gang's attempts to obtain alcohol lead them to desperate measures, including stealing beer from a convenience store and bribing a homeless man, eventually attracting the attention of the local police.
Ultimately, the gang's misguided attempt to relive their glory days and tackle a serious issue ends in failure.
Season 2 Episode 3: "Dennis and Dee Go on Welfare"
the gang finds themselves in financial dire straits and decides to exploit the welfare system for personal gain. Struggling with unemployment, Dennis and Dee concoct a plan to fraudulently claim welfare benefits and live off taxpayer money.
To qualify for welfare, Dennis and Dee must prove that they are destitute and unable to find employment. They intentionally sabotage their job interviews and adopt an appearance of poverty to deceive the system. Meanwhile, Mac and Charlie, who are still employed but dissatisfied with their jobs, become envious of Dennis and Dee's newfound freedom and decide to quit their own jobs to join them on welfare.
As the gang navigates the welfare system, they encounter its various challenges and absurdities. They exploit loopholes, manipulate government employees, and engage in questionable activities to maximize their benefits. However, their attempts to game the system are met with unforeseen consequences and moral dilemmas.
The episode satirizes the flaws and contradictions of the welfare system, as well as the characters' selfish and unethical behavior.
Season 3 Episode 9: "Sweet Dee is Dating a Retarded Person"
In an episode with a title edgy by the standards of its time and fully cancelable by today's standards, Dee's new boyfriend, Kevin, is a talented musician and member of the band "Chemical Toilet." Dennis, Mac, and Charlie become convinced that Kevin is intellectually disabled and struggle with how to address the situation. Meanwhile, Frank sees an opportunity to profit from Kevin's musical abilities and encourages the band to pursue success.
As the gang interacts with Kevin and his band, they struggle with political correctness. Mac, in particular, believes that Kevin's disability affects the band's musical talent, leading to clashes and arguments within the group.
The episode irreverently explores the complexities of political correctness, societal taboos, and personal biases as the gang's interactions with Kevin and their reactions to his potential disability reflect their own ignorance and insensitivity. The episode challenges viewers to consider how language and preconceived notions shape our perceptions of others, while still providing the show's signature dark humor.
Season 3 Honorable Mention: "The Gang Finds a Dumpster Baby"
In this episode, the gang discovers an abandoned baby in a dumpster and embarks on a series of misguided attempts to care for it. As they debate whether to keep, sell, or eat the baby, the gang's selfishness and lack of morality are on full display. "The Gang Finds a Dumpster Baby" showcases the show's dark humor and offers a scathing critique of their characters' moral compasses.
Season 4 Episode 13: "The Nightman Cometh"
Charlie, inspired by his unrequited love for the Waitress, writes a musical called "The Nightman Cometh" as a grand gesture to win her over. As the gang joins in to bring Charlie's creation to life, their lack of talent and misguided interpretations lead to a hilariously disastrous performance.
Mac plays the protagonist, a superhero named "Dayman," while Dennis portrays the villainous "Nightman." Dee and Frank also have roles, adding their unique quirks to the production. The bizarre rock-opera is filled with confusing and disturbing elements, including themes of possibly sexual assault, which deeply unsettles the audience members. However, the gang remains oblivious to the inappropriateness of their production, fully committed to their misguided artistic vision.
"The Nightman Cometh" is a comedic and satirical exploration of the gang's delusions, questionable morals, and lack of self-awareness. It showcases their complete disregard for societal norms and their relentless pursuit of their own desires, no matter how absurd or offensive.
Season 5: "The D.E.N.N.I.S. System"
"The D.E.N.N.I.S. System" introduces the infamous "D.E.N.N.I.S. system" created by Dennis Reynolds to manipulate women. As the gang discovers Dennis' elaborate scheme, their reactions range from shock to amusement. This episode's brilliance lies in its ability to expose the characters' flawed personalities while providing sharp social commentary on dating dynamics.
Season 6: "Chardee MacDennis: The Game of Games"
"Chardee MacDennis: The Game of Games" takes the gang's competitive nature to new heights as they create an extreme, alcohol-fueled board game. The episode showcases the gang's relentless pursuit of victory, escalating to absurd challenges and intense rivalries. It perfectly captures the show's combination of dark humor, physical comedy, and the characters' relentless pursuit of dominance.
Season 7: "The Gang Goes to the Jersey Shore"
In this episode, the gang heads to the Jersey Shore for a vacation filled with debauchery and poor decision-making. As they clash with the locals and indulge in their vices, chaos ensues. This episode satirizes reality TV and the shallow culture found in tourist hotspots, offering a hilarious critique of society's obsession with fame and excess.
Season 8: "Reynolds vs. Reynolds: The Cereal Defense"
"Reynolds vs. Reynolds: The Cereal Defense" centers around a lawsuit between the gang members over spilled cereal milk. As they take the case to court, their absurd arguments, lack of legal knowledge, and questionable witnesses make for a ridiculous trial. The gang's inability to navigate the legal system results in a chaotic and sidesplitting courtroom drama.
Season 9 Episode 5: "Mac Day"
Mac decides his special day will represent the 7 Biblical days of God's creation, which he then "infuses" with the theme of "Bad Ass." He says "let there be Mac" and flips a light switch (Day 1). Mac quotes several lines from Genesis containing the word "water" (Day 2), which he interprets as a sign to perform a bad-ass stunt over Philly's Schuylkill River. He is joined by Country Mac (Sean William Scott), of whom the gang are initially wary. The gang also note that Mac had an erection during most of his speech about the evils of homosexuality.
Mac explains he will jump from a bridge into the river, but then reveals that he won't actually jump and will "draw in" the jump with "post-effects", so the gang must act amazed to make it look real. Country Mac safely makes the jump without so much as spilling his beer. Mac tries to leave Country Mac for dead, until he surfaces unharmed.
Mac skips Creation Day 3 because it's about trees and plants and therefore totally lame. He takes the gang to a planetarium to see God's creation of the heavens, where Country Mac again shows how much cooler he is by smoking a joint with them, and explaining his more enlightened view of God, which greatly impresses the gang. Dennis reflects that while he thought he hated karate, Project Bad-Ass, and God, in reality he only hates Mac, who "makes all those cool things suck." Dennis and the gang worry Mac is not only ruining his life, but also his after-life.
Mac skips Day 5 (fish and birds) and moves on to Day 6, in which God created man. Mac brings the gang to grease-up male bodybuilders affectionately called "beefcakes". The gang is desperate to escape, but Country Mac declines to help, revealing he's gay and "getting numbers left and right." The gang congratulates him on his healthy attitude regarding his sexuality. The gang notices that, predictably, Mac has another erection.
Next, Mac brings them to a karate tournament; as God rested on the 7th day, he will rest and judge the karate matches. The gang conspires to sign Mac up and expose his delusions and total lack of skills, and he scores a single point due to blind luck and is then pummeled to the ground. Country Mac attacks Mac's opponent, nailing him in the face with a can of beer and removing his shirt to choke the man.
Mac tries to claim he won the fight and Dennis demands Mac admit he lost and sucks at karate. Mac's opponent returns to threaten the gang with his muscle, but Country Mac "clocks" a knife by utilizing a much more effective version of Mac's "ocular pat-down". Country Mac grabs the knife and scares off their attackers. Mac shits himself, ruining his gi. The gang, having had enough, ask Country Mac to replace Mac as a new member of the gang, and Country Mac immediately agrees.
As the gang reflect Country Mac's coolness, he rides off without a helmet and falls off his motorcycle, hitting his head and sustaining fatal injury. At Country Mac's funeral service in the bar, the gang reflect that riding a motorcycle without a helmet isn't all that bad-ass, and Mac sermonizes judgementally against Country Mac's homosexuality. He tells the gang they will scatter Country Mac's ashes along the countryside, but as Mac Day bleeds over into Frank Day, Frank dumps Country Mac's ashes into the toilet.
Season 10 Episode 8: "The Gang Goes on Family Fight"
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia has gifted us with countless memorable episodes, each showcasing the gang's absurdity and their knack for finding humor in the darkest situations. From tackling racism to satirizing reality TV, this list represents some of the best episodes that have solidified the show's status as a comedy powerhouse. With each season, It's Always Sunny continues to push boundaries and deliver gut-busting laughter, leaving fans eagerly anticipating what the gang will do next.
