Most sitcoms peak in the second or third season and then gradually deteriorate in quality from there. Consider the shows “The Office,” “That ’70s Show,” and “Arrested Development.” However, FX’s “It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia,” which chronicles the absurd, selfish, and completely funny escapades of the five buffoons who own Paddy’s Pub, only gets better with age. We just don’t get tired of seeing Frank, Dennis, Dee, Charlie, and Mac stab each other in the back as they try to improve their mediocre lives as proprietors of a run-down Philadelphia pub.
30 Best Always Sunny Episodes
There has been no shortage of riotously entertaining moments in the show’s history, so we went digging through IMDb to locate the best episodes of a series that has had us on our sides for a long time. According to IMDb, the top episodes of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” range from bizarre musicals to harebrained plans and funny outbursts.
30. “Dee Reynolds: Shaping America’s Youth” (Season 6, Episode 9)
We’re not sure which of this episode’s plots does a better job of conveying the Gang’s typically classless, ignorant, and obnoxious behavior. Charlie and Dee are presently employed at a neighboring secondary school, where he has made friends with a troubled Juggalo, and she has landed a job as a substitute show instructor.
An episode like this would be hard to produce on another program. In any event, “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” manages to tap dance across laser beams here, mocking its characters’ idiocy without hiding behind it.
29. “Thunder Gun Express” (Season 7, Episode 11)
The Gang definitely doesn’t like each other. Still, they do want to connect the north of two activity-filled film series: “Deadly Weapon” and the in-universe “Thunder Gun” series, which is exactly as ridiculous (and fantastic) as it sounds. In this episode, they’re all going to the movies to see the latest “Thunder Gun” picture. Unfortunately, the president is in town, and his motorcade has caused severe interstate traffic. Most people would probably throw in the towel and try again at the end of the week.
In any event, as we all know, the Gang is not made up of “most persons.” They immediately concoct some ridiculous methods to get to the theatre in time. Charlie and Dee enter the sewers.
28. “The Gang Broke Dee” (Season 9, Episode 1)
In a sense, the Gang members are buddies in name only. In almost every episode, they yell at, backstab, and undermine one other without mercy or shame, only to return together in the end because they have nowhere else to turn. Nobody gets off the snare, but Sweet Dee is by far the most isolated and really beaten element. The Gang takes things to absurd new heights in this episode, and also details about sweet dee’s dating also get revealed.
They realize they’ve “broken” Dee when she refuses to respond to their expected comments and instead pours abuse on herself. So they usually sign her up for an open mic night. She’s no stranger to it, but the walls fall away without her guilt, and she clearly flies on the back of nasty, self-deprecating mockery. Despite Dennis’ best efforts to persuade her to quit, accept her worthlessness, and settle for one of the dumpy-looking schlubs he’s attempting to hook her up with, her career takes off.
27. “Charlie and Dee Find Love” (Season 8, Episode 4)
In this episode, Charlie and Dee finish at a light and head off to kick some ass. They don’t get far since they are quickly smitten with the two attractive, well-off brothers who bumped into them and are now frantically apologizing.
Then they all get together and get to know one another. Of course, once Dennis, Frank, and Mac realize Charlie and Dee are being invited to country clubs and mansions, they wiggle their way in. It goes precisely as well as you’d anticipate. The group is so ridiculous that the fact that they aren’t being thrown out on the street almost breaks the suspension of disbelief.
26. “The Gang Dances Their Asses Off” (Season 3, Episode 15)
Charlie’s lack of knowledge generally results in a handful of excellent punchlines or perhaps a pivotal B storyline throughout an episode. It seldom forms the foundation of a whole episode’s primary plot. In this one, the oblivious janitor unintentionally puts up Paddy as the prize for a dancing contest organized by a local radio station. In a nutshell, the last artist remaining after a long-distance race becomes the future proprietor of the pub.
Overall, we’re certain he could establish his impairment to a court and have the agreement void or simply point out that he didn’t have controlling ownership or the assent of others who did and have it void. However, we would not have one of the show’s finest episodes at that time.
25. “Mac and Charlie Die: Part 1” (Season 4, Episode 5)
Luther, Mac’s formidable father who is continually in and out of jail, has made it clear – at least a few times – that he does not want anything to do with his son. Overall, it’s generally a ruse devised by Mac and his cronies that gets him stuffed in the joint in the first place.
When his parole is granted, Mac and Charlie, who had sought to approach him to prevent his release, recognize that their lives are in danger. They then chose to impersonate their own deaths and isolate themselves.
Both the B plot, in which Dennis, Dee, and Frank discover a hidden opening in the men’s lavatory, and the second half of this plotline, in which Mac and Charlie’s scheme unravels, and Dennis and Frank attend the world’s most dismal party, is worth viewing. However, Mac and Charlie attempting and failing to blow up Dee’s truck is pure “Always Sunny” gold.
24. “Paddy’s Pub: Home of the Original Kitten Mittens” (Season 5, Episode 8)
A forthcoming merchandising convention prompts the Gang to carry out a line of Paddy’s Pub products in this episode. That seems like a good idea, but every idea the pals come up with is more ridiculous than the previous. Charlie starts the program with a famous amateur movie promoting “Kitton Mittons,” in which cats are stuffed into fleece socks to reduce the amount of noise they produce while walking around.
The episode is now jam-packed with the trademark “Always Sunny” hijinks. In any event, the good to beat all here is the Lawyer (Brian Unger), who is as unpleasantly startled as he usually is to get ensnared in another of the Gang’s schemes.
The caustic, sharp-witted lawyer is definitely one of the show’s greatest recurrent characters, and this may be his best episode yet. A kind and helpful piece of advice: prepare many copies of contracts in case an unhappy party tries to eat one.
23. “The Gang Gets Analyzed” (Season 8, Episode 5)
The Gang is actually analyzed in this episode. Normally, they’re among the most poorly adjusted, unhappy individuals their terrible therapist has ever had the displeasure of having to cure.
Not without cause, mind you, since he’s the sickest member of the Gang by a wide margin. It’s because, despite his complete lack of professional education and experience, he feels he’s a partner of the expert and attempts to aid her in breaking down his pals, on whom he keeps thorough dossiers.
22. “The Gang Dines Out” (Season 8, Episode 9)
In this episode, Mac and Dennis’ monthly reservation at one of Philadelphia’s finest steakhouses are disrupted by an expiring Groupon deal, which fills the restaurant almost to capacity and seats them at a bad table near the kitchen. To make matters worse, they see Frank and Charlie enter, their overcoats slung over their shoulders like mafia dons. Those two are celebrating the anniversary of their move into Charlie’s filthy studio loft.
The two tables notice one other, but neither table makes the initial move to identify the other by saying hello. This results in a variety of hijinks, with Mac and Charlie unable to focus on their own supper dates due to the other guys’ silent treatment and Frank and Dennis attempting to relax and convince the other table to honor them first.
21. “Reynolds v. Reynolds: The Cereal Defense” (Season 8, Episode 10)
In this episode, Frank collides with Dennis at a red light, causing him to spill cereal all over the inside of his car. Dennis wants payment, but Frank denies culpability (who eats cereal in a car?).
Typically, the group resolves to settle their differences in court. Also, by the court, we mean a stupid farce they made up in the bar itself, where Charlie defends Frank, Dee defends Dennis, and Mac stands at the front and more or less presides over the endeavor, even though he has no idea what he’s doing.
It is, however, the most amusing. Somehow, someway, the Gang mixes their idiotic ideas and comes up with something resembling a viable answer to the problem. Unfortunately, this competence test leads Frank back to finishing Dennis for the second time, so everyone agrees to stick Dee with the bill. Because, well, of course.
20. “The Gang Saves the Day” (Season 9, Episode 6)
In this episode, the Gang is in a convenience shop when the clerk is robbed. Everyone hides behind bookcases, daydreaming about how they’ll fix the problem and become a legend. In his daydream, Mac utilizes karate to bash the criminal before beating off all of his ninja comrades and earning excellent acclaim from them.
There’s clearly a lot to unpack here, but the main point is that practically no other program ever created could pull off such a bizarre, masterfully designed walk into its characters’ thoughts.
19. “The Gang Goes on Family Fight” (Season 10, Episode 8)
Keegan Michael-Key plays this episode’s Steve Harvey, who quickly realizes that the Gang is only dominating a game of this “Family Feud”-style game by luck rather than competence or a strong understanding of general knowledge.
Dennis, who is preoccupied with being graceful on television, often berates his teammates despite practically never having a solution that works (choosing to give snobby answers rather than the right ones). Plain has no qualms about sharing his terrible personal hygiene practices.
Everyone gets a task that perfectly displays their extraordinarily idiotic nature, making “The Gang Goes on Family Fight” an almost perfect episode of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.”
18. “The Gang Gets New Wheels” (Season 13, Episode 5)
“The Gang Gets New Wheels” has a lot to enjoy. Dee and Dennis both obtain new automobiles, which transform their lives. Dee’s Range Rover puts her on the right track with some fairly aged, wine-sipping, young Karen types (one of whom is really named Karen).
That goes apart when she sleeps with such a young man herself — who happens to be the son of one of the ladies and the same high schooler who is assisting Frank with his driver’s test. These two fools finally get their bikes back, not by strategy or deception, but by viciously hitting the middle schoolers. It is not acceptable to us. In any case, we can’t help but laugh.
17. “Dennis and Dee Go on Welfare” (Season 2, Episode 3)
In this Season 2 classic, Frank (who had just been introduced briefly a few episodes before) rules over Paddy with an iron grip.
Tired of his tyranny, Dennis and Dee abandon their obligations in order to enjoy a good time, intending to use welfare funds to fund a life of leisure. Frank replaces them with welfare program specialists whom he abuses like slaves, and Mac and Charlie lift his Visa and start on a gluttonous pleasure spree that culminates in a sex laborer-filled party.
16. “Mac is a Serial Killer” (Season 3, Episode 10)
In this episode, Frank, Dee, Dennis, and Charlie examine the latest in a long line of blond females kidnapped and murdered by an unidentified serial murderer. Then Mac walks in, his neck covered in scratches from a night out doing God knows what.
Frank and Charlie immediately think he’s the murderer, but Dennis and Dee doubt he’s smart enough to be one. They all went out to prove their theories. Dee tries to entice the serial murderer by impersonating an s*x specialist. Meanwhile, Mac’s mother tells Frank and Charlie that she believes her son is the murderer.
This brings us to the elephant in the room: like other series at the time, this Season 3 episode features a few awkward views on the problem of transgenderism that have aged poorly. That’s putting it mildly.
In any event, the episode had a few wonderful moments, such as Charlie pretending to be a lawyer to protect his friend, whom he feels is legitimately at fault for homicide, and Dee and Dennis chasing the Waitress while disguised as comedians.
15. “The Gang Hits the Road” (Season 5, Episode 2)
Who doesn’t enjoy a nice cross-country drive? Particularly to the Grand Canyon? Overall, if you’re stuck in the car with the Gang’s five scumbags, you should reevaluate your options. Originally, just Mac and Dennis were supposed to accompany Frank on this late-life bucket list adventure, as Charlie was too terrified to leave Philly, and Dee is a gigantic bird that no one thought to add.
But, in an instant, all five people are crammed into Dennis’ Range Rover, drinking, ticking off other bucket list items along the way, destroying the car while attempting to run a bicyclist off the road, stealing Dee’s car, and nearly losing it, stopping by antique shops and filling the trailer, getting and hitting on drifters, and more.
14. “Who Got Dee Pregnant?” (Season 6, Episode 7)
“It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” frequently avoids the kind of drawn-out, season or season-long narratives found in sitcoms like “The Office” or “How I Met Your Mother.” But when they do, it’s as bizarre as you’d expect. With her announcement that one of the gang members is the father, this Season 6 episode kicks off a complete “Dee’s pregnant” narrative. Sign a series of flashbacks to their new Halloween Party, in which each member of the Gang attempts to refute everyone else’s memories of various attire, guests, skirmishes, and more.
At various points in the episode, it appears that several people had sex with Dee, only for this to be revealed in the next iteration of the tale. They even need observers, like Artemis and the McPoyles, to confirm reports and gather much more opinions, none of which seem to correspond with any others cleanly. It’s a mind-boggling case, with every detail as amusing and incompetent as one could expect.
13. “Mac Bangs Dennis’ Mom” (Season 2, Episode 4)
After being hauled off to Frank’s old residence to retrieve his hairpiece, Mac is tempted by Barbara, who seeks vengeance on her ex. This causes an avalanche of sexual backstabbing in which different personalities attempt to sleep with various people’s moms, enraging those who loved them and driving them to seek vengeance by continuing the sex train. The Waitress extends her hand. Mrs. Kelly makes contact. Dee, who is striving to reclaim her employment (she’d quit in the previous episode to go on welfare), becomes embroiled as well.
12. “The Gang Solves the Gas Crisis” (Season 4, Episode 2)
In “The Gang Solves The Gas Crisis,” Mac, Dennis, and Charlie come to the realization that their schemes never succeed because they don’t follow a formula that includes a designated brain, brawn, and special case (Mac, Dennis, and Charlie, separately). This dynamic will very certainly ensure progress in any scheme they devise, including one that includes seeking to generate money by selling massive barrels of gasoline.
At the end of the episode, they determine that the only reason they’ve failed thus far is that they’ve individually rejected Frank and Dee as “the muscle” and “the meaningless woman.” After falling flat on their faces as they observe Bruce Mathis (Dee’s biological father) present Dennis and Dee’s wealth to a Muslim public venue, those two are eager to join the stupid plot.
11. “A Very Sunny Christmas” (Season 6, Episode 13)
It’s perhaps not surprising that the members of the group never experienced a proper Christmas as children, and as a result, they have no concept of what the holiday means as adults. Surprisingly, Mac and Charlie remembered having typical, healthy Christmases as youngsters.
However, neither Mac’s family’s penchant for breaking into other people’s homes and stealing presents (which he’d thought was a great neighborhood tradition) nor Charlie’s mother’s custom of bringing numerous “Santa Clauses” back to her room, assuming that they agreed to get youthful Charlie a present was normal or healthy ways to celebrate.
10. “The Gang Goes to the Jersey Shore” (Season 7, Episode 2)
Dennis and Dee bully the rest of the crew into heading to their favorite childhood vacation site — the Jersey Shore — in this “Always Sunny” episode. Everyone else is having the time of their lives… except them.
Charlie, who spends the whole of the day mistaking sunscreen for booze, meets the Waitress by happenstance and spends a lovely night with her. However, she was high the entire night and rejected Charlie the next morning after waking up sober. And after falling asleep on a pontoon, Mac, Frank, and their beloved rum ham float out to sea, only to be snatched up by a party vessel.
9. “Chardee MacDennis: The Game of Games” (Season 7, Episode 7)
When most individuals are bored, they watch TV or read a book. When the group becomes bored, they play Chardee MacDennis, a manic, violent, three-level game in which the teams drink heavily, cheat, yell at, and abuse one another.
Each round begins with the contestants pretending to appreciate each other before yelling at each other like lunatics. Cheating is permitted if you are not caught; however, asking questions and swearing is prohibited.
The victorious team gets to trample on the opposing side’s game pieces. Needless to say, things quickly spiral out of control. At one point, Frank is forced to consume the raw components of a cake in order to escape from a dog kennel.
8. “The D.E.N.N.I.S. System” (Season 5, Episode 10)
We’d known for a while that Dennis Reynolds was a player with dubious habits, but “The D.E.N.N.I.S. System” from season five demonstrates exactly how far he’ll go to get laid.
When you break down his acronymic method, it’s really simply a quantitative list of how jerks consistently treat women. (Prove your worth. Participate physically. Create dependency. Emotional neglect Instill hope. Separate completely.) Yes, it’s gross, harsh, and immature, but it’s far from illegal.
7. “The Gang Tries Desperately to Win an Award” (Season 9, Episode 3)
The group is fed up with being overlooked and disregarded by the Restaurant Bar Association (RBA), which gives out an annual award to eateries throughout the town with the finest atmospheres, themes, and unusual menu items in this “Always Sunny” episode.
They begin by researching the competition. Sudz is a preppy, brilliantly lighted institution where staff members play characters and perform romantic, sitcom-style scripts about love triangles between themselves to entertain guests. The group thinks it’s cheesy and annoying, but they can’t deny it’s popular with both repeat visitors and the RBA.
6. “Time’s Up for the Gang” (Season 13, Episode 4)
There was never a way that a gang consisting of Frank (a typical chauvinist), Charlie (a stalker), and Dennis (who equals Barney Stinson in predatory conduct) would go through the #MeToo movement unhurt. Enter the “Sh***y Bar List,” an online directory of Philadelphia bars with bad s*xi*t reputations. The proprietors must attend a sensitivity class and pass a test in order to have Paddy’s Pub removed.
5. “Macintosh And Dennis Move to the Suburbs” (Season 11, Episode 5)
It all begins with a wager. Frank thinks that Mac and Dennis, who have gone to the suburbs to find a property for a cheap price, will be unable to hack it for a month due to their status as “city filth.” They are adamant that they can. If Frank wins the bet, they must spend a year in bed with an elderly guy. If they win, Frank will cover their rent for the same period of time.
Frank is correct, as it turns out. Long commutes, broken smoke alarms, obnoxiously courteous neighbors, and repetitious dinners from Mac, who plays housewife while Dennis works, rapidly deflate Macintosh and Dennis’ initial joy at the change of scenery. Both are determined to make it through the month, but their sanity and relationship begin to unravel.
4. “The Gang Goes to a Water Park” (Season 12, Episode 2)
Even when the Gang is just having fun, they can’t help but be vengeful and psychotic. Dennis finds a young protégé in the shape of a 12-year-old girl in “The Gang Goes to a Water Park.” He trains her how to steal in public and get away with it, and she becomes the master by stealing from his own locker. Meanwhile, Mac and Dee were locked on a slide with a group of children. It’d be a startling good story if their crazy displays weren’t so amusing.
3. “Hero or Hate Crime” (Season 12, Episode 6)
When the Gang turns to a professional to resolve their differences, it never ends well. In contempt and amazement, therapists, attorneys, and courts have all given up on these hysterical psychopaths. Fortunately for us, this “Always Sunny” episode is no exception, despite having a significant finale.
2. “The Nightman Cometh” (Season 4, Episode 13)
Sorry for getting that song stuck in your head, but everyone loves the most well-known melody from Charlie’s bizarre “Nightman” theme. It’s about a Dayman, portrayed by Dennis, who goes up against a Nightman, played by Mac. Forthright portrays a savage, one who demands a price for everyone who wants to get to “the kid’s spirit” (though, to Charlie’s annoyance, Frank continues repeating “kid’s opening”).
Dee portrays the princess, whose lyrics appear to be quite inappropriate for youngsters. Charlie becomes even more irritated when she promotes libs a few verses to explain why her personality isn’t deviant.
It’s one of the most bizarre and ridiculous episodes the program has ever produced. It’s also well known enough that the performers led a group in a brief rendition of the song at the 2011 Comic-Con, and “Dayman” was altered for the stage, all things considered.
Related: Where to Watch It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Online?
1. “Charlie Work” (Season 10, Episode 4)
We understand. Single-shot scenarios can be a little gimmicky. In any event, go no further than the opening scene of “Dash of Evil,” the snare sequence from “Offspring of Men,” and… let us really check our notes here… an episode of FX’s “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” for proof that it can be hypnotic when done effectively.
