As the longest-running live-action sitcom,It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia(otherwise known asIASIP) has given fans some iconic episodes full of moments that have been referenced in various forms of media. Whether it’s musical masterpieces likeThe Nightman Comethor controversial classics likeThe D.E.N.N.I.S. System, the most popular episodes of the comedy series are beloved by fans and continue to be part of popular culture.
For every critically acclaimed episode fromIASIP, however, there’s a hidden gem that does not get the praise and attention it deserves. FromCharlie Kelly: King of the RatstoThe Gang Gives Back, these underrated episodes ofIt’s Always Sunny in Philadelphiaoften depict the gang’s less risky or more polarizing antics. These episodes may be overlooked, but a rewatch will remind viewers just how witty, funny, and wild many of these storylines are.
Chardee MacDennis 2: Electric Boogaloo (Season 11, Episode 1)
Chardee MacDennis 2: Electric Boogaloois a fantastic episode that had one major problem – it couldn’t live up to the original. Season 7’sChardee MacDennis: The Game of Gamesis a beloved classic that helped cementIt’s Always Sunny‘s place as one ofthe best sitcoms on Hulu. From Frank Reynolds’ (Danny DeVito) time in a dog kennel to the absurd coin flip that gave the losers a fighting chance, fans have likely seen the hilarious episode more than once.
Electric Boogaloo, on the other hand, complicates “Chardee MacDennis” by throwing in a supposed board game executive who’s interested in it. As the gang tries to keep their composure and inevitably fail, the situation goes wild and leads to aSaw-like segment in the basement and emotional battery from the Waitress (Mary Elizabeth Ellis). While the first version of the game is undeniably better,Electric Boogaloohad its highlights, which include the twist that the executive is not really from Mattel and Dee and Dennis Reynolds’ (Kaitlin Olson and Glenn Howerton) gut-busting decision to burn Charlie Kelly’s (Charlie Day) flag in the hospital.
Frank’s Back in Business (Season 8, Episode 7)
Charlie becomes Frank’s right-hand man inFrank’s Back in Business, where “the Warthog” is pulled back into the corporate world one last time to save his old company from a hostile takeover. Meanwhile, Dennis, Dee, and Mac (Rob McElhenney) argue over a lost wallet in Paddy’s Pub, but soon get roped into Frank’s scheme.
While fans have always known that Frank is wealthy, it’s this Season 8 episode that explains why that is. Frank is completely ruthless as a big shot at Atwater Capital, which confuses Charlie to no end because he can’t figure out exactly what it is that they “make.” The dynamic between the duo is sidesplitting, especially as Charlie becomes increasingly frustrated by how Frank just seems to be spending the company’s money. It’s an episode that’s not given enough credit for brilliant comedic moments like the paper jam, “Vic Vinegar, bodyguard,” and, of course, “Fight Milk.”
Sweet Dee Has a Heart Attack (Season 4, Episode 10)
When Dee has a heart attack, the rest of the gang predictably somehow makes it about themselves, with the Reynolds siblings getting into exercising and supplements and Mac and Charlie finding jobs for their health benefits. Eventually, Dee and Dennis realize they don’t really like cardio and would rather buy supplements and Botox. Meanwhile, Frank has landed in a mental health facility.
Many fans, and even audiences who have never watched a singleIASIPepisode, will recognizeSweet Dee Has a Heart Attackfor one scene: the infamous “Pepe Silvia” conspiracy explanation from Charlie in the mailroom. Aside from thismassively popular meme from the show, the actual episode itself has several other extremely amusing moments that highlight why it should be among the greats. On top of Dee and Dennis’ ridiculous attempts at injecting each other with Botox, the episode has an overlooked storyline centered on Frank, who is essentially reenacting moments fromOne Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nestas a clever reference to DeVito’s film debut.
The Gang Replaces Dee With a Monkey (Season 15, Episode 4)
The gang takes a joke literally and decides to replace Dee with a monkey when she leaves to pursue a TV series audition and a career as an acting teacher. To Mac, Dennis, and Charlie’s surprise, the monkey that Frank brings to the bar can actually pour decent drinks, so they put him to work. While they get way too drunk thanks to their new bartender, Dee gets drunk on power as she hosts an increasingly problematic acting class.
The Gang Replaces Dee With a Monkeywas inevitably overshadowed by the epic adventure it would set up — the gang’s trip to Ireland. It’s easy to forget about this fun episode from one of the more recent seasons ofIASIP, which highlighted how narcissistic and power-hungry Dee could be, while also showcasing how easily the men in the gang can be outsmarted by an actual monkey.
The Gang Cracks the Liberty Bell (Season 4, Episode 11)
To remain one of the best sitcoms of all time,It’s Always Sunnyrelies on familiar tropes and formulas that have worked well in the past, which is why episodes likeThe Gang Cracks the Liberty Bellcan be a shock for fans. A kind of flashback episode, the entire storyline is based on the gang’s lie about “Patrick’s Pub” being instrumental during the Revolutionary War. Scenes from 1776 dominate the episode and show the gang’s involvement in cracking the liberty bell.
The clearly experimentalIASIPepisode was jarring for many fans when it first premiered. At that point in the show, viewers expected a particular formula, and this Season 4 episode went way out of bounds. InThe Always Sunny Podcast,episode 56, McElhenney himself argues that the episode is underrated and unjustly hated, discussing how the “tremendous amount of audience pushback on this particular episode” was unwarranted. He even adds that it’s “within the top five to 10 best episodes” of the series, which goes against many viewers’ negative opinions ofThe Gang Cracks the Liberty Bell.
Charlie Kelly: King of the Rats (Season 6, Episode 10)
Season 10’sCharlie Workis rightly what fans will point to when asked for the episode that captures how much Charlie does for the gang, butCharlie Kelly: King of the Ratsshould really be considered a close second. The episode starts with an obviously drained Charlie, who has just emerged from Paddy’s basement after bashing hundreds of rats. It’s just one of the many things he has to do to keep the bar working, and he’s clearly tired of it. The rest of the episode focuses on Mac, Dennis, Dee, and Frank’s poor efforts at planning a birthday party for Charlie based on his “dream book,” which mostly contains nonsensical ramblings.
King of the Ratsis remembered for the “spaghetti policy” scene, which has become one of many fan-favoriteIASIPmemes. The episode itself is often overlooked, though, despite the fact that it provides a rare moment of selflessness from Mac, Dennis, and Dee. The trio put together truly grotesque objects from Charlie’s dream book just to cheer him up, and the “denim chicken,” “bird with teeth,” and “worm hat” they created are more than enough reasons to revisit the hidden gem.
The Gang Gives Back (Season 2, Episode 6)
The season 2 episode is rarely mentioned among the best of the series, despite takingIASIP‘s tried and tested formula and making the most out of it.The Gang Gives Backhas so many brilliant moments that deserve more attention, which include Dee getting hit in the face with Mac’s elbow, the missing shoes and the endless laps as punishment, and Charlie’s gut-busting stint as a drunk referee.
