It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Season 17 Episode 8 took me by surprise with how it manages to be both genuine and funny at the same time.
As a sitcom, the show consistently prioritizes humor. But It’s Always Sunny also gets more sincere with the story unexpectedly every few seasons.
This has produced some of the show’s best episodes, including It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Season 13 Episode 10, “Mac Finds His Pride,” and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Season 15 Episode 8, “The Gang Carries a Corpse Up a Mountain.”
After watching this episode, it’s safe to say that it has definitely earned its place among the aforementioned emotional episodes.
Frank is truly at the forefront of the story, with the Gang mostly operating as background characters after their time in the spotlight during last week’s episode.
While it seems like Frank is being his typical self, the episode actually takes him on a journey that reveals a new side of him that we haven’t seen before.
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia is based on the premise that nobody can ever change, yet in this episode, it demonstrates how even the most unlikable people, like Frank, have the capacity to be transformed by love.
This episode is excellently executed and wildly funny, making it a perfect way to end this season on a high note.
The Golden Bachelor Goes for the Gold
I have to admit, I had some strong doubts about this episode.
I avoid watching reality shows whenever possible, so I was worried that I would need extensive knowledge of The Bachelor to understand what was going on.
Fortunately, the show establishes the premise quickly and clearly within the first few minutes.
Additionally, it incorporates the typical Frank charm by altering the show’s structure to only include two possible choices for him.
He has to choose between an internet star (Hawk Chewuh, or for short, Chewy) or an older woman (Sam) who has enough wit and charm to convince him to give her a chance.
The introduction of the internet star and the jokes about brand deals with Amazon made me initially worried about the humor in this episode.
Especially considering the continuous TikTok and of-the-time pop culture references in this season, it seemed that the episode was going to fall into the trap of being a forgettable episode.
However, the slow reveal of Chewy’s limited personality and Sam’s deeper backstory peels back my surface-level assessment of the episode.
The Gang Gets Involved
As I mentioned earlier, the Gang mostly takes a back seat in this episode.
They show up the most when Frank is actively assessing, choosing between Chewy and Sam, and as usual, stick their noses where they’re not involved.
I thought the scene of Dee and Dennis interrogating Sam and eventually approving of her was super sweet.
The contrast of that moment to the Gang dragging in Charlie’s mom as an option (and causing Charlie to have a hilarious breakdown when he realizes his mom is now part of this whole fiasco) was wonderfully played.
The Gang also tries to pull their own scheme involving an elephant toothpaste bomb, and it came as no surprise when it quite literally blew up in their face.
While this plan was a little confusing and not super relevant, I did appreciate that minimal time was spent and that their plans being thwarted led to a better ending for the episode.
The Final Rose Goes To…
The best part of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia is when it indulges in the unexpected.
For most of the episode, I was strongly confident that Frank would choose Chewy based on the fact that she was young and appealing, his usual type.
However, that didn’t stop me from rooting for Sam, who has easily become one of my favorite side characters in this show.
The fake-out moment when Frank sends a note to Sam to go home was actually quite believable. I was extremely moved by Sam’s sad backstory and thought she was the first character in the entire show who had actually shown that she genuinely loves Frank.
This is why I teared up at the final scene when Frank runs through the rain to confess his love and give Sam the final rose.
Danny Devito is a comedy master, but he also excels in this emotional, romantic climax of the episode.
The last scene might be stereotypically rom-com-like, but I have to admit that it left a warm feeling in my heart as the episode and the season came to a close.
That’s All For Now Folks!
Overall, I’m very happy that the season ended on this episode. It makes the build-up of the previous episodes worthwhile.
While I thought the majority of the season was just okay, the season finale did a fantastic job of being a pleasantly surprising, solid ending.
It’s also touching to see the episode end with a tribute to Lynne Marie Stewart, who plays Charlie’s mom. Considering how long she’s been a part of the show, I’m glad that the creators were able to honor her last on-screen appearance.
For how long It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia has been running, it’s nice to know that it still can catch fans by surprise.
I hope the next season will build on the momentum of the last two Season 17 episodes, continuing to tell even more outrageous and moving stories.
What did you think of this episode and the season overall? Are there any episodes you’ll be rewatching while you wait for the next season? Let’s chat in the comments below!
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Watch It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Online
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