"It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia Season 14, 15, 16" Time For a Bounceback

 

    Damn. I'll admit it, I was proven wrong. At first I was a bit skeptical about It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, I mean I was too far along to drop it, but I wasn't sure if I'd have that same renewed enthusiasm about the show once I finally reached the finish line. Luckily, I can report that the last couple of It's Always Sunny have rekindled some of that magic that made me love it in the first place, and I can safely say I'm excited for season 17, whenever it might come out. Though, in my opinion that mostly applies to season 15 and 16. To be honest, I was watching season 14 when I was writing my last review of the show, and my gripes with it sort of spilled over, which is why the review is so scathing despite me actually enjoying quite a number of it's episodes. Even still, it's time for the usual, and let's go and see my favourite episodes, in this batch of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

    I think if an episode of this season had to sum it up it would probably be The Gang Texts. It's basically one giant bit that frankly isn't that funny to me, and just goes on for way too long. Like yes Dee can't type slow, somehow even frank can type faster than her, and yes Charlie can't read, but it just felt like a joke that went on too long, and didn't really provide anything to me. Like cool, they're at the zoo, and Dennis a psychopath, but also, Mac being needy for Dennis was really annoying, and Charlie didn't do anything but whine for Meerkats, and not in a funny way. Another episode that I think exemplified this season, but was actually good was The Janitor Always Mops Twice, basically a film-noir. Now don't get me wrong, I actually enjoy this episode, I think it was well done, and this whole plot revolving around Frank and cherries was interesting. It's just that when the episode is meant to be a spoof, but it isn't funny, then it can become really dull, and that's how I felt about the finale, Waiting for Big Mo. I know people enjoy the fact that the final episodes are meant to be more serious/dramatic, but frankly this episode was so boring. I understand why they're staying in one spot, but it just never at any point during the twenty minutes manage to capture my attention. Like woo, they're playing lazer tag still and it's childish, and then they just end up shooting the child at the very end. I just wasn't feeling it.

    The next season I liked a lot more surprisingly, even if it was the covid season. The big "gimmick" of this season is that half of it takes place in Ireland, or at least in the show it's supposed to, and while one might think that could get tiring very quickly, I oddly enjoyed a lot of the episodes shot there. Of course, I'd be remiss to mention 2020: A Year In Review, which has the group hilariously explain how they were all actually very active during the 2020 election. Easily, the funniest part is when they reveal at the very end that the gang indeed was present, specifically during the 2021 insurrection. Honestly, I wasn't too crazy about The Gang Buys a Roller Rink, I understand wanting to have this whole origin story, but this whole thing about turning everyone insane didn't feel like it added much, and I think just them being high school friends was better. They did turn it around, and I think I enjoyed all of the Ireland episodes. Obviously, I missed them being at Paddies, but frankly everyone had a pretty fun storyline. Whether it be Charlie and his dad, Frank wanting Charlie back, or Mac realizing that his priest friend was not gay but a pedophile, it was like a short breath of fresh air.

    Season 16 was also quite good. I think I'd say I enjoyed The Gang Inflates until the very end, because I wasn't too crazy about the whole "Frank forgives everything for ninja turtle pies" thing. I think it would have been funnier if Charlie actually was some crypto-god. I think by far one of my favourite episodes from this season would have be Frank vs. Russia. Now, I don't actually think the sinned system plotline is that interesting, but what I did find entertaining was Danny Devito's acting. I was genuinely laughing so hard watching him struggle as if he had a butt plug inside of him, and watching Dennis go giddey over that fact. Celebrity Booze: The Ultimate Cash Grab was also good. Sometimes, guest actors can be a little hit or miss, and I wasn't sure how much of Aaron Paul and Bryan Cranston we were going to see in this episode, but after watching it I can say we got plenty. Whether it be the fact that they refuse to acknowledge Breaking Bad in any shape or form, or the fact that in this universe Bryan Cranston has a gambling addiction, it was just funny watching these two worlds collide.

Final Score: 70/100

    Do I still think season 14 is bad? Yeah of course, but I also think season 15 and 16 were good enough that it gave me hope in this show again, and that's something you need when you're going 16 seasons strong, and fans want to know if that next season will be worth watching at all. Now don't get me wrong, I don't really think this show will ever get back to what it once was, I think hoping for it to is a fools errand, but even still this iteration of the show, whatever it is, is good enough for me. I'd like to comment on the whole them using season finale's as serious episode things. Season 16 used Dennis, and honestly I was surprised about it. It's very rare that Dennis actually becomes down-to-earth and relatable, and the ending where he slowly eats the heart of a CEO was very funny.


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