It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Review: 2020: A Year In Review/The Gang Makes Lethal Weapon 7 (Season 15 Episodes 1 and 2)
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Season 15 Episodes 1 and 2, “2020: A Year In Review” and “The Gang Makes Lethal Weapon 7,” finds our gang barreling down the path of moral bankruptcy with gleeful abandon. If there’s one constant in life on which we can depend, it’s this crew never changing.
MAC: As an out-of-work bouncer, I was looking to pursue my other interests that would be as intellectually stimulating as choking out a jabroni and leaving him out in the street.
“2020: A Year In Review” brilliantly explores the political turmoil of the last year and the pandemic’s effects on the nation. It comes as no surprise that the Paddy’s Pub crew played significant roles in defining that political strife, from the Capitol Riots to delaying the voting process to smearing an amalgam of paint and oil in Rudy Giuliani’s hair.
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia masterfully provides social commentary while ensuring our leads never learn from it, and that’s where the comedy lives.
While some folks feel the last few seasons of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia have been “too political,” the show was always a conduit for sociopolitical examinations. Even the series premiere, “The Gang Gets Racist,” from 2005, remains as relevant today as it was then.
CHARLIE: Halloween store owners are gonna be some of the richest people in America, Dee.
“The Gang Makes Lethal Weapon 7” might be scolded by some as skewing too “left-wing,” but the creators and writers merely adapted to how prevalent and vital social and racial issues are today. In addition, the amplified presence of social media plays a significant role in the series’ evolution.
Everyone brings their A-game in these first two episodes, from Charlie Day’s seamless knack for comedic timing to Glenn Howerton’s nuanced performance as Paddy’s Pub’s resident narcissist (who may or may not have murdered his ex-wife).
It’s downright criminal that the Academy continuously snubs the main actors of this show, considering they’ve delivered some of the best comedic performances in the past 16 years, never missing a beat.
DENNIS: Guys, we have to listen to the young. Otherwise, we are doomed to have sex with only old people for the rest of our lives, and I won’t do that.
“2020: A Year In Review” and “The Gang Makes Lethal Weapon 7” solidify this series as the most consistent comedy in history.
It’s safe to say that’s not hyperbole. Sure, the show stumbles with a few subpar outings here and there, but, overall, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia deftly keeps its finger on the pulse of its audience. We want to watch people devoid of morals to feel better about ourselves.
Despite that, we still root for the gang to succeed, but it’s even funnier when they don’t. Here’s to a glorious Season 15 double opener, and long may It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia reign. Much like Dennis, it hasn’t even begun to peak.
Stray Observations:
- Charlie’s bandana/glasses look nods to his appearance in Season 3’s “The Aluminum Monster vs. Fatty Magoo.” His donning two pairs of glasses in “2020: A Year In Review” is a hilarious touch.
- Surprising to no one, the gang votes for Kanye West for president, catering to their obsession with vanity and celebrity.
- Is there anything funnier than Charlie Day’s versatile vocal inflections?
- Ah, yes, “The American Way” — the privileged raking in more money from unnecessary government bailouts.
- Dennis lamenting about how Pepper Jack still has his Fraggle Rock thermos throws back nicely to Season 3’s “Mac Is a Serial Killer.” Both premiere episodes include nods to classic Season 3 It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia outings.
- Dennis’s explanation for acting woke in “The Gang Makes Lethal Weapon 7” is, well, pure Dennis.
- Of course, the gang wants praise for taking an anti-racist stance, and, true to form, it blows up in their faces. May they never stop backsliding morally.
- These episodes provide Easter eggs aplenty for fans, including the return of Artemis Pebdani as Artemis, Marcuis Harris as Pepper Jack, and Geoffrey Owens as Fake Tiger Woods/Donovan McNabb/Don Cheadle.
What did you think of these episodes of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia airs Wednesdays at 10/9c on FXX.
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Melody McCune
Melody loves TV. Maybe too much. Besides being a Senior Writer for Tell-Tale TV, she's the Managing Editor for Geek Girl Authority, an Independent Contractor for Sideshow Collectibles, and a Senior Writer for Eulalie Magazine. Additionally, she has bylines in Culturess, Widget, and inkMend on Medium. To top it all off, she's a critic for Rotten Tomatoes and CherryPicks.