It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Review: The Gang Buys a Roller Rink/The Gang Replaces Dee With a Monkey (Season 15 Episodes 3 and 4)
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Season 15 Episodes 3 and 4, “The Gang Buys a Roller Rink” and “The Gang Replaces Dee With a Monkey,” are two slightly uneven installments when presented as a pair. Episode 4 rises victorious as the strongest, giving the consistently brilliant Kaitlin Olson a chance to shine.
“The Gang Buys a Roller Rink” feels out of left field because the episode is almost entirely a flashback. For the first time in It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia history, we get a glimpse into Paddy’s origins.
MAC: Mobile phones. Fads for yuppies. Mark my words, Charlie, those things will never catch on.
While most of the character disparities, such as Dee’s sweetness and Dennis’s dutifulness to Frank, elicit a chuckle or two, most of the outing is lukewarm, notably when compared to episodes like “A Very Sunny Christmas,” which also toys with flashbacks.
That said, even Always Sunny at its most basic level is still leagues better than your average comedy.
“The Gang Replaces Dee With a Monkey” showcases Olson’s versatility, her knack for slapstick, and her pitch-perfect comedic timing. She squeezes every ounce of funny out of each scene she’s in, ensuring Dee finally gets to be the star. Watching her is like attending a comedy masterclass.
CHARLIE: How does Pittsburgh work? Am I constantly going in and out of Pittsburgh throughout the day?
Even the guys — Glenn Howerton, Charlie Day, Rob McElhenney, and Danny DeVito — find their groove again in “The Gang Replaces Dee With a Monkey.” Notably, the scenes wherein they get drunk on “monkey beer” and figure out their dream vacation spot.
DEE: I can control you. I can make you feel however I want you to feel, which will help you be a better actor.
While Episode 3 falls a bit flat and feels somewhat forced, Episode 4 puts It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia back on track. It also perfectly sets up the next double-feature with the gang traveling to Ireland. Kaitlin Olson steals the show, and if there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s not to underestimate Sweet Dee.
Stray Observations:
- Surprisingly, we’re just now getting a Paddy’s Pub origin story 16 years into the show.
- In “The Gang Buys a Roller Rink,” the skating rink featured is Moonlight Rollerway in Glendale, California, established in 1956.
- It’s weird watching the guys shower Dee with compliments.
- Mac would be a weed dealer who wears a “gat” in his pants in 1998.
- Charlie’s confusion regarding how many cities are in Pennsylvania and whether he goes “in and out of Pittsburgh throughout the day” is a golden bit.
- Wherever “Purple” and “Yellow” are, we should all endeavor to travel to those places someday.
- Dee’s acting advice is, literally, the opposite of what a genuine instructor would give you.
- Should we start campaigning for Kaitlin Olson to win an Emmy next year?
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.