It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Review: The Gang Goes to Ireland/The Gang’s Still in Ireland (Season 15 Episodes 5 and 6)
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Season 15 Episodes 5 and 6, “The Gang Goes to Ireland” and “The Gang’s Still in Ireland,” brings the heat with two back-to-back stellar episodes, proving that longevity hasn’t hampered their effortless knack for comedy.
MAC: You’ve got, like 2 percent Irish in you, and you think you know more about Ireland than me? Do you have a shamrock tattoo somewhere on your body?
While the consistently solid performances undoubtedly steer the Paddy’s Pub ship, it’s the show’s adaptability and willingness to try new things that ensure it surpasses other live-action comedies.
For example, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia tried leaving Philly in Season 5’s “The Gang Hits the Road” and successfully made it out of the city in outings like “The Gang Goes to the Jersey Shore” and “The Gang Beats Boggs.” However, Episodes 5 and 6 mark the first time in its 16-year run that the gang goes international.
Everyone churns in A-game performances, notably Kaitlin Olson, Glenn Howerton, and Charlie Day. “The Gang Goes to Ireland” gives Olson another opportunity to put her comedic versatility on display. At the same time, “The Gang’s Still in Ireland” shines the light on Howerton and his scarily deft ability to lend truthfulness to Dennis’s narcissism and psychopathy.
CHARLIE: He’s the cheese mongrel. How severe is it? Can he walk? Does he drool?
Charlie Day always imbues the endearing Charlie with a spoonful of childlike wonderment and hopefulness, and his work in “The Gang’s Still in Ireland” is no exception. Charlie’s reunion with his father, Shelley (played to perfection by legendary actor Colm Meaney), is surprisingly heartfelt.
Charlie has a rock-solid grasp of his identity, but discovering his Irish roots while in Ireland, and, in turn, that his father is his childhood pen pal, provides answers to long-standing questions in the It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia universe. Side note: Charlie’s biological father would love cheese and ghouls.
Conversely, Mac struggles incessantly with his identity throughout the show’s tenure, even though he starts his Irish vacation in “The Gang Goes to Ireland” with confidence in his heritage, only for said confidence to derail drastically by the episode’s end.
DEE: We have to keep him in the basement in America ’cause one of his ticks is that he brutally masturbates himself. He’s shredded it down to a little, tiny nub at this point.
As Dennis points out in “The Gang’s Still in Ireland,” Mac tries to define his identity with labels — his sexuality, his Irish heritage, and his “badass” tendencies. But when Mac discovers he’s Dutch, his self-assurance plummets. Much of Mac’s shtick is outward confidence and inward insecurity.
The juxtaposition between Mac and Charlie’s stories in these episodes is fun to explore, and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia doesn’t shy away from doing so.
The scenes with Mac in the seminary wherein he commits to the priesthood are some of the character’s funniest moments in the series. Mac’s sexuality is also one of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia‘s carefully-threaded, overarching storylines, one the show strategically crafts over 16 years.
So, it’s gratifying to see that moment where Mac is enthralled and smitten by the hot priest meant to tutor him, and even more hilarious when Mac rejects him because he knows he’ll inevitably “bang” said hot priest and not learn anything from him.
“The Gang Goes to Ireland” and “The Gang’s Still in Ireland” boast a few fan-favorite guest stars, namely Sandy Martin as Mac’s Mom and Mary Elizabeth Ellis as the Waitress. Both actresses knock it out of the park, even with their short screen time.
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia returns to form this week with two endlessly quotable, laugh-out-loud hysterical episodes full of unexpected depth, heart, and Easter eggs with a beautiful Irish backdrop. Of course, that cliffhanger with Dennis and Dee should be fun to resolve for Episode 7. Here’s hoping he doesn’t try to behead her.
Stray Observations:
- The gang never fails to point out Charlie’s illiteracy — it’s a show constant over the past 16 years. That said, the twist that he can only read Gaelic is brilliant.
- Frank would be involved with Epstein Island in some way.
- Sandy Martin squeezes every funny drop out of her scenes as Mrs. Mac. Sorry, Mrs. Vandross.
- Dennis should drive in Los Angeles. His hilarious road rage would increase tenfold.
- Frank talks about defecating in his sleep in “The Gang’s Still in Ireland,” which references Season 4 Episode 7, “Who Pooped the Bed?”
- Between Dee’s physical bits in “The Gang Goes to Ireland” and Dennis’s coughing fits in “The Gang’s Still in Ireland,” we’ve got evidence that Glenn Howerton and Kaitlin Olson are some of the best slapstick comedians out there.
- Based on Dennis’s obsession with purity (notably, red hair that’s “not tampered with”), it’s no surprise he would refuse to get the vaccine.
- Both episodes open with the guys using stew in place of smelling salts to wake Dee, and it’s a masterstroke of symmetry.
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.