It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Season 16 Episode 1 Review: The Gang Inflates
It’s hard to keep a show smart, funny, and exciting to watch after even four seasons, but imagine having to do that for 16 seasons. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Season 16, Episode 1, “The Gang Inflates” proves that it still can be done.
The episode starts with a little departure from the norm with Frank and Charlie actually giving valuable life lessons to Mac, Dennis, and the audience. We learn so much about inflation, recession, and depression in the first few minutes. However, it’s undercut by a very funny gag about the gang ignoring Dee’s distress.
This is very true to form because even as the gang slightly matures, they’re always going to treat Dee like the worst bird in the nest. And we love them for it. “The Gang Inflates” just gets funnier as it goes on as gags grow from start to finish.
Rob McElhenney really proves himself to be the MVP of this episode. He gets the Cricket treatment as swollen lips morph into a very final grotesque image of Mac. We get it, Fancy Nuts are hard to resist, but this showcases how Mac’s impulse control is really in the dirt.
Mac’s part is hilarious but also surprising. I didn’t expect his love of nuts to reveal that he has a very bad nut allergy. I hope this is a running gag that appears in a future episode or two.
He needs to continue to deny his nut allergy.
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia also does what it does best in this episode by satirically explaining and demonstrating some very terrible capitalistic practices, like predatory lending, the unbreakable cycle of debt, slumlords, and just creating systems that make it hard for people to crawl out of poverty.
It’s such a well-done episode that I wasn’t expecting so early in the season. Sometimes It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia starts the season with an episode that’s good, but not necessarily great.
“The Gang Inflates” is a great episode.
It’s somehow fresh because of the smart choices it makes, like getting the gang outside of the bar. It always feels like a treat when most of the episode takes place in their homes or in a new setting.
This episode also expands on some typical tropes, like Charlie being very dumb at most things, but then super smart and insightful at others. We get more proof that he’s actually a really good businessman.
Even buying The Ninja Turtles’ pies proves to be a smart investment because he knows (or lucks out) that he can use them to manipulate Frank into giving him what he wants: things back to the status quo.
It’s also just insanely hilarious to learn that Charlie’s home has been a two-bedroom with a bathroom this entire time. He has chosen to make things harder for himself and Frank.
“The Gang Inflates’ shows that It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Season 16 may end up being one of their best. Yes, I am willing to make this bold claim so early. It starts out of the gate with a smart, hilarious, and fresh-feeling but true-to-this-world and characters episode.
It can only go uphill from here.
Stray Thoughts
- I love that Mac calls out Dennis for his homophobic jokes, especially because they’re just awkward and Dennis seems so proud of them.
- This episode uses props and physical comedy a lot to outstanding results.
- I hope a lot of the season takes place outside of the bar. It just feels sort of cool and exciting.
What did you think of this episode 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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