It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Season 16 Episode 3 Review: The Gang Gets Cursed
A curse brings a surprising number of guest appearances in the latest It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Season 16 Episode 3, “The Gang Gets Cursed” explores some long-running jokes and offers a somewhat satisfying conclusion (or continuation) to them.
Obviously, Mac’s everlasting love for Chase Utley represents one of the on-going storylines. I gladly welcome a random sighting of Utley every few seasons, especially if Mac continues to turn even more into a barely functioning adult.
Rob McElhenney’s delivering of his lines to Utley showcase a top tier It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia moment. McElhenney plays it like a very bad performance of Shakespeare in the park, a choice that seems intentional.
The awkwardness of this interaction makes this scene funny. It’s sad to see a 40+ year-old man still idealizing someone to this level of mania. Utley plays the straight man fairly well until his final moments on “The Gang Gets Cursed.”
Utley stealing the monkey paw offers some commentary on sports and superstition, but the scene doesn’t criticize it as much as shows it as just a part of the tradition.
It’s almost unfortunate that the Chase and Mac storyline doesn’t play out longer in the episode because of the endless possibility for more awkward but funny moments.
Additionally, Cricket and Mac’s unlikely collaboration and partnership adds some funny layers to the episode.
It’s disturbing yet also a little bit comforting to know that Cricket thrives on the streets. He runs a successful business with dedication from his employees, and he meets demand left and right.
You have to applaud the evolution of bottom-of-the-barrel street rat to almost a king of street rats.
“The Gang Gets Cursed” finally offers some closure on the Dennis and Maureen chapter. It doesn’t confirm that Dennis murders her, but we all know that he did it. Instead, the closure comes in that she can finally rest in peace in cat heaven.
The structure of this It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia episode feels like a random collection of storylines thrown together with the slight unifying of a curse. It doesn’t all work as a cohesive storyline, but the strength from the episode comes in how these characters endure the most ridiculous situations but we still believe every moment of it.
Someone or thing cursing the gang feels completely true to them and a real possibility. You can’t be that scummy and not have at least ten curses on you at any moment.
Someone definitely put a curse on them, but not Cricket though, that’s just life.
The episode has some funny moments, continues the Sunny lore, and includes some really fun guest appearances or recurring characters. It’s probably not the best episode of the season, but definitely not terrible. It’s enjoyable enough but not groundbreaking.
Stray Thoughts
- I know a budget increase when I see one, especially because characters we usually only see once a season already making multiple appearances.
- Definitely one of the great title openings for It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
- Another thing that makes the opening scene work is that it sums up basically everything wrong with each character with some simple dialogue.
- I love seeing Rhea Perlman guest star.
- The blood egg scene makes me queasy just watching it.
- You just know Peta hates this episode.
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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