It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Season 16 Episode 4 Review: Frank vs. Russia
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Season 16 episode 4, “Frank vs. Russia” cleverly makes you believe that this is another fighting episode, but, instead, it’s a D.E.N.N.I.S system remake that’s also a fun chess story for Frank and Charlie.
“Frank vs. Russia” emulates what the series does well: callbacks from previous episodes while increasing the characters’ stupidity, insanity, and perversion. Despite the familiarity of it, this episode manages to have plenty of surprises.
The first is the D.E.N.N.I.S. system for men just Dennis spelled backward, S.I.N.N.E.D. It’s not a major shock but you may start this scene expecting to just see a new D.E.N.N.I.S system but for men. Instead, that’s what we get but it’s the reverse in the acronym.
It’s a silly surprise but will still likely manage to get a few “Oh!” from the audience.
The next surprise involves Frank actually winning the chess finals. The moment “Frank vs. Russia” starts, it seems fairly obvious that some scheme of the gang will result in Frank losing. However, in actuality, he wins because of the scheme somehow, someway.
Frank winning the chess game provides one of the few times that the gang’s schemes work out, but of course, Frank must suffer for it to happen.
Looking back, it makes total sense that psycho Dennis catfishes Mac to get him out of the apartment. However, naively, I kind of expect a new Mac love interest, only for him to end up rejecting the guy just because he’s Mac.
This is a comedy beat that I have come to expect from this world, so it’s nice when things switch up a bit.
Not only is “Frank vs Russia” a very funny episode, but it also manages to show that the series can still surprise. It can use its old tricks in new ways. Even seeing the moms and Uncle Jack yet again still offers delight this season.
If they end up being in the entire It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Season 16, I don’t think any fan would mind.
The weak spot of this It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia episode comes with Mac and Dee’s dates. They play out as we expect: Dee and Mac are unable to follow Dennis’s plan and come off as complete degenerates.
The gag just doesn’t quite land as strongly as other moments in the episode. Additionally, we’ve seen something similar with Charlie in previous episodes. With Charlie, it’s hilarious because of how far the character pushes it and how much of a trainwreck Charlie is on the date.
Mac and Dee’s strangeness doesn’t go far enough. They’re too tame in their insanity.
The reaction from Charlie’s date also makes this scene from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Season 5, Episode 5 “The Waitress Is Getting Married” so memorable and legendary. The men on dates with Mac and Dee barely react.
Dennis and Glenn Howerton’s reactions to the incompetency of Dee and Mac carries these scenes, but it’s not enough to live up to some of the other memorable date scenes throughout It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia history.
Because there are many hilarious date moments in the show, not just Charlie’s “full on rapist” scene.
The only exception to these not-quite standout scenes comes when Mac randomly yells “I used to fuck LeBron James,” because that’s hilarious.
Overall, “Frank vs. Russia” adds another very funny entry into the season 16 catalog. It’s the clever recycling of their old gags and on-going storylines that make it work. It’s also commitment to a bit, and psychotic Dennis is always the best Dennis.
Stray Thoughts
- This is probably the creepiest Uncle Jack has been, but yet so hilarious.
- The opening scene becomes funnier a second time when you know the context.
- Mac has been dimwitted before, but he seems a little too dumb with his lack of understanding that Dennis is Johnny.
- Frank yelling “kill the wi-fi” maybe one of my favorite Frank quotes.
- Frank being an ally because of the dance warms the heart until anal beads make him not get it anymore.
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 on FXX at 10/9ct.
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One thought on “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Season 16 Episode 4 Review: Frank vs. Russia”
The gang could have done a little homework on how to play chess with this episode; especially because Grandmaster Magnus Carlsen was cheated against by possibly the same method. Also, white goes first, and if you checkmate someone, there’s no need to resign… a tad disappointed in them, frankly.
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