It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Season 17 Episode 3 Review: Mac and Dennis Become EMTs

Once you’re on the air for 17 seasons, limits don’t exist. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Season 17 Episode 3, “Mac and Dennis Become EMTs,” shows that FXX just allows the team behind the series to do whatever the heck they want.

It all ends in a car crash.

If It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia wasn’t so cartoonish at times, the Gang would be dead during this episode. In actuality, they probably would have died many seasons ago. Additionally, prison for sure.

However, we appreciate the series for consistently leaning into the absurd. “Mac and Dennis Become EMTs” may be one of the show’s most manic stories.

We have seen plenty of ridiculous behavior from the Gang, but none that feels as sporadic and lacking a clear direction as this episode.

You feel like you have taken too many peppers along with Dennis, Dee, Charlie, Mac, and Frank. “Mac and Dennis Become EMTs” blends multiple storylines into this big, messy pot.

It’s a meshing of a bunch of different ideas and parodies, especially related to the food world. The Gang basically attempts to have their own real-life version of Hot Ones.

“Mac and Dennis Become EMTs” needs Sean Evans to make some sort of cameo to tie the whole referential nature of it all. Additionally, it could have been hilarious to discover this is all a plot to appear on Hot Ones and dominate the spice levels.

Maybe Mac and Dennis interrupt someone famous and try to force their way on the show to prove they can handle spice, only to immediately face pain after the least spicy hot sauce.

That could have been a very funny moment.

However, what happens with the peppers isn’t as funny as one would hope.

Plus, The Bear parody portion could have really been the star of “Mac and Dennis Become EMTs.” Charlie behaving like a too serious chef has a lot of potential.

We want more of that portion and less of the pepper stuff. I think Charlie running a full restaurant should make another appearance further in the season.

It’s another skill that Charlie seems to have but remains untapped. He could probably thrive without the Gang, but that wouldn’t be as fun.

The best part of this It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia episode is that the Lawyer makes a return. The Lawyer is one of the best recurring characters in the show.

Nevertheless, this isn’t the best usage of him. It just becomes too similar to other recurring characters that the Gang has screwed over. We’ve seen this joke and gag too many times in this world. 

Overall, “Mac and Dennis Become EMTs” may not rank high in the show’s best work. It just feels a bit too chaotic in a not-funny way. The team behind the show takes a chance, and it doesn’t necessarily land, but the bold choices are appreciated.

Stray Thoughts

• The McPoyle eye patch depth perception joke returning is a fun callback.
• Did that guy in a coma survive?
• I don’t like the Lawyer becoming a new Cricket-type deformed character. Keep him looking normalish.
• Mac lusting after the EMT instructor feels appropriate.
• I love that the Is It Cake? reference immediately makes a reappearance this season.
• The car crash and the food shots don’t feel like It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, but I applaud the experimental nature of this episode.

What did you think of this episode of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and don’t forget to leave your own rating!

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It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia airs Wednesdays at 9/8 C on FXX.

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