It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Season 17 Episode 4 Review: Thought Leadership: A Corporate Conversation

Season 17 appears slightly more experimental. We respect the boldness, but the results vary. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Season 17 Episode 4, “Thought Leadership: A Corporate Conversation,” explores the business world through the lens of the Gang.

It becomes a blame game.

“Thought Leadership: A Corporate Conversation” reverts to some of the early Sunny days with a new business venture, same old Gang antics, and the liability of each member.  This time, their new company devotes its efforts to slap matches. The premise, style, and execution offer a fun bit of nostalgia.

It reminds you of classic episodes like It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Season 3, Episode 15, “The Gang Dances Their Asses Off,” It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Season 2, Episode 5, ‘Hundred Dollar Baby,” and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Season 5, Episode 8, “Paddy’s Pub: Home of the Original Kitten Mittens.” Many of the elements that made these episodes great appear in this one, but they aren’t done nearly as well as in the previous stories.

This one underwhelms a bit in comparison.

“Thought Leadership: A Corporate Conversation” isn’t a bad episode of the FXX series; it just doesn’t have enough charm and hilarious moments to make a dent in the overall collection of outstanding episodes.

It’s almost a forgettable one.

If you ask viewers to recall what happens in it, they may struggle to remember even right after seeing it. The writers behind It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia have a strong idea with the mocking the corporate world storyline. 

They also execute it well. 

Additionally, hearing all the corporate jargon used incorrectly and correctly by the Gang is a very entertaining gag. Some of the best Sunny episodes also involve different perspectives and how everything falls into place.

Therefore, all those aspects of “Thought Leadership: A Corporate Conversation” work and work well. It’s just the overall slap fight and how things escalate feel a bit too predictable. We know where all this will head the moment it starts.

The Waitress’s appearance is a surprise and a welcome return. Nevertheless, we already know how the Gang will screw her over again. It’s their default setting.

We can also predict fairly quickly that this reporter is likely a prostitute for Frank’s orgy. It’s not even a question when the show introduces that part.

Being predictable can be fun, and it shows the characters’ lack of growth, which feels true to them. However, “Thought Leadership: A Corporate Conversation” could benefit from a few surprises and from utilizing the influence of past episodes more strongly.

Overall, this is an okay episode, but nowhere near one of the show’s best. We need a bit more magic from the season so far.

Stray Thoughts

• I like how the Abbott Elementary crossover is referenced here with the subtle nod of mentioning what got them put in community service.
• The watercooler segment is probably “Thought Leadership: A Corporate Conversation”’s strongest segment. A whole episode around the watercooler could have been fun.
• Mac’s hatred for women always gives me a bit of a chuckle.

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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