15 Times Mac and Dennis Were the Best Duo on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia

Anyone who’s a fan of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia can probably attest to the statement that Mac and Dennis are inseparable.

From best friends to roommates to real estate partners, the relationship that these two characters have can’t be captured in just one label. Their dynamic is always fun to watch, whether they’re enabling each other during a crazy scheme or arguing about something trivial. 

As Season 17 approaches an end, now is a fitting time to look back on Mac and Dennis’s time on the show. The chemistry between the two never gets old, even when the show has been running for more than 20 years.  

Here are 15 times Mac and Dennis were the best duo in chronological order: 

1. Mac and Dennis Coach Charlie 

Mac and Dennis put their coaching skills to the test on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Season 2 Episode 5, “Hundred Dollar Baby.” Unsurprisingly, they aren’t very good at it, considering they think throwing garbage cans at Charlie will make him stronger.

This episode is an excellent example of how, when it comes to Mac and Dennis, combining their efforts doesn’t produce better results. In fact, despite their collaboration, Dennis ends up betting against Mac in a fight. 

So, while they may be bad friends to Charlie, they’re even worse to each other. Still, Dennis gets both him and Mac out of danger at the end of the day, so how can Mac stay mad at him? 

2. Mac and Dennis Become Manhunters

On It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Season 4 Episode 1, “Mac and Dennis: Manhunters,” the duo sports matching camo outfits and a shared delusion. While their decision to hunt Rickety Cricket is mean-spirited, it’s always fun to watch them work towards a common goal.

To his credit, Cricket figures out how to get out of Mac and Dennis’ traps and outsmart the two of them by himself. Besides, in usual Mac and Dennis fashion, they end up betraying each other.

While they both thought they could catch Cricket, they gave each other whatever the opposite of a makeover is instead of winning the game of cat-and-mouse together. Frank and Cricket team up to teach them a lesson, showing them that they both have to face consequences for their actions. 

3. Mac and Dennis Try to Profit Off Gas

While Charlie is usually the fan favorite, on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Season 4 Episode 2, ‘The Gang Solves the Gas Crisis,” Mac and Dennis also play a huge role in their ridiculous scheme of trying to make money off of gas. They try to delegate roles, with Mac taking on the role of “the brains” at one point to figure out how to profit. 

It’s actually interesting to see how Mac and Dennis’ chemistry in this episode changes when Mac is the one coming up with ideas for once. In typical sitcom fashion, they revert to their usual relationship, but getting to see them try to switch up roles is hilarious. 

4. Mac and Dennis Become British

Fans may be divided when it comes to It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Season 4 Episode 11, “The Gang Cracks the Liberty Bell.”

However, one thing’s for sure: Mac and Dennis look ridiculous. Their over-the-top appearance and fake British accents go to show that they really commit to the bit. 

This episode does a great job of showing Mac and Dennis essentially playing pretend together, but still having their usual obnoxious banter. Their friendship during the colonial times demonstrates that they’re the only people who could match each other’s energy when it comes to performing. 

5. Dayman and Nightman 

Speaking of performing, Mac and Dennis help Charlie put on an excellent show on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Season 4 Episode 13, “The Nightman Cometh.” While Mac dons all black for the Nightman role, Dennis wears a flashy silver costume as the Baby Boy role. 

They’re both eager to help out, workshopping ideas with Charlie behind the scenes. And of course, they kill it on stage, considering that they have an iconic fight scene that’s messier than it is dramatic. 

Even on stage, they can’t keep their arguing in check, making for great entertainment but maybe not as great an impression on the audience members. 

6. Vic Vinegar and Hugh Honey

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Season 5 Episode 1, “The Gang Exploits the Mortgage Crisis,” sees Mac and Dennis playing completely opposite roles. Again, they find themselves in a role-playing scenario and taking it to the extreme.

While Mac gets aggressive as Vic Vinegar, Dennis tries his hand at being calm and soothing as Hugh Honey. Ultimately, their true personalities slip through the cracks, but their attempt at keeping up the act is delightful. 

A standout moment is when Mac tries to sell that he and Dennis are a couple by explaining their bedroom dynamics, a hint at the show’s later jokes regarding their near-romantic relationship. 

7. Mac and Dennis Run the Bar

When others see defeat, Mac and Dennis see opportunity. On It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Season 5 Episode 3, “The Great Recession,” Mac and Dennis push out other members of the Gang and run the bar on their own.

It goes just as well as anyone would expect.

Their “Dave & Buster’s” type scheme is hilarious because it shows they have the reasoning skills of fifth-graders. But you have to admit, their persistent desire to make their new business model work in a failing economy is admirable. 

8. Mac and Dennis Try to Invent

Charlie may be the most creative member of the Gang, but the tables turn on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia  Season 5 Episode 8, “Paddy’s Pub: Home of the Original Kitten Mittens,” when the duo comes up with some brilliant ideas of their own.

Among some are a gun that shoots alcohol and a not-so-flattering towel, but it’s honestly impressive how dedicated they are to their horrible creations. Their storyline shines a light on how far the pair is willing to go to get their ideas across.

Even though nobody believes they will succeed, Mac and Dennis just need to believe they can find a way to make money from their inventions.

9. Mac and Dennis Break Up

On It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Season 5 Episode 9, “Mac and Dennis Break Up,” the end seems close for this duo. While they seem to always hate each other, this episode proves that they actually can’t survive without each other. 

As sweet as this sounds, part of it is that Mac and Dennis are the only two people who can be as good for each other as they are bad.

But of course, this duo is inseparable, and they find a way to work through this argument, knowing they’ll get into another eventually. That, in the show’s book, is the definition of real love. 

10. Mac and Dennis’ Dinner Date

On the topic of love, Mac and Dennis’ dinner date, as shown on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Season 8 Episode 9, “The Gang Dines Out,” is an adorable tradition. They share that they get dinner together every Friday at Guigino’s and dress up for the occasion.

When it comes time to assert dominance over the restaurant, they use their teamwork skills as they rally against the rest of the Gang to reclaim their space.

While a mid-level Italian restaurant might not be a hill to die on, it’s fun to root for Mac and Dennis being on one side in friendly fire against their friends. After all, they just wanted to enjoy their dinner. It’s just too bad their egos (and their friends) got in the way. 

11. Mac and Dennis Hate the Suburbs

The most famous Mac and Dennis-centric episode is It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Season 11 Episode 5, “Mac and Dennis Move to the Suburbs.” They decide to move into a house together after living in an apartment, but somehow, the suburbs drive them insane. 

Some say there is a thin line between hatred and love, and Mac and Dennis cross that line several times while they try to adjust to a quieter life. The spiral of the pair grows increasingly resentful towards each other, eventually reaching a point where they literally try to kill each other.

That downward turn might be more the effects of the suburbs. However, Mac and Dennis’ mutual descent into madness demonstrates just how they make each other worse just by living with each other. 

12. Mac and Dennis Celebrate Valentine’s Day

The most earnest Mac and Dennis moment happens on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Season 12 Episode 8, “The Gang Tends Bar.” This Valentine’s Day-themed episode ends with Mac gifting Dennis the gift he’s always wanted.

Throughout the episode, Dennis continuously tries to distract himself with work and tells the Gang to forget about Valentine’s Day. Mac counters this by trying to show Dennis something special, and at the end, Mac’s gift of an RPG for Dennis is revealed. 

Rather than playing that moment for laughs, the show takes a moment to linger on how Dennis genuinely tears up at Mac’s thoughtful gift. The fact that Mac knows Dennis well enough to show he knows precisely what he would want proves that they are a match made in heaven, even if they give each other hell frequently. 

13. Mac and Dennis are Mobsters

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Season 14 Episode 6, “The Janitor Always Mops Twice,” places Mac and Dennis in some snazzy suits and classically bad ideas. For example, their main scheme is trying to sell cherries on behalf of Frank.

They try to act cool and suave but end up coming off as pathetic as usual, especially since they didn’t even come up with the idea themselves. They’re simply puppets for a grand mastermind rather than having any original plan themselves in this episode. And still, they manage to mess up their simple task. 

This episode is proof that even in a black-and-white murder mystery, they will never beat the dumb and dumber trope. However, they do demonstrate that they can still be silly while attempting an Italian accent and dressed up like they’re in The Godfather. 

14. Mac and Dennis Go Country

An unexpectedly great Mac and Dennis bit is their brief country music stint on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Season 15 Episode 1, “2020: A Year in Review.”

Of course, their musical pursuits are tied to electoral fraud, illustrating that their heart is always in the wrong place. Even if they aren’t exactly Grammy winners, their range of talent clearly cannot be underestimated.

Their willingness to dive headfirst into a new profession establishes that no task or idea is far too outlandish for this duo to tackle, even if they are far from becoming the next Dolly Parton. 

15. Mac and Dennis Save Some Lives

In the latest season, Mac and Dennis explore another career on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Season 17 Episode 3, “Mac and Dennis Become EMTs.” After so many years, they continue to endanger others around them with their schemes. 

Even in just the EMT training class, they disturb everyone around them and their instructor as well. So, it’s no surprise that they fake their medical licenses and operate as EMTs, driven by the rush of adrenaline from “saving” people. This means they unnecessarily intervene in situations they don’t need to be involved in.

The irony of Mac and Dennis choosing jobs where they help people but end up hurting others in the process is simply genius. If there’s one thing every character should keep in mind about this duo, it’s that it’s best to avoid the path of their inevitable destruction.

 

That concludes our list of the best Mac and Dennis moments! Which are your favorites? Are there any moments we missed? Let us know in the comments!

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

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