It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia Season 18 Episode 1 Review: Frank Marries a Corpse

Never underestimate how small threads can become major pieces of  It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. A flesh-eating virus takes out one of the show’s most liked new characters in It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Season 18 Episode 1, “Frank Marries A Corpse.”

The episode is clever because it sets up many misdirections. The title gives away the big twist: Frank marries a dead woman. However, Charlie bringing Bonnie’s ashes to the wedding makes you think that maybe he will marry her instead of Sam, in some unexpected twist only this show can pull off.

However, nope. The show kills Sam.

 

It’s not unexpected because you know It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia cannot let its characters know peace and happiness for too long. Last season was a rare heartwarming finale with Frank finding real love.

It was never going to stay that wholesome and heartfelt.

The show goes the complete opposite of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Season 17 Episode 8, “The Golden Bachelor Live” by showing how dark and twisted it can really get. It almost kills Frank..again. Then lets him marry a corpse for his children to inherit lots of money.

Additionally, we have many shenanigans throughout “Frank Marries a Corpse” that don’t even involve the nuptials. It’s the show at its most deranged.

But it’s not senseless depravity. It’s high art.

The show also gives a misdirection by letting you think Mac will have another huge coming-out moment with his mother.

He uses a dummy, and she, in typical Mrs. Mac fashion, does not care at all. The show is at its best when it realizes it’s been on for 18 seasons; it can do whatever the hell it wants.

This leads to some wild developments that fit within the parameters of the show. “Frank Marries a Corpse” isn’t one of the show’s funniest episodes. Though it definitely produces some genuine laughs.

It also feels slightly disappointing as the sendoff to Sam and Bonnie, but it’s a solid episode. And a great way to start the season. It puts us back into this messed-up world with these insane characters.

“Frank Marries A Corpse” also brings back many familiar faces, including Uncle Jack, at full creep factor. The Mac, Uncle Jack, Dennis, and Sherman scenes are so random that they’re a brilliant display of absurd comedy.

Mac gives Sherman even more life than Uncle Jack, who also does a good job of making this dummy feel real. We need to see Sherman in future episodes. Though you can predict some of the episode, it still feels fresh for the long-running series.

We have witnessed a lot from the gang over 18 seasons, but “Frank Marries A Corpse” manages to feel new and unique. It just uses some of the classic gags we love, such as Dennis’s psychopathic behavior, which Dee often exhibits as well, and Charlie’s music abilities.

This is a great start to the season. We can’t wait to see how much the show continues to evolve and push the envelope.

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 Mondays on FXX.

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