It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Season 18 Episode 5 Review: The Gang Goes to the Ren Faire

Sometimes it’s the most random settings and premises that bring the most delightfully fun episodes. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Season 18 Episode 5, “The Gang Goes to the Ren Faire,” may be a series best.

Most episodes need many viewings to determine the top ones- the crème de la crème. However, “The Gang Goes to the Ren Faire” hits so many highs that it will probably crack the top 50 for many Sunny fans.

It’s full of guest stars, some familiar ones such as the McPoyle clan, including Pappy McPoyle, played brilliantly by a barely recognizable Guillermo Del Toro. Then the show uses Liam and Ryan in the best way we have seen in years.

It’s kind of a nod to Succession, with Liam as the Kendall Roy for the moment, or maybe Ryan is the Kendall in this moment? Either way, this desire to please Pappy feels very Succession-coded in the best way.

Never would we have thought of the Roys and the McPoyles in the same sentence, but somehow it works. The show also feels like it gives a nod to Game of Thrones, with Dee acting as a Littlefinger-type character.

Dee is manipulating things behind the scenes to be a kingmaker. We have these beautiful nods to other great shows, while having such a ridiculous premise and setting. You don’t come into “The Gang Goes to the Ren Faire” expecting this whole battle of who will gain the empire storyline.

This episode acts as a reminder to never watch a new episode of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia with expectations. You will sometimes see familiar patterns, but you can’t determine what’s going to happen just by the name of it.

This episode is such an entertaining surprise. It’s the outlandish Sunny we love, but with clever wit and a bit of a disturbing quality.

“The Gang Goes to the Ren Faire” plays hard into the idea of Dennis as a predator. We don’t know what Dennis does to these women sexually, but after seeing the trauma it caused Charlie, we never want to know.

The Dennis parts border on going a little too far, because we can just imagine how bad his sexual exploits are. They have to be terrible if they leave Charlie and these women traumatized. Dennis has always been this creep.

The implication speech is so infamous because it highlights the darkness of his mind. The reactions to all this tell us that it’s worse than we think. Yet, the show knows how to make dark funny.

We leave feeling disturbed by what Dennis does to these women, but can’t help but laugh when Charlie earnestly tells Dennis that he can’t be his friend anymore after what he witnessed. Then Dennis reverts to a little boy when he says fine.

You feel the discomfort between both men. Dennis knows he ruined a friendship by showing too much of his true self, and Charlie must now live with the trauma of knowing how disturbed Dennis is by his actions.

It’s very dark, but very hilarious. We’re also disturbed because we will gladly continue to support Dennis and his psychopathic behavior.

“The Gang Goes to the Ren Faire” takes unexpected paths, has some very dark material, great guest stars, and a bright spot for Dee fans (despite her not being on this episode as much as the others). It may be one of Season 18’s best.

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 on Mondays at 9/8 c on FXX.

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