Sticking with one of the things many fans loved so much about the last season, the show gets self-aware again, and the result is as funny as always. They reference the fact they joked about Dee killing herself, and Dennis killing himself, by saying there are some things you just don’t joke about, including suicide. Plus, Dennis’ constant confusion about why everyone is finding Dee so funny is another source of covertly introspective lines. “People will laugh at absolutely anything! This is comedy?” Many people who aren’t fans of the show, or who haven’t properly given it a chance, don’t get why a group of people being assholes to everyone around them is comedy, just as Dennis doesn’t understand why vaginas and diarrhea are comedy. Another witty insert from some of the wittiest writers in the biz.
There aren’t very many episodes focused on Dee, and Kaitlin Olson shows why that’s a mistake in this one. She’s absolutely spot-on from start to finish, properly sticking with all the best elements off Dee, while adding this new, depressed character that is hilarious. It’s a great change of pace to actually see her having a bit of success on stage (and not dry-heaving) but I was glad that her previous comedic ways were also able to come back.
As enjoyable as this episode is, it’s merely that: enjoyable. Amusing would be another proper adjective. There were no moments of absolute hilarity. I never had to rewind to hear a line I missed because I was laughing so hard, which is something I’ve come to except from the show. Prior to Season 8, the last few seasons had started slowly, with an episode or two at the beginning taking multiple viewings to really pull out all the humor, and it looks like that’s the case here again in Season 9. That being said, the show definitely hasn’t run out of gas, and all signs point toward this being another strong season. So to be clear: fairly average by It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia standards, but still great when compared with the rest of television comedy.
Other Random Notes
- “Right in that sweet spot between like suicidal and actually dead where most comedians, they thrive there.”
- “He’s got all of his skin still… He’s got plenty of teeth…” If that was all women found attractive, I’d be the biggest stud on the block.
- There was definitely a picture of Charlie in Dennis’ binder of men.
- The map of the US showing the plane was playing on the TV on the plane.
- “The crabs have machine guns – that makes sense”
- Dee’s pattern with men: “Use, use, use, fail, fail, fail, and then it’s suicide.”
- Dennis’ near-mental collapse at the end of the episode was great, and the way Howerton played it is a prime example of why I believe he’s one of the premier comedic actors working today.
Be sure to check back next week for a review on the next episode of It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia.
