Mac and Dennis Become EMTs

I laughed my ass off after such a long time. Classic sunny episode. It feels refreshing after the last couple of seasons. The gang is back and unapologetically so. An instant classic with a take on some other shows that are airing right now. The show is getting their mojo back from what I can deduce from the first three episodes. It feels like the sunny from season 7-11. The stakes are high, adrenaline is rushed throughout the episode. An old nemesis returns. This episode was funnier compared to the previous two episodes. I have my fingers crossed for the rest of the season. I hope they come back sooner with the next season.

I'm always skeptical going into new Sunny seasons, but this is one of the funniest episodes they've put out in years. Although it would be impossible to capture the essence of the early seasons, I think this is as close as you can hope to get. It feels very natural and fun without feeling forced or too self-referential, which I felt weighed down the last few seasons.

You have almost four episodes worth of funny premises packed into one, brought together by the tenuous connection of getting off on spicy peppers. This definitely could have been multiple standalone episodes, but it feels like the writers really went all out on this one.

I love the running Bamboleo and pepper dosing gags, the callback to Frank suspecting everything is cake, Dee's road rage, and the jabs at pompous food shows like The Bear. Hopefully the rest of the season will live up this standard. Looking forward to Frank's dating show episode.

I just hope this show goes on forever. I've never stopped enjoying this show, I think every season is good, but this is just such an absolute standout episode. With laughs literally from start to finish, this episode has achieved something that few others have in that it is the perfect blend of classic and modern Sunny. 20 years, 17 seasons in and we're still getting episodes at the peak of their powers. Every member of the gang absolutely shines in this episode. Charlie's maniacal chef character is something that I'm surprised hasn't been done before, but it works perfectly for Charlie and serves as a biting parody of The Bear. Dennis and Mac are together once again, and their dynamic was one of the most classic parts of the episode. Both Glenn and Rob are on fire here (ha) fully committed to the bit in every shot. Kaitlyn gets to showcase some of the best physical comedy she's done on the show in YEARS and then pulls off what might be the funniest moment in the episode to me, her expression when Charlie offers her a pepper. The peppers were the perfect addition to this, it doesn't, at any point, make the least bit of sense; but it is just hilarious that in addition to all of the nonsense games they're playing (literally for their own amusement as the judge says) that they're getting buzzed on hot peppers. And they can't stop. Perfect Sunny. Frank's plot reminds us of the show's roots too. It's dark, seriously messed up on paper. There literally isn't another television comedy that could have pulled that story off while remaining as funny as it does. While this episode reflects on the classic era of the show (the og gang even get a major scene together) it also displays the absolute best of new Sunny; with some of the biggest budget moments and stunts we've ever seen them try. And it all fits together perfectly. Everything about this episode was perfect Sunny. There wasn't a moment wasted. A top ten episode, and a television landmark.

Rarely has a recent Sunny episode felt this fresh, yet so authentically reminiscent of the show's early days.

The early Gang was defined by its inspired, chaotic madness. That specific brand of delightful unpredictability slowly faded in the later seasons with the characters and stories hitting the same predictable beats.

This episode brought it back. It starts slow and unremarkable, but things start getting spicier around the midway point. From there, it builds like a manic crescendo, each member of the Gang spiralling to new heights of deranged energy before exploding into a memorable finale.

This is the most sheer joy I have felt watching a new Sunny episode in a long time. If that is not convincing enough, let me add that the Gang's old foe--the Lawyer--shows up as an antagonist.

And of course it should be. Some of the best episodes of this show have the last scene be the funniest one.

But I feel like this season is mostly punchlines and not much laughs throughout the episode itself.

This episode is definitely the best of the season so far and one of the best episodes of the show. I just feel like the first two acts of the episode, much like episode 2, is mostly setup for the final joke. Which works great because both have a great ending and are very funny.

But the problem I have with it, is that you have to wait until the reveal to make you laugh.

Now like I said, this episode is actually way funnier from the beginning till the punchline than the previous one, especially the first episode, but the punchline is mostly the thing that is funnier and made this episode go from a 7 to a 9 to me.

Like remember the Water Park episode which still has the funniest ending of any episode for me? Or the Suburban episode? Those had very funny scenes throughout the entire episode. But season 17 feels like they mostly forgot to make the whole episode funny, and they focused on the punchline ending much more.

I know this sounds like I'm complaining a lot and nitpicking, so I mustn't have liked the episode at all, it's not that. I actually really liked it and the ending was great, I think they still got it after 17 seasons which is crazy to think about. I'm just sensing a pattern here with the episode structure of this season, that's all.

Great episode nonetheless.