The Gang Gets Ready for Prime Time

This was an instant classic. Definitely one of the series' most brilliantly written episodes.

On the surface, it follows Dennis hiring focus groups to critique the Gang's rehearsal for a prime-time appearance. Beneath this lies a sharp satire on the creative bankruptcy of trying to please everyone. The episode skewers the studio mindset Dennis embodies when he declares that endless focus group feedback guarantees a final product "that will appeal to the widest possible audience and offend no one. That is how you make great art."

The audience feedback likely mirror some of the critiques the show itself has received (the jabs about Dennis "looking old"). When the gang ditches the safe play to embrace their chaotic roots (Badass Mac makes a long overdue return, as does the iconic duster!), its clearly a statement from the creators.

But the real star is Dennis. His psychotic need for control drives the story. The inevitable meltdown, when it comes, leads to the greatest monologue in Sunny history, one that is sure to be quoted by fans for a long time.

Glenn Howerton STEALS IT. He turns the "Glenn is looking old" comments into props for comedy. The monologue is such a perfect tightrope walk--hilarious yet almost touching.

And the reason for that is the fact that I was anticipating this episode to be the Love Island episode, and seeing Frank in a reality show, or at least the episode being so good that the very poor setup that was the previous episode would be worth it, but was it?

No, it actually wasn't.

First of all, I didn't review the previous episode, but I just have to rant about it here because it retroactively becomes worse when you consider this episode.

They should've called the previous episode "Nothing Happens in Philadelphia". Because, quite honestly, the gang literally does nothing for 20 minutes.

The whole A plot with Dennis and Dee is that they wanna hook up with their high school lovers, but they fail miserably the first time, and they don't even try to do it more and flirt a bit more, and try to seduce them. That's it, that's the whole plot, they decide to go hook up with them, go flirt, and the second Tammy and her husband know what's happening, they shut them down, and Dennis and Dee just go back and do nothing.

Now you might think that was underwhelming and nothing happened, and where is the plot, but it gets even better.

The B plot with Mac and Charlie is that Frank is missing, and they go look for him. Sounds very interesting, I know. They go to Charlie's place, and he's not there. What an interesting mystery, I wonder where that one could lead. Then they go to look under the bridge, and guess what, he's not there either! Are you having fun yet? Is this the best story they've done in the last 20 years or what?

And the worst part is that it's not even that funny. I don't know how they managed to make an entire episode where nothing happened.

But then, at the end, I guess the "twist" of the week here is that Frank is doing a love reality show. So at least that made me think, "Alright, this week was weak af, but maybe they'll make up for it next week, and the love show episode is gonna be a banger.

But then we come to this episode.

Now obviously, it should be obvious from my rating that I actually liked this episode for what it was and thought in the beginning that I wished the whole episode was them rehearsing, which happened.

But then again, I still didn't think this episode was that funny either. I mean, it's pretty funny at times, but compared to the peaks of the show, like season 12 or season 5? Nowhere near the funny per minute of them. Not only the situations aren't as funny as before, but I think even the dialogue is kinda iffy and kinda lazy for the most part.

And the twist at the end is pretty predictable compared to the earlier episodes of this season.

The only actually funny parts of this episode were the two times when Charlie came through the door.

Dennis' scene was pretty good too I guess, but nowhere as deranged and unhinged and memorable as his better outbursts.

I still hope that next week's episode, which I think is gonna be the Frank episode, finally, after not having him for too long, is gonna be better and be all worth it.

The shocking thing in all this is the number of 10s and 9s I keep seeing people throw around at these episodes. Like, I don't understand how the fanbase finds every single episode of this show as a masterpiece, and even the worst episodes of the show still have defenders saying it's actually good and 9/10. If everything is a 10/10, then nothing is. It's like they cannot fathom that a show with 17 seasons is bound to have a couple of mid and weak episodes. Everything has to be 10/10. Never mind the entire episode not having a plot, or 80% of it not being funny; if it has even the smallest chuckle-worthy scene, the whole episode is a masterpiece.

Like I urge you to go and rewatch episodes like "Frank's Intervention", "The DENNIS System", "Who Got Dee Pregnant?", and especially "The Gang Goes to a Water Park", and compare it to season 17 and tell me which one do you think is a 10/10, and also tell me if these new episode are even the tiniest as funny as those goated ones from the beginning to the end.

This is one of the funniest shows I've ever watched, and the only 10/10 sitcom for me next to Curb, but this season is just not as funny or smartly written as it was in its peak. And giving every episode 9 and 10 just shows you either don't remember how good this show used to be, or just want them to keep making more of these mid episodes (not this episode obviously).

I laughed so hard through out the entire episode. This is why I love this show! Classic Sunny, classic characters, classic comedy. I loved every minute of this episode. This is the best episode of the season and maybe the best of the last couple seasons. This will go down as a classic Sunny episode.

Glenn Howerton has deserved an acting Emmy for a long time now but this might be the episode that finally pushes him over the finish line. Just a truly incredible performance, peak Dennis, pure psycho. Amazingly written, shocking, funny- Always Sunny back in all time form. The characters all seemed a little Flanderized last season but this season they're happily back in their prime.

Actually my favorite episode of this season, and in general a while!

Has all the good things, Dennis crashing out, the others playing so heavily into their own bits, an audience to watch it unfold, costume bits, and in general just really funny stuff!

Macdennis is the world's longest situationship WHATTT WHO SAID RHAT??

Anyways, I'm excited for the next frank centric episode!! >:)