When people think of season finales, they think of episodes that either wrap up major storylines or set things up for the following season. However, It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia's finales don't do this because the show is not about season-long arcs or any form of long-term storytelling. Instead, each season is a collection of hilarious episodes that have little to do with one another - barring the occasional two-partner.
Despite this, the Always Sunny crew still somehow manage to make the finale of each season seem special and different from a regular episode. That's not to say they're all of the same quality, though. Some finales are definitely better than others, and IMDb can give an insight into how they all stack up.
14 Season 10: A** Kickers United: Mac And Charlie Join A Cult - 7.6
The finale of season 10 showcases Dennis at his manipulative best. He convinces Mac, and by association Charlie, to join a made up cult. Dennis invents the group for the sole purpose of stopping Mac from eating his thin mints. Naturally, when Dee and Frank start getting involved, the whole plan begins to fall apart.
The highlight of the episode is the realization of how far Dennis will go just for thin mints. But beyond this, the rest of the episode is below average for Always Sunny.
13 Season 14: Waiting For Big Mo - 8.1
In this episode, the gang lies in wait to ambush a man known as "Big Mo" in a game of laser tag. However, things take a turn when they all start to question everything they're doing. In reality, the plot serves as a metaphor for the show as a whole.
As far as Always Sunny goes, it's all pretty deep. Yet, it doesn't quite stick the landing in the same way as the likes of "Hero or Hate-crime?" or "Mac Finds His Pride" does. The lack of humor doesn't help either.
12 Season 9: The Gang Squashes Their Beefs - 8.3
By the end of season nine, the gang's cruel antics have caught up to them and they've created a lot of enemies. To resolve things, they invite them all over for a wholesome Thanksgiving dinner. Naturally, things go south fairly quickly and the apartment burns down with the guests locked inside.
All the callbacks to the gang's previous escapades are great, and it's interesting to see that the main characters actually faces long-term repercussions for their actions.
11 Season 13: Mac Finds His Pride - 8.4
The season 13 finale proves that Always Sunny takes Mac's sexuality seriously. In the episode, it's revealed that the guy still struggles with his identity after coming out. And with Frank's help, he realizes that to be secure with himself, he needs to also come out to his father.
Mac does this by delivering an incredibly powerful dance performance in front of his dad. There are some decent jokes in the episode, but the moving storyline is what really stands out.
10 Season 7: The High School Reunion Part 2: The Gang's Revenge - 8.5
During the second part of the season seven finale, the gang attempts to get revenge on all of their high school rivals after being humiliated. When their initial ideas inevitably fail, they go with plan B, a dance routine.
The visual of a shirtless, sweat-covered Mac at the end of the dance will be remembered forever. Additionally, there's a classic Dennis freak-out and an inspiring but forgetful speech from Frank.
9 Season 11: The Gang Goes To Hell: Part Two - 8.5
Season 11 concluded with a two-parter that involved the gang going on a religious cruise. After causing plenty of problems in part one, the entire group is locked up for the entirety of the second part.
A lot of the best Always Sunny episodes focus solely on the gang and their fractious relationship with each other. This one is no different, as the gang's chemistry is as fantastic as ever, throughout.
8 Season 1: Charlie Gets Molested - 8.6
It's fair to say that in season one, Always Sunny was still trying to find its feet. There was no Frank, and the rest of the gang hadn't developed into the bizarre people they'd eventually become. Still, the finale is pretty good.
In it, the gang finds out that Charlie may have been assaulted by his former elementary school teacher. And in classic Always Sunny fashion, Mac, Dennis, and Dee spend most of their time thinking about themselves.
7 Season 2: Dennis And Dee Get A New Dad - 8.6
The season two finale is all about fatherhood. Yet, as this is Always Sunny, it's not as wholesome as it sounds. Dennis and Dee find out that Frank isn't their actual father. In response, they immediately dump him to hang out with their new dad until they grow tired of his kind-hearted nature.
Mac, on the other hand, tries to get closer to his imprisoned father by becoming a hardened criminal, alongside Charlie. Both plots make for a solid episode, overall.
6 Season 5: The Gang Reignites The Rivalry - 8.6
In the finale of season five, the gang attempt to enter a flip cup tournament and take down their former rivals. However, they get sidetracked by engaging in a new rivalry with a bunch of college students.
The episode shows the comical hypocrisy of the gang as they go from vandalizing someone's business and home to complaining about the lack of respect they get from college kids. There are several great moments in the episode, but the best has to be Dennis' classic "SAVAGE IDIOTS!!" rant.
5 Season 12: Dennis' Double Life - 8.7
This is perhaps the only finale in the show's history to feel like a true ending. Dennis spends the entire episode trying to get rid of his son and the kid's mother after they arrive in Philidelphia.
Once the two leave, Dennis decides that he actually wants to be a father and goes to North Dakota to be with them. The emotional ending is preceded by some funny and silly schemes that the gang come up with to drive the woman away.
4 Season 8: Reynolds Vs Reynolds: The Cereal Defense - 9.0
At the beginning of this episode, Frank and Dennis get into a car accident with each other while the latter is eating cereal. Naturally, the bowl spills everywhere, ruining the interior of Dennis's car.
To see who has to pay for the damages, the gang holds a mock trial. From Mac trying to disprove evolution to Frank's donkey brain certificate, there's a lot of good stuff in this episode.
3 Season 3: The Gang Dances Their A**ess Off - 9.0
In this one, a dumb Charlie error leads to the bar becoming a prize for a local dance competition. To salvage the situation, the gang has to enter the contest and win.
The group's inability to get on the same page and their constant sabotaging of everyone in the competition is what makes this episode so fun. Plus, an all-episode dance-a-thon is a pretty unique premise.
2 Season 6: A Very Sunny Christmas - 9.2
Christmas specials are usually about wholesome family fun or the spirit of giving. That's not quite the case with this one. Instead, Frank finds out what his kids want and buys those things for himself.
Elsewhere, Charlie and Mac learn that the holiday has always been much darker than they thought. What the episode lacks in Christmas joy, it makes up for in hilarity, as it's filled with good gags.
1 Season 4: The Nightman Cometh - 9.7
One of the best and most famous Always Sunny episodes is "The Nightman Cometh." During it, Charlie writes and directs an elaborate musical that stars the rest of the gang.
There are so many hilarious moments in the episode, including Charlie trying to deal with the others, the constant bickering between Dennis and Mac, and Frank's inability to say the word "soul." What's more, the songs are actually catchy, despite their ridiculous lyrics.
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October 23, 2020 at 05:30AM
