MovieChat Forums > It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (2005) Discussion > What Three Episodes would you choose to ...

What Three Episodes would you choose to show a newcomer to the series that represents The Gangs typical dynamic?


Not asking what the best episodes are, but more what episodes give a good representation of the gang as a whole? I would choose these three as I think they convey who the gang are to a newcomer.

Mac is a Serial Killer (Season 3)
was my first episode I have ever seen and its what got me hooked! Its also great as a newcomer might actually think Mac could be the Serial Killer as you wont know any of the characters yet.

The Gang Solves the Gas Crisis (Season 4)
The gang splits up into two groups and showcases their shenanigans before the team up at the end.

The Gang Hits the Road (Season 5)
A fun adventure that never quite makes it out of the city xD the group interaction is familiar to anyone whose gone on a family roadtrip yet over the top at the same time.

Theres many episodes to choose from, Im curious to see what yalls choices are, and why : )

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Chardee Macdennis or The Cereal Bowl Defense. These have been my go to for introducing people to the show. Both episodes focus purely on the characters themselves and the 1 location setting helps with that. Everyone can relate to wanting to win a game so bad that they'd be willing to go to extreme lengths (or at least they've witnessed someone do it.) Both of these episodes are games the characters are trying to manipulate in order to come out on top.

First episode that was ever shown to me was Who Pooped the Bed. That one got me hooked.

I would guess that the Extreme Makeover one would also be pretty relatable because most people who Always Sunny is geared towards have seen that show.

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Those are some excellent picks. I was more than happy to see a return to the boardgame in the episode Chardee Macdennis 2: Electric Bugaloo : )

The Cereal Defense is one I showed to someone as their first episode (unplanned) and it got a lot of laughs from them.

Another episode I showed unplanned as a someones first episode was The Anti-Social Network (Season 7) and not ever halfway through my friend said "Whats this show called again"? Thats when I knew they found a new show to like.

You watched quite a first episode yourself xDDD that one I didnt care for at first just because of the vulgarity of the subject matter, but by the end I was on edge trying to figure out who really did it and I sided with the gang in that "its really NOT about the poop, its the mystery surrounding the poop" xD

Extreme Makeover is another good episode where they split up and each get into messy shenanigans. I've rewatched that one many times. I watched "Flip or Flop" not the homemakeover show. Yet I understood the reference.

I would add "The World Series Defense" but I had to choose only three at the time.

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Who pooped the bed
Being Frank
Chardee Macdennis

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Being Frank was an interesting episode. I like it when they do something different than the regular setup in the show. To a newcomer though, they would become bewildered by this experiment I think.

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I agree. Being Frank has almost nothing in common with other episodes. It would not give a first time viewer a good grasp on what the series is about.

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I'm confused - I don't think any of these episodes are the penultimate episodes in any of these seasons? 🤔

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As I wrote earlier, not the best episodes in your opinion, just name three episodes that you think would be good for newcomers that convey how the group interacts. I think another episode would be "Sweet Dee Gets Audited".

I like so many of the episodes.

Not to get distracted, but you dont find "The Anti-Social Network" as a penultimate episode of season 7? I mean that episode made me belly laugh more than once.

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Can you explain how the word penultimate makes sense in your question? I'm also trying to figure out what you mean.

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Perhaps I should have used a different word. I mean it in the "Last but one sense, as in the top tier, the greatest".

Basically, In your opinion, what three episodes would you choose to show a newcomer to the series The Gangs typical dynamic?

I'll rework the thread title.

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Sorry, yeah - that's what I was getting confused by as well. I don't think penultimate is the right word here...

But if it's just top 3 episodes, that's a hard one.

Maybe:-
1. Mac and Dennis move to the suburbs (probably the episode we've rewatched the most, always gets us crying with laughter)

2. Nightman Cometh (another close contender for most watched, probably when the show was at its absolute peak)

3. The gang goes on family fight (pretty much every character trying to showcase themselves with disastrous results!)

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The Gang Goes on Family Fight is a great mention here! Its a good team effort episode for sure!

The Nightman Cometh is a series highlight. Charlie coming down from the rafters in that full yellow suit and fun song was quite the finish : )

I dont think I understood Penultimate well enough xD I can admit when Im wrong

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I see how penultimate was confusing, I hope the rework on my thread title is better.

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Just want to add the "Mac and Dennis move to the suburbs" episode is great as well.

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About that episode:
I felt bad for that cable guy. I experienced something similar in my life. different circumstances, but similar event of having two people argue in aother room about my presence (loud enough for me to hear it), with one of them saying awful things thinking the worst about me. It made me so uncomfortable I left, and never came back. I was a child at the time. Why this grown man of a cable guy didnt get up and leave quicker is astounding xD maybe that cable guy really liked Mac and wanted to make a friend. So sad...

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