*ALWAYS SUNNY* Analysis 2: Electric Boogaloo

[@hhometownnn]

I KNOW ABOUT GUIGINO’S NOW THANK YOU

[@masterzombie161]

I know it’s kind of weird to ask, but did you like my post about which episodes they should make? If you haven’t had a chance to read it or find it I can repost it on here for you.

[@Mulligan97]

The only reason why I scrolled down was to make sure you knew lol

[@adam100x7]

what did i miss about guigino's??

[@Glitchedsquirtle]

@@adam100x7The place they filmed at (Guigino’s) is closed nowadays

[@Mizfit2]

The problem with gay Mac isnt how the gang reacts to him or insults him, It is because gay Mac is completely submissive like a puppy. Golden age Mac was very bossy, and doubled down on it when he is wrong. Not to mention the way he would look at the camera before a couple seconds before the screen cut to him doing something horrible. Once Mac came out as gay, his entire personality changed from bossy to submissive, and for some reason, gay Mac is more stupid than Charlie now. Muscular Mac in theory would be talking way more about body guards and action movies but in a way like Sweet Dee does, where he thinks he would be better for the role in action movies. Gay Mac has never once even attempted to take charge of a scheme, where as Golden Age Mac, would boss his way in charge of almost all schemes, often leading to their downfall. It is hard to imagine the "Oh Im sorry, did you get a little addicted to crack" Mac, would be this submissive of a person.

[@ninetailedfox579121]

You can say that you like Macho Mac better than Gay Mac, but the entire point of him being macho was just an act he put on in front of the gang, likely because all their calling him gay made him insecure as that was before he was comfortable with his sexuality. There are hints of his true nature long before he comes out. It seems the only one he feels truly comfortable with is Dennis as when they are alone he is much less macho, such as how he is basically the "woman" of the house when they live in the suburbs and cutting the peels off of Dennis' apples, etc. Also the way he behaves around Carmen, especially when none of the gang are around.

[@AdamG1983]

Yeah I think they're trying to make Gay Mac overly flamboyant and it doesn't work. He can be gay, but that shouldn't be his only character trait. He didn't act the ways he's acted in S13-S16

[@MAX-de8fe]

@@ninetailedfox579121 I think the actual real reason Mac suddenly started acting submissive and pathetic was because he got in very good shape. The creators thought it would be funnier to see the super shredded guy be the most small and pathetic person in the group. It's not as funny to watch Mac try to be badass when he actually looks badass now. I don't think it plays very well. It made sense for Mac to become a beefcake because he is deeply insecure and wants everyone to think he's badass. It doesn't make sense for him to also start acting like a desperate puppy. He shouldn't completely stop being Mac just because he came out as gay. His gayness wasn't the source of his insecurity and desperation for approval. His parents were clearly the source of those things.

[@noxteryn]

...But the main reason Mac was being so bossy and macho was because he was overcompensating. Once he was out, he had no reason to continue doing that. It's called character development.

[@JM-ft8lw]

@hhometownnn the mac dennis thing is a lowkey seriously dark abusive relationship because the joke exists at mac’s misery 😭 like when mac comes out therefore being more honest with himself, dennis loses an iota of control over him because it’s something he’s always had to some extent (i.e. drugging him with cut-amphetamine) so he becomes much crueler and emotionally abusive to make mac think he’s done something wrong and to keep mac on a tighter more obedient leash. it would probably feel less sinister if rob wasn’t so good at portraying such a genuine childlike distress and confusion with his eyes, he’s like a toddler reacting to the still face parent experiment, trying anything to bring the parent back into their world, begging to be recognised rather than stared through like it really made the last seasons feel quite sinister in a way i don’t think they intended

[@hhometownnn]

THIS. thank you.

[@JM-ft8lw]

@@hhometownnn oh also the roofie thing probably does happen. roofies/rohypnol are a benzodiazepine just like xanax and valium and produce euphoria, calmness and memory loss so given dee’s performance anxiety, drug interests and heaps of shame and self loathing i think it probably makes sense for her. i imagine they chose “i roofied myself” because it’s a much more streamlined and clear cut punchline to deliver even if public knowledge just has most people wrongly think it’s just for muscle paralysis

[@liamace1107]

One thing I haven't heard mentioned online is how the characters in Always Sunny used to get REALLY into character as other characters, or becoming so obsessed with specific ideas that it transforms them in a unique way for the episode. I haven't seen any of the characters get caught up in the fantasy of some weirdly specific bs for a few seasons, the way they were all so eager to become manically devoted to some stupid bit was one of my favourite aspects and made them all feel more like people with a large spectrum of potential interests and emotions

[@cheesecake134]

I feel like they haven’t done that ever since Dennis called them out for being “so goddamn weird” and “having more costumes in the bar than kegs” in The Gang Misses the Boat. Which I get it, it’s a meta episode and they’re making fun of themselves and how much the characters have gone off the rails, but I think the costumes/characters were such a unique and hilarious aspect of the show that only elevate it even more. More Mr Covington, Ongo Gablogian, and Charlie’s oil man in season 17 please!!!!!

[@hhometownnn]

@@cheesecake134SCHEMES!!! bring back the SCHEMES!!!

[@cheesecake134]

@@hhometownnn YES! Who is the gang if they aren’t plottin’ and schemin’??

[@vic_and_hugh]

Yep, the whole vibe of the show has changed since like season 10 and it's really depressing actually

[@kungfubrandon6886]

​@@vic_and_hughagreed

[@EliCOOL577]

I think the big problem with gay Mac isn’t that the gang makes homophobic jokes, more that Mac doesn’t challenge them or even react to what they say. It’s like if Mac didn’t get offended when people said he couldn’t do backflips, except it’s also misrepresenting and poking fun at an already marginalised community. They could use his defensiveness in an actually meaningful way is what I’m saying.

[@moesqrd]

also I just miss conservative Mac, wish he got caitlyn jenner treatment and had the gang have nuanced takes on queerness instead of hacky critiques on internet queer culture. The jokes feel like it could be inserted into other shows and still work, when the charm of IASIP is the inside joke feel and callbacks

[@skywillfindyou]

FFS why he even should challenge it? Why ever one should think about some pepresenting making the show? That's how comedy work.

[@stardusst]

​@@skywillfindyou because the entire point of the gang is tha they're bad people, if mac doesn't react negatively to the comments about his gayness it sends the idea there's nothing wrong with that. also, it's out of character for mac to not jump into defensiveness the moment someone makes fun of him.

[@ninetailedfox579121]

​​@@stardusst That would include Mac being a bad person though, right? He isn't a good person just because he's gay. Yes, the point of the show is that they're all bad people, and as a result they don't react to bad things within the gang the way a good person would react. It does not give any impression that it is okay to make homophobic remarks because we already know that these are bad people. Also literally Mac's entire character is a defensive reaction to said remarks. His entire macho attitude (including being overly defensive of other things) is put on because he's insecure about his sexuality and the remarks of the gang, so he tries to seem overly masculine.

[@RUVAOfficial]

I really miss when Dennis and Mac were a both a little dumb and liked being in each others company

[@vic_and_hugh]

This is what made the show so funny and lovable. They completely did away with that by season 10 and it's really weird that they still haven't figured out their error

[@ninetailedfox579121]

The scene where they switch roommates and Dennis makes Dee cut the skin off of the apples because Mac would always do it is one of my favorite scenes in the entire series, and the suburb episode is my favorite episode. I think they were mainly using the Mac and Dennis relationship to show that they both have sensitive sides without having to be too overt about it but after Mac came out I guess they felt like they didn't need that anymore.

[@exquisitecorpse__]

When I first watched the scene where Dennis confronts the car company ceo and he just appears and looks at him like they're different species, I genuinely thought they were just going to break the tension and just have Dennis kill a man with his bare hands on screen

[@cuckoobrain7999]

Btw, waiting for big Moe was a reference to how asparagus makes your Godot count higher

[@hhometownnn]

PLEASE

[@noonenosu]

I thought the asparagus bit was about making their piss turn green because they’re going to the eagles Super Bowl. Like just really hardcore into repping the birds.

[@AdamG1983]

I learned something. All I knew about asparagus is that it's good in butter and supposedly makes your piss smell weird.

[@TheBestSam42]

“Frank shoots every member of the gang” is for sure the most disappointing episode, so much potential in the idea of Frank shooting people but then it just kinda happens at the last second

[@bondobassista7907]

Dear Mary, I feel like I can call you Mary because you and me are so much alike. I really loved the video! I liked this season a lot better than the previous three and I was eagerly waiting for your take on it after viewing your first Sunny video (which I also loved). I am happy that you too liked the new episodes. I am sorry to hear about all the mean spirited comments on the other video: I hope they didn't get you down. These are all things I wanted to tell you about and more. Again, don't let the bad comments get to you, and continue to make art. I am sure your next video will be a real home run. Bondo

[@hhometownnn]

IM GONNA CRY

[@TheBlarggle]

_PPEEWWW_ (That's Mac making the baseball hitting sound)

[@masterzombie161]

“Oh shit there’s stickers!!”

[@vic_and_hugh]

I'm also in this group! Season 16 fixed a TON of problems from the previous few seasons. It's still not as funny as it used to be, but at least they corrected some of the glaring issues

[@Bokmoh]

😂😂😂

[@Dr-Jesus]

The whole gross gay mac bit is made even weirder by how Frank finds it gross too and partakes in making mac the butt of the joke, even though it's long been established that he's a total freak as well. Why does he "stop getting" Mac after hearing about the beads? If anything, that should have been what made him get it, he would certainly relate to it more than to Mac's play!

[@adripurdy1998]

that’s exactly what i thought when i watched that scene too! like sir you enjoy wendy’s buns being rolled up and put in your orifices. 🤨

[@MayvaAva]

Agreed, I’m personally just gonna blame it on him getting older but, I don’t know if that was the right move for his character, then again, as freaky as he is maybe that’s one of his limits lmao idk

[@joew1456]

@@MayvaAva Artemis and Frank used a wine bottle as part of a burlesque art show, he definitely knows about bbeads

[@skywillfindyou]

This is such level of overthinking that I can why these guys made great show.

[@LoZander]

Your original video made me watch Sunny. When a mean comment eventually gets you down, just remember that you got at least one guy into watching the show 😊

[@hhometownnn]

🥹❤️☀️

[@Thomperfan]

Same!

[@justelliot4870]

Me too!

[@vs7927]

😊😊😊 11:36 😊

[@envycentral7281]

Same btw!

[@EthanWasHere]

Always Sunny is it a weird position as a TV show because it is purely a passion project. Absolutely no one involved NEEDS to be doing it, they can all either live comfortably with the money they have now, or can focus on other projects. They still make the show because they are all friends and still enjoy working on it. So when an episode or season feels undercooked it feels way more disappointing and or frustrating than other long running shows that slip into being mediocre. It's a passion project, so every episode should be firing on all cylinders because on paper the original creative drive is still there!

[@vic_and_hugh]

100%

[@ninetailedfox579121]

The opposite could be said as well though, right? If they don't _need_ to make the show and only do it for fun, then they also don't _need_ to make the fans happy. Maybe their passion simply isn't about writing deep and meaningful characters and that just came as an afterthought, they just want to write something they think is funny.

[@caedencloud3504]

Philly native here, “smash” means taking a shit. Not sure if it’s even a Philly thing, but people used to say it all the time growing up. These videos are so good btw I love all the care that goes into them!

[@hhometownnn]

thank you Philly native!!!

[@ohno5559]

My takeaway from the Risky Rat episode "culture war" stuff is that the point was it's kind of trivial and they were foolish for taking things like the animatronic boobs as serious indicators of the political climate of the country.

[@TheBlarggle]

Dennis Takes a Mental Health Day is really one of the best episodes they've had in a long time. Absolutely the best of the season. If you look when Dennis is ripping the guys heart out, his watch/heart monitor is bright red and beating fast, until he crushes the heart into a diamond, and the monitor turns green and the heart monitor pulse slows down. And everything returns to normal.

[@aspacelex]

Artemis might be like, the best character. That's a very underdiscussed fact.

[@lm86531]

I think the biggest indicator of the change in Sunny's writing is simply the number of jokes per minute. I recently rewatched Swee Dee has a Heart Attack and there were more jokes in the gym scene with Dee, Dennis & the Bumblebee Bitch than in some entire episodes from episodes 14-16

[@vic_and_hugh]

Holy shit I said exactly this a few years ago in a iasip shitposting group on fb My exact phrase was something "You could take a random 90-second slice of ANY moment from season 5 and you would have more laughs than an entire season from 11 onward

[@kungfubrandon6886]

​@@vic_and_hughagreed

[@kungfubrandon6886]

1-9 had so many more jokes that it leaves you feeling like you just watched a 40 minute episode worth of content

[@jessbreadhead43]

Our generation & younger heavily identify with their favourite media, defining themselves by it. I feel like this contributes to many of the negative comments on your last vid, it really hinders their ability to be critical. When people feel media like IASIP is entwined with who they are, they'll defend it to their last breath & be unable to appreciate that part of greatly enjoying something is seeing flaws as they are. Love this style of video, good work

[@aspacelex]

It's weird how the Godot and the sperm comments are two distinct groups considering there's a scene in the play where Godot takes a bite of asparagus and says "I'm doing this to increase my sperm count.".

[@hhometownnn]

this could literally be true and i wouldnt know

[@ethanlivemere1162]

Yes, Godot, the character who famously appears physically in the play

[@aspacelex]

@@ethanlivemere1162 Well yeah, the protagonist of the play really, since it's named after him or her or them.

[@ethanlivemere1162]

@@aspacelex Yes, I loved his introduction in the opening where he walks onto the stage and says "I hope I didn't keep you waiting" and winks at the audience

[@aspacelex]

@@ethanlivemere1162 Is this like a test? The identity of Godot is very clear based on how much semen every character produces, on stage.

[@Laptic]

I feel like Mac's Risk E Rats speech is more so on the side of making fun Mac as there is just some cosmic irony about one of the members of THE FUCKING GANG complaining about people not being held accountable for their actions. Also one of my favorite details in Mental Health Day is the gang trying to make diamonds using a pressure cooker and at the end Dennis turns the ceo's heart into a diamond using his high blood pressure

[@user-hc2tu7ul7j]

No mention of Mac’s uncle being played by the same actor as Mac’s dad.

[@hhometownnn]

WTF I DIDNT EVEN NOTICE

[@zuzu2408]

this just blew my mind and added a whole new layer of Funny/irony to the episode , thank you LOL

[@crung8]

i think a big problem for me with the newer seasons is how well lit and clean it looks. i get that cameras have gotten better since 2005 but when i’m watching this show i should never be able to see the layer of makeup on the actor’s faces. they need to dim the lights and make it feel moodier/grimier, like older seasons were. would really help tonally i think, the show’s signature look feels like it has been abandoned.

[@hhometownnn]

totally. the ratio change in the framing too

[@miltonblipp]

It's like all the scenes in newer seasons are shot in that well lit bar they're competing with in The Gang Tties Desperately to Win an Award. Which was like... obviously designed to be very far away from the Paddys Pub vibe lol

[@alinagoldberg1298]

The way I gasped when I saw this video on my feed. I haven’t stopped thinking about the last video since I saw it. I felt so seen by the last video and you were able to put into words the frustration and sadness I was feeling. You also gave me hope about the future of the show.

[@MegaMegaMiner100]

I want to say as someone from the general Philly area, even as someone who doesn't care for sports, I appreciate the Gritty and Jalen Hurts moments. Early Sunny really feels like it has it's roots firmly in Philly with much of it filmed on location, and it gave it a very local feel, as time has gone on, they've moved further and further into filming in LA, and local references have become few and far between. Seeing Gritty and "Jalen" made it feel like Philly again.

[@liz.1328]

lol my friend and I live in LA and he recognized the roller rink in season 15. It's the Moonlight Rollerway.

[@emmadenton1826]

I know! I get that it would be much harder/nearly impossible to in Philly the way they used to, but I loved the feel of it. I've never been to the US but I loved the distinct vibe you got from the outside scenes, this old working class vibe. The scene that always kills me (even though I love the overall episode) is the opening scene of Hero or Hate Crime. They shot that on the old HIMYM set (I'm sure of it) and it makes me so mad 😭

[@iagomartinezdealegriamader52]

Charlie's sister's mansion set looks so fake to me

[@sarahrichards1281]

I agree wholeheartedly, Philly itself felt more present in the earlier seasons and I think grounding the characters back into Philly specific settings might bring back some of that classic feel

[@jaketno]

My theory on the last episode is that we never left the cold open scene. There was no mental health day. Dennis created the entire day so he could have a satisfying character to rip into to please himself; to prove to the doctor that he can just will his bp lower. He's wearing the same shirt, and Charlie asks the same question (Perhaps to get us to assume that THIS is the beginning of the day and not a repeat question) the various people in the waiting room speak for themselves.

[@dollyhoneypie]

oh that’s what i assumed had happened lol!

[@alecdelahaye9850]

That’s not a theory.. that’s literally what happened

[@Debicus]

I always imagined it as the opposite, everything in the episode happening EXCEPT for the last scene (and the murder beforehand, too) as this descent into psychosis. Simply because I don't think the episode would be something Dennis would imagine, which ties into the reason I love the episode so much. Dennis has such a lack of control over literally everything around him this episode, and - despite it being a mental health day - is forced to control the rage that he is supposed to be trying to alleviate. It is Dennis being put on a leash by a blood pressure monitor, going through a series of events which - ironically - is more understandable and reasonable to get angry about compared to most of the things Dennis lashes out about in the entire show. If everything was in his head, it sort of kills the episode for me. Because the appeal of the episode, for me, is Dennis trying his best to actually compromise like an adult and live in reality before reaching a breaking point and indulging in delusion to compensate.

[@miltonblipp]

thatsthejoke.gif

[@silentverity4975]

Enjoying the video so far! I'm very sorry if this end up as another thousand people telling you information you've gained since making the video, but the building they used as the Gugino's set was torn down, so they can't use it anymore. They mention this in the podcast, though I can't recall in which episode.

[@hhometownnn]

AH thank you so much!! damn thats sad

[@silentverity4975]

​@@hhometownnn Yeah, the vibe I get is that they would have used Gugino's if they could :(

[@cheesecake134]

I wonder why they can’t make a fake Gugino’s though? I know the show doesn’t have a top tier budget but I think they could create a restaurant set, right? Especially considering the original Gugino’s was just the lobby of an old newspaper(??? I think) building dressed up to look like a restaurant.

[@referencetosomething4187]

CONSIDER: an episode about the gang trying to make a fake Gugino's

[@moldyslicedbread]

i saw the mean comments too, and i couldnt help but think those people did not watch ur full video and see how heartfelt a place this came from. I WAS PATIENTLY AWAITING THE SEQUEL AND IT HAS ARRIVED!!!!!!!!!

[@echtblikbonen]

My little theory is that doing the podcast made them remember the good stuff from the earlier seasons and that's why this season is more in line with that than the previous few. I'm so wondering why they haven't done any episodes after the strike ended

[@Rumhammmm]

As someone who has a psycho obsession with this show nothing makes me happier than watching a video from someone who feels the same. Thanks for putting so much thought and effort into this ya jabroni

[@HoldenVontz]

your previous sunny video was one of the only >hour long videos ive had a good time sitting through ( and didnt just use as background noise) def dont let the hate comments get you down, keep pumping these out!

[@hhometownnn]

thank you friend!!!

[@Thalvia]

I appreciate the time and effort put into these vids SO much, and im just doin housework when BAM I see the 2 and a half hour sunny vid I needed. I loved the charlie piano bit at the beginning. "There is a spider-spider-spider....Its deep in my soullllll-soul...." vibes (like ik u were doing dayman, but you cant tell me this wasnt the "I like life at paddys pub" kinda switchup but in reverse)

[@hhometownnn]

fun fact… i was originally gonna do a cover of his “go f*** yourselves” song but it felt a bit uhhhhhhhhh not the vibe im trying to put out LOL

[@Thalvia]

@@hhometownnn HAHAHA that is a super fun fact, u def kept it lighter and more fun :P

[@la_joya4468]

I feel like Mac being obsessed with Dennis after he came out wasn’t just a spur of the moment gay joke, but a progression throughout the series. He’s always been trying to win over Dennis’ approval and it turns to an obsession.

[@la_joya4468]

The sex deviant thing is definitely part of a gay joke tho.

[@hopekeeley2122]

I didn’t know about the eyes nails rule but it’s nice to know I’m not the only person who’s irrationally squicked out by nails getting hurt, like to the point I of having nightmares about it

[@iwearmiumiu]

so funny that a lot of the people who wrote you those nasty comments on behalf of their favorite show don't realize they are exactly the people that would be satirized on it's always sunny lol. anyways thank u for this update i love your videos and the way you talk

[@emma-xt5iy]

Seeing the difference in confidence between these two parts made me so happy!! I love how much care and dedication you put into these videos it’s really lovely

[@nickbooze9766]

Mac's progressive nut allergy was my favorite gag of the season! I'm surprised you didn't like it. Sure the ending punchline was "gross out" but it well earned it.

[@WilliamMorgan-rc5ud]

I hated the allergy joke. It sucked and it was gross the whole episode

[@LuckyBastard12345]

I thought it was kinda mid for half of the episode but I was laughing like crazy at the end

[@vokkagirl]

i think it's kind of beautiful this video covering one season is longer than the first video covering 15 seasons. the longer the better for me

[@quillclock]

pro tip for making conspiracy boards: you only need one pin per subject. You can wrap multiple strings around the same pin. Otherwise your board gets cluttered b4 you know it

[@benbrinkmann6201]

When I saw your first sunny video, I subbed and binged your video essays. I’m astonished you haven’t blown up yet, keep it up

[@hhometownnn]

thank you so much!!

[@theironpig7901]

You've likely already heard this but Mac DID want to bang the Waitress specifically in Dennis' clothes so there were signs of him liking Dennis back in season 4. I do agree with the point of you saying that they use Mac's gayness as a grossout joke though. Great Video!

[@jamesdurtka2709]

I have been hoping to see your take on this season since the last episode came out. I think the first video kind of found a way to put into words the way a lot of us probably felt about the show and didn't know how to articulate - and you've done it again. As to whether Sunny can ever return to the golden age... I guess it'll never be exactly the same, but I think the latest season proves they've still got it and we may have a second golden age to look forward to. I don't know if any of their people watched your stuff, I hope so, but either way it's extremely encouraging that they managed to hit most of the notes.

[@lemonysnow47]

as someone who has also watched every episode, i appreciate the logical lens used to analyse the show, and despite me looking at the 2 hour mark on the first always sunny vid and thinking "oh boy i'm probably gonna click off of this in 10 minutes", ...well, it's been 2 1/2 hours and now i''m here watching the 2nd so evidently you're pretty good at talking in-depth about something whilst still being entertaining. subscribed :)

[@hhometownnn]

WOW, thank you so much! i really appreciate that

[@lemonysnow47]

it is now 3:30 am, help i'd quite like to see the long way home honestly

[@paullossypaulplossy]

Male fans of this show don’t get it I fear… you need a female touch to make a 2 and a half hour long analysis video on Sunny….

[@grahamking9885]

I am 1 minute and 30 seconds into this video and it has replaced anything else that I had planned on doing this morning. Loved the last one, thank you for doing a follow up!

[@I_like_sitcoms]

Imo, your always sunny video essay was the best on youtube. I was so excited to see you made a second one

[@magpieMOB]

I honestly recalled your video while I was watching Season 16 and it added some little boosts when I thought to myself "hey, they're doing that thing better! That thing that Mary suggested!" I'm very much on the side of your being able to focus on what you feel passionate about, and to be able to do so in a way that doesn't damage you - if it turns out Season 17 deserves dissection, I hope that it also lends itself to a video format that's less punishing to produce!

[@naptownbound]

Charlie and Dennis……. By far the best and the most underutilized team up in the show…. Going off your Y.A.R.M system needs

[@annahmorgan1100]

Your original sunny decline analysis video is one of my favorite video essays ever! I’ve recommended it to so many people. Can’t believe you actually got hate for it, every take was completely correct. You perfectly explain exactly how I feel about the way one of my favorite shows has changed and dramatically worsened over time. Season 16 was ever so slightly better than the previous 2-3 seasons, but still not really good when compared to early seasons. The guys have forgotten what made sunny so great in the first place, I really think it’s time for it to end.

[@eoghan00]

Please make these videos for every season, I don’t think there’s enough people talking about how the show has changed, and a big part of why I still watch the show is that I enjoy discussing how the changes.

[@notsoboo]

The ending of "Dennis Takes A Mental Health Day is not nebulas at all. *SPOILERS* Dennis's stress and anger issues figuratively put him in a pressure cooker all the time, which is why he's imagining the gang playing with a pressure cooker. At the end, when he rips the CEO's heart out and turns it into a diamond (further driving home the idea that Dennis *is* the pressure cooker), that is him emotionally letting go of all of that stress, revealing that he was right all along at the beginning that his blood pressure is high because he's "chronically suffering fools who won't listen to [him] when [he says he] can do things" and he is actually able to imagine things to will his blood pressure back down, explaining how he deals with the gang and all of his other pet peeves. Leaving the doctor's office, it's revealed that he likely had a run in with the security guard and the receptionist (both of whom he included in his fantasy), judged the woman drinking boba and the other patient sitting next to her, didn't like the sign on the wall, and has been on kratom (which is in the opioid family and causes sedation and pleasure, primarily). He's self medicating because he's constantly judging and getting annoyed by people.

[@matthewl3002]

I literally just watched your first one yesterday and it hit the nail on the head about Sunny’s humor. Also as someone who specializes in music as well, you gotta talk about music’s role in IASIP, especially stuff like whenever Grand Central (you’ll know the song when you hear it) is basically the song signaling shit’s about to go stupid.

[@stax7930]

I think the thing you remembered about Dennis and Charlie was them trying to know down the “pirate” door in the North Korea episode

[@TheBestSam42]

I think “Dennis takes a mental health day” is probably the strongest episode of this overall great season, for me the reveal of the whole thing just being Dennis’ revenge fantasy was such a satisfying moment. I also love the callback to all the times Dennis mentions being able to “control” his body and just say “SICKNESS BEGONE!” And having the gangs scheme be turning coal into diamonds is just SOOO on brand for them

[@borncluelesstv9407]

Oh also the tesla episode I assume was inspired by the real-life event Glenn described on the podcast where his tesla got stuck in a garage for hours due to something that wouldn't have happened at all with just a key

[@hhometownnn]

I watched that podcast episode like RIGHT after finishing editing this LOL - I love that so much

[@JackEstacio]

@@hhometownnnwatched the podcast beforehand, felt that it could be turned into an episode. Fan girled so hard when the it came out. Loved it!

[@HOTD108_]

The play known as Waiting for Godot is actually about sperm count.

[@TheGioguy]

I’ve just finished both your iasip videos and I loved them, when watching the last season it felt so insanely odd and I couldn’t put a finger on why. With the new season I only got halfway through the inflatable episode before giving up but I’m definitely going to give it a try after this. Thank you, your videos are great

[@reveler279]

babe wake up new always sunny analysis just dropped

[@iagomartinezdealegriamader52]

In your last video you mentioned how in current Sunny for a joke somebody in the gang would sudenly turn into the straigth man and now I can't stop seeing It. Specially when Mac meets his uncle and Charlie just explains the joke that Mac has finaly found the father figure that I has always wanted. I would uncerstand Dennis having that inside into Mac's emotions, but Charlie?

[@Debicus]

I don't think it's that out there for Charlie to have that kind of insight, given Charlie's own bizarre relationship between his two father figures. Though that scene is still totally symptomatic of the "straight man" issue you're describing.

[@mwazowski3919]

Screaming crying throwing up so excited to watch this while I knit a scarf

[@theswedishgoat]

My, fairly tame, theory for 'Dennis Takes A Mental Health Day' is that all the events after the cold open are a revenge-fantasy, concocted entirely inside Dennis' head based on what he had encountered prior to entering the doctor's office, which I think aligns with the whole "Dennis is an absolute psychopath and would absolutely have: perfect recollection, a vivid and cruel imagination (even when its cruel to himself) and a powerful enough imagination at that, that an episode's worth of events could occur in under a minute in his mind" schtick. Just my two cents :) 2:21:08 Edit: Not to mention, his psychopathy I guess also gives him a good enough profile of the rest of the gang (see 'The Gang Gets Analyzed') that he would be able to predict their pressure cooker scheme, which is revealed to him in his fantasy before actually happening in the doctor's office. Truly, a most malicious Golden God.

[@WilliamBrowning]

OK. I got recommended this video because I watched your previous one, I wasn't sure. It was precisely the right amount of neurodivergent, obsessive, media analysis so let's goooo!

[@archeryfinn1658]

I decided to watch from a different account because the above uses an adblokcr and wanted you to get the ad revenue. And I decided to tell you because I somehow think that doing this makes me a good person but I'm not.

[@M3plusYOU]

Stood up and started clapping when you cited Mr enter as a source

[@hhometownnn]

FINALLY SOMEBODY GETS IT LMFAO PPL KEEP TELLING ME NOT TO CITE HIM IM LIKE NOOOO I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE FUNNYYYYYYY

[@rinrin5500]

While I have some very different opinions about the season (I absolutely LOVE Frank Vs. Russia, and I don't care for Celebrity Booze at all), I really appericate how much time you put into analyzing this show and it is very entertaining seeing a different view of the show with such detailed opinions. It's really cool, I wish more people dug this deep into the show like this. Don't let the mean comments get you down, these two videos are really fun!

[@goopytoobers9397]

So about the mental health episode, I think the entirety of the episode happens in Dennis’ head during the “less than a minute” it took to lower his blood pressure. So everything happens in a play in Dennis’ head, cast by the people he saw in the waiting room, until he releases the tension (the heart grab) and lowers his BP

[@mitchellregan21]

Yep, that's exactly it. He quickly imagines the scenario after the cold open.

[@bornofpixels]

To expand upon this, I think the name connections like Tsuma the car company and Tsuma the doctor hold signifigance too. Dennis explaining his 'natural' way of lowering blood pressure made me think maybe he equates the two Tsumas in a similar manner: unnecessary technology. Dennis thinks the car is cool but ultimately more trouble than its worth, parralleling his distaste for the doctor's recommendation for lowering blood pressure. Other connections can be made as well but its a bit much for one KZbin comment.

[@AsrielTheHusk]

My tism going into overdrive when its always sunny and FNAF are in the same video, love the vid:)

[@D__S__]

the first 3 episodes were very lackluster for me, but around episode 4 the season picked up for most of its remaining episodes, and moreso by episode 5 and on because imo episode 5 (and 6 and on) are the first times in the season mac rly felt like mac. to me it feels like thats the heart of why some of the new seasons have been off… when mac doesnt feel like mac sunny doesnt feel like sunny as much that being said, its probably impossible for them to top the magic of seasons 1-12, specifically 3-9… but i feel like they came as close as “post-jump-the-shark” sunny has come as a season since then so far

[@ianmsutherland]

KZbin recommended your first IASIP video and I agreed with pretty much everything you said. Then I watched this video and also agreed with you. Really had fun watching these two videos from start to finish. The rest of your channel isn't my cup of tea, but just wanted to say good on you for finding your art and putting it out there for the world to enjoy. Ignore the haters. You do you. Keep it up.

[@hhometownnn]

stay tuned you never know when our vibes will overlap again !!

[@ronitataoftheday8504]

ok the skit at the begginning of the episode is amazing... its embarrassing but in the best way possible cus its so creative and funny and doesn't trigger cringe I love it lol

[@Pleebus]

Been looking forward to this for a while as I really enjoyed your first Sunny video, in particular it helped with really figuring out what exactly felt off about Season's 14 and 15 aswell as it defining the show's different eras in a way that I thought made a lot of sense (for me that specific feel you described of post classic Sunny from Seasons 7-12 ish is my favourite era of the show as the characterizations are still mostly in line whilst also going in more surreal and out there directions that I am a b i g fan of.) But uh once again really enjoyed this video! Admittedly I think I was a lot more positive on this season overall but you gave some really neat onsight on it that I hadn't quite noted before, and at the end of the day I think we're both on the same page of this season being a solid step in the right direction. Also huge respect for including a Mr Enter clip, someone sees the vision!!

[@jacknoble6668]

The Jalen Hurts joke definitely hit. The guy in the show looks absolutely nothing like Jalen Hurts.

[@yggdrasil2]

The reason the bar patrons didn't speak in the early seasons was that the budget was insanely low and if an extra had lines, union rules would dictate a higher salary. That is why some of the scenes are a bit awkward, like with the prostitutes in the Kitten Mitten episode.

[@Nalem]

I've heard an alternate name for "Shoot the deer," and that's "when are they getting to the fireworks factory?"

[@hhometownnn]

LOLLLL THATS SO GOOD

[@connorbrown2194]

the dennis mental health day episode seemed very larry david esque to me

[@connorbrown2194]

i also wonder if the "dream" with people that were around dennis was a wizard of oz reference with all the characters being around dorothy

[@AbnormalFailures]

I've watched more hours of your video essays of it's always sunny than the actual show which is a testament to your CRAFT

[@hhometownnn]

GOD BLESS AMERICA

[@Purplecocobolo]

as someone who’s hasn’t seen a single episode of it’s always sunny in philadelphia, but has seen both your videos on this topic, i am fully in agreement with you with regards to the show.

[@slo6990]

What an excellent idea subscribing to this channel was. Intro was nuts, by the way. Awesome job. In the last Sunny video that got me into everything else on your channel I was thinking in the back of my head "I wonder what she'd say now about season 16".... Also fuck you for releasing this at 2AM on a worknight, waking up tomorrow morning is gonna suuuuuuuucccccck.

[@mimisdeliveryservice]

Oh, by the way, I didn’t add this in my last comment, and I’m not sure if you’ll see this one, but as a gay guy, *please* don’t stop calling out Sunny’s treatment of Mac’s identity and the weird, gross jokes they made about it just because some people in the comments (who probably aren’t queer) think it’s not true. The way they handled the entirety of Mac’s identity from him coming out (I absolutely hated that scene) and onwards makes me (and a lot of other queer people I’ve spoken to) highly uncomfortable, and I greatly appreciated you calling it out for what it was. ♥️ Good work over all!

[@jartism]

By his coming out do you mean yhe one in season 12 or the emmy bait dance scene in season 13?

[@mimisdeliveryservice]

⁠@@jartismThe one where he comes out to the gang in season 12. I didn’t hate the one in Mac Finds His Pride, but I did agree with Mary in the first IASIP video where she said that it wasn’t a bad scene, but it didn’t feel like it was *Mac.*

[@lyleabner2475]

I'm so happy that they finally showed what was in that room in Charlie's apartment, it's been bugging me for years like why does Charlie only have a living room like I know Charlie lives in a low income complex but I'd think they'd give you a room, a kitchen, and a bathroom

[@nuuuuuuuut]

I know the show isn't necessarily supposed to be realistic, but honestly a group of middle aged assholes from Philly making constant gay jokes about their newly revealed as gay friend is... very on point. I mean it's crude and inappropriate but that's pretty accurate for the characters. I think the humor isn't from the homophobia, but the fact that they're acting just as how you'd expect homophobic assholes to act. I mean they also relentlessly made fat jokes when Mac was fat too. It wouldn't really make sense to me if they *werent* making gay jokes. I mean they literally made the exact same gay joke twice in a row, the humor clearly wasn't supposed to be from the joke itself

[@cabbagehoarder6852]

YEAAAA FELLOW NICKELSCHLAGER ENJOYER !! love the video!! I remember seeing the first part a few months ago back when I was first starting to get into sunny and decided to put off watching it until I finished the show, and now that I've watched both parts I can say it was definitely worth it lol. These are so good at breaking down what does and doesn't make the show work!! I agree with you on so much about s16 (and just overall lol), a lot of people seem to hate the celebrity booze ep but I found it to be one of the better ones and definitely have had the word Nickelschlager permanently lodged in my brain since watching. I also agree wholeheartedly that we need more schemes i love the schemes i miss the schemes. Anyways very delightful video and also your hair is very pretty ^_^

[@hhometownnn]

AW HAHAHA THANK YOU!!!!

[@halloweentimemachine]

this four hours of content was the best thing to come out of the last few seasons of sunny

[@abi7497]

21:55 the bike is one of the best things in the show I’ll die on this hill. The gangs reactions “there ya go.. it’s the craziest thing” then he’s all proud while it’s going off

[@bisexualdennisreynolds]

2 and a half hours?! ok maybe i don't need sleep

[@hhometownnn]

YOUR USERNAME IM SCREAMING

[@bisexualdennisreynolds]

​@@hhometownnn lol you're the first person to comment on my username i feel honoured 🤝 also i just finished the video, you clearly put a lot of time and care into it, great work. this season is ranked pretty high up for me but like the previous video your counter arguments towards specific blindspots the writers had were well thought out and articulate, including that last section btw. looking forward to future videos!

[@naomim3735]

MARY!! I am literally obsessed with you, you are the only person I know (besides myself) who loves to pick apart this show line by line and I LIVE FOR IT. Whether or not you choose to make more sunny content, just know that I've thoroughly enjoyed both of your analysis videos and I can't wait to see what other stuff you put out :)

[@davidgomez5032]

I couldn’t agree more, especially with the Mac stuff. Though frankly this latest season also made me requestion whether or not Sunny ever really was a good satire. I think, to some extent, they’ve never known what satire is and have gotten by on just sort of expressing their genuine positions on ideas. For example, the recession episode was not a satire of people who did not understand how the economy works, but rather, them finding comedy in them genuinely not understanding how the economy works. I mention this example specifically because they described the episode as much on their podcast. So if the comedy emerges from their more genuine beliefs, then maybe we have to reckon with the fact that, being much older now, they’ve grown out of touch. Particularly with their caricaturish understanding of Mac’s homosexuality, which, again, they seem to think is completely genuine rather than satirical. On the podcast, Rob explicitly explained that he did not see Mac’s homosexuality as caricaturish, but rather, was playing his homosexuality completely naturalistically. Meaning that the ridiculous stereotype of a gay man that Mac has become is what these writers genuinely believe is accurately representative of gay men.

[@TheSecretProvider]

I don't really buy that last paragraph. Rob grew up with two moms, he has a gay brother, many Sunny fans are queer, and he lives in LA (hella gay). I think he knows what a gay person acts like. On the podcast when talking with Glenn he even stated he's playing Mac a 0/10 on a scale of gayness. I think it's just the whole "this is just the work of a man who's an extreme sexual deviant" thing the show itself mentions. Have they gone too far with it? Sure. But I don't think he's trying to perform what he thinks is an average gay man.

[@davidgomez5032]

@@TheSecretProvider I can tell you as a Californian that being around gay people and being generally progressive does not at all keep people from entertaining or even harboring homophobic stereotypes. That conversation from the podcast is very specifically what I am referring to in my original comment. Rob is asked how “gay” he is playing Mac, and Rob says “zero.” He clarifies that what he means to say is that he does not believe his portayal of Mac to be based on gay stereotypes. Except, well, Mac very clearly is a caricaturish embodiment of homophobic stereotypes. As discussed in this video, Mac’s “sexual deviancy” is inseparable from his homosexuality, and only really became an exaggerated character trait after Mac came out as gay. I guess its iust a coincidence that out Mac’s new defining feature just so happens to be an exaggerated homophobic stereotype. I think maybe it would be better if they were at least self aware about it, which they kind of hint at in this latest season, but thats why I mentioned Rob’s rating of zero from the podcast. Mac is undeniably a homophobic stereotype, so if Rob believes that he is not playing a stereotype, then we must conclude that Rob is not aware of that he is unintentionally playing Mac as a stereotype. If Rob’s supposedly genuine performance depicts Mac as a gay stereotype, then he must genuinely believe that the stereotype is a realistic representation. Either that, or he was iust straight up lying/wrong when he said he was playing Mac at a zero in terms of caricaturization.

[@kidlo]

My read on Dennis Takes a Mental Health Day is that everything after the title is a some sort of voluntarily induced hallucination that Dennis can use to lower his blood pressure at will, that lasts until he opens his eyes at the doctors again. We never see Dennis leave the office and I thought the doctor's line about lowering his blood pressure in "only a minute" was hinting at the amount of real time that had passed. Then, in the lobby, we see that Dennis used the people (who he presumably passed earlier on his way in) in the office to act his weird mind palace. I like to personally think that he was furious at every single thing in that office on his way in that he needed to create an entire days worth of sadistic hypotheticals in his psychic dungeon or whatever to calm down. (Some of my favorites are: all the flowers decorating the office are daisies which is the name of the customer service girl he talks to on the phone, the doctors name is Dr. Tsuma which is the name of the not-tesla, the poster for a qr code for an app for diabetes all of which are referenced in the boba shop, and of course the girl drinking boba). I dunno something about the idea that Dennis just sat in the waiting room seething with enough righteous fury to fuel fantasy ways to scream at everyone present EVEN THE FLOWERS feels really Dennis to me. Anywayyyy phenomenal job on yet another fantastic video!! cant wait for the next one!!

[@jaylandeis2859]

Kudos on your patience and opting for the high road - I initially got defensive upon hearing your criticisms, but you very obviously know the show, know your sh*t (re television, writing, etc.) and the level of effort and time you invested... I mean, I've a tendency to be analytical about film and TV, but you prepared a thorough, cogent, chronological, "point-by-point" presentation like you were facilitating a corporate merger, or presenting a case in court - complete with wardrobe changes? - Your passion alone convinced me to watch the video in its entirety and consider your commentary from a constructive perspective. By and large, I agree with you, and you managed to verbalize issues that I couldn't quite pinpoint - anyone with nastiness to say either missed the point entirely, or probably didn't actually consider what you presented, so f*ck 'em... I don't see anybody else writing up 5 hours' worth of analysis on anything, love OR hate, they just insult and attack those with whom they disagree. While we differ on several points, I really can NOT stress enough just how refreshing content like this is, and I hope to hell that you end up in television or film in (if not writing) SOME capacity... I'd have utmost confidence in your instincts and ability to maintain the ''spirit of 'Sunny'', were that possible, and I do NOT say that lightly - amazing job, again, and I dare anyone to present their 'opposing arguments' ably, with equal thoroughness and creativity... You go, girl.

[@hhometownnn]

WOW. thank you.

[@luizrenato3944]

Just found out you made a second video, the first one was amazing and this one is maybe even better! It's very hard to find in depth videos about its always sunny like that so good job, keep up the good work!!

[@notsosadbart6343]

Personally I love Macs weird Shakespeare talk with Chase. Mainly because of the exact thing you said, which is that it feels more like a Dennis beat. I like the idea that this is Macs first time trying to do some weird guilt trip thing where he tricks someone he wants (for Dennis it's sexual, for Mac it's paternal) purely for his own gain. So the weird speech is him trying to do his own D.E.N.N.I.S system but flopping miserably

[@gracelament]

I'm sorry but every Mac gay joke makes me cringe so hard. The joke being "gay sex is gross" or "this character is disgusting because they have gay sex" isn't subversive or interesting. Its Call of Duty homophobia, and the most predictable joke you could gleam from Mac's coming out. I think there's missed potential in combining Mac's pre-existing character traits with his new coming out. Just playing around with some ideas here - Why does he have to be liberal now that he's out? The contradictary nature of a gay conservative has a lot of potenial for humour and pretty easy satire. You could even push it a little further and have Mac meet people who agree with his politics, which he thinks is great, until he realises that they're super homophobic. Miscellaneous ideas aside, jokes about being gay are possible without the joke just being "eww, you're gay?" Many queer comedians have shown it's very possible to write a good gay joke.

[@hhometownnn]

period

[@Laptic]

The fact that a season that you found funny and had mostly positive things to say about is summarized as “not quite as bad” is a testament to the quality of the show. And PS the “green screen” in Mental Health Day isn’t a green screen (source: director of ep. Health Cullens commenting on the reddit episode discussion thread)

[@hhometownnn]

THEN WHY DOES IT LIKE THAT

[@Preachamain]

Kinda rude of the showrunners to steal all your great ideas and not hire you. You're awesome and I love the work you put into these videos.

[@zuzu2408]

the highlight of my day was getting stoned and watching this , thank you for your service .

[@hhometownnn]

LMFAO

[@sourzombie5467]

1:40:47 I had the same exact thought when I saw this episode! It's kinda like he started to recognize the toxicity between him and Dennis and when he saw someone else going through something similar he was concerned and wanted to speak up.

[@tammystahl711]

Best intro ever, I was there, I was in the moment with you, you were the episode, 10 out of 10

[@emhollingsworth6900]

this is the video of all time. absolutely loved your original video. recently I got my hands on some scripts and ive veen analyzing the shit outta them. like 6,000 words of hyperfixation madness. this video was amazing, really great points, and super entertaining. thank you for all ya do ya jabroni.

[@kaitlynmacneill1904]

Every time you post I literally get so excited. How is it possible that we have all the same niches. I have never met anyone else who loves Always Sunny, P!ATD, and the Big Lebowski as much as you and I.

[@grapes9h5]

I didn’t always agree with your last video but I thought it was a great recap of where the series has been and gone and definitely insightful into comedy in general. This one is even better.

[@carlflippin]

Thank you so much for both of these. You put words to a lot of feelings I had had about later Sunny and I love over-analyzing media I love.