I’ve been a fan of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia for a few years now. It has been, from the start, difficult to watch at times. The gang’s casual racism, homophobia, transphobia, general awfulness, etc., while obviously satirical, often straddles the line between what should and shouldn’t be acceptable to portray (see: Lethal Weapon).
The writers have never shied away from ripping issues from the headlines. The early episodes revolving around the gas crisis, gun control, or the mortgage crisis, for example, while obviously hot-button issues at the time, seemed to work pretty well as comedic premises. The schemes concocted to address them were so patently, over-the-top ridiculous that no mistake could be made with regard to the writers’ intentions.
Recently, though, the topics have become extremely sensitive. In such politically divisive times, the core premise of the show (misguided people doing terrible things) no longer seems appropriate. Listening to the gang discuss rape culture and transgender issues isn’t so much funny as it is an uncomfortable reminder of the kind of hurtful rhetoric spewed everyday, loudly and unironically, by an unsettlingly large portion of the population.
Another problem I’ve noticed (which I feel might be addressed in-show in the near future): where are the shenanigans? The Very Special Issue episodes have shifted from chaotic romps, to bottle episodes. Thundergun 4 ends with an identical setup to the first Thundergun; but instead of venturing crosstown, the gang pulls out their phones. This is, of course, more societal commentary. But does it make for good television? Watching the gang sit around a table behaving like the worst people imaginable just isn’t working for me.
As much as I would hate to see the show go, I really feel like it’s outlived itself. I still think it’s one of the most creative, unique shows on television…sometimes. I’m not sure if that’s enough.
Random Thoughts on Thundergun 4: Maximum Cool:
-I didn’t enjoy this episode as a whole, but Charlie’s “Fuck you” might be one of my favorite moments in the series.
-The Thundergun clips were painful to watch. Necessary for setup, but progressive or not, you couldn’t bribe me with Red Lobster cards to watch more than 5 minutes.
-The Dolph Lundgren casting gag got a chuckle out of me. Although I didn’t realize until the end credits. Sorry Dolph.
Grade: Overcast (out of a possible Sunny)
Riding the Wave of a 2/5 Life Crisis 