It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Hits a Home Run With Shadynasty

As a loyal viewer of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia since the show’s inception, it is with great joy that I’ve watched each episode of its current, seventh season, which I consider a return to form for Sunny after a few lackluster years. And last week’s episode, titled “Frank’s Brother,” has been the best of the season thus far. The primary reason why? Because it focused almost solely upon Danny DeVito’s Frank Reynolds.

This might sound strange coming from me given the Always Sunny fandom that I confessed to above, but the majority of the show’s actors are not particularly strong. Truthfully, only DeVito and Glenn Howerton (Dennis Reynolds) bring something to the dramatic table other than playing louder, more-obnoxious versions of themselves who happen to say “Oh, shit!” a lot. And, while that made for some fun television during the show’s early years, as time has passed, it’s led to one-dimensional characters who are increasingly reliant upon newer, zanier situations to remain watchable, reducing the show to the very sitcom territory it seeks to lampoon.

Which is why an entire episode focused upon DeVito, whose acting chops are above reproach, was such a pleasant change of pace. While “Frank’s Brother” satisfied because every last one of its gags, ranging from DeVito donning a shitty wig to play a teenaged version of himself to “Shadynasty” as the name of his negress lover were hilarious, what made them work at all was the quality of the actors involved. John Polito as Frank’s brother Gino (last seen here killing it on Seinfeld), Lance Reddick of The Wire fame and Naturi Naughton as the aforementioned Shadynasty were all a welcomed respite from Sweet Dee walking into Paddy’s and calling everyone a bunch of dickholes for the hundredth time.

Hopefully the rest of the season will focus upon Frank and Dennis with a little more outside help acting-wise. I love Charlie Day as much as the next man, but you can only hear so many times about “milk steak” and “boiled denims” before it gets as played out as Steve Urkel asking “Did I do that?”

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Tagged as: Danny DeVito, Glenn Howerton, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.