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Now approaching the midpoint of its eighth season, is It’s Always Sunny still delivering the goods? One things for sure, they’re continuing to experiment and not settle for typical sitcom tropes, as we see this week as a psychiatrist delves into the Gang’s psyche.

I am very impressed with It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. They’re approaching a point in most shows where characters have become or are becoming caricatures – hello, The Office and The Simpsons – and instead have an episode dedicated to taking a closer look into each character’s insanity.

What I liked most about “The Gang Gets Analyzed” is the decision to separate the Gang and focus on individual characters. Instead of having the Gang shriek at each other for twenty minutes, we got quieter, scarier moments with each one that made them shrieking at each other in the end all the more better. Each character’s analysis was full of great moments – Frank spitting pistachios, Charlie’s self-awareness, Dee’s extreme lack of inner-security – but my favorite was Mac’s, where we learned Dennis has been drugging him and got a glimpse at his repressed homosexuality. There were some very dark moments in all of the character’s segments that I’m glad the show left in. I admire that It’s Always Sunny will delve into how messed up these characters are without always going for laughs.

Tonight also showed what I consider to be the best acting the entire cast has ever done. It’s Always Sunny has never been an Emmy’s magnet, but I would love to see nominations for Rob McElhenney, Danny Davito, and Kaitlin Olson. McElhenney was great at using small ticks and maniac energy to case a dark inside, Devito was hilarious as he broke down remembering his time in a mental institution, and Olson deserves at least a high five or something for her extended “tell me I’m pretty”.

I hope It’s Always Sunny can keep this high streak going, because if they keep making episodes like this, they’re going to be remembered as one of the few shows that had it’s best seasons late in the game.

Loose Ends:

Keri Kenney-Silver was fantastic in a smaller, quieter role than usual as the psychiatrist.

While I was initially worried since this was the first episode of the season not written by McElhenney, Howerton, and Day, this episode’s writer did a great job.

Dee smashing plates needs to be looped for ten hours.

Next week on It’s Always Sunny, “Charlie’s Mom Has Cancer”: The Gang rallies around Charlie’s Mom as she battles cancer. As Mac, Charlie, and Dee struggle with their faith, Frank loses his memory and his mind in a quest for buried treasure, and they’re all rocked by a revelation that will shake Paddy’s to its very foundation!

-Jeremy