Despite all of that, you do come to relate to and like the characters a little bit (at least if you have something of a mean streak yourself). The characters never change or grow, which becomes a joke in and of itself, but after 12 seasons, it never feels boring or repetitive. I have no idea how they do it. They've been renewed for a 13th and 14th season as well.
Lately, I've been getting really into the show, rewatching old episodes as the latest season airs.
Here's a carefully selected list of my 10 favorite episodes, narrowed down from a list of about 35 honorable mentions. It's so hard to pick this few, but these are some episodes that I always go back to rewatch. I tried to evenly pick among the seasons, so I'll go in order of that.
Dennis & Dee Go on Welfare (Season 2, episode 3)
This great premise is an example of how the show subtly makes social commentary. Dennis and Dee decide to game the system and live off welfare instead of working. However, as they find out at "the welfare store," they don't just hand out welfare to anyone. So, Dennis and Dee buy some crack so they can get blood work to prove a drug addiction. But then, of course, they just get addicted to crack and their lives spiral.
Their crack addiction is mentioned a few times in later seasons: In one instance in season 7, Mac asks Dennis what he wants more than anything and Dennis admits it's crack.
This is arguably the most iconic episode of the series, as Charlie's musical comes to fruition. The songs are ridiculous and funny, creating some awkward stage moments. Frank's enunciation of "boy's soul" to sound more like "boy's hole" deserves a mention here.
This episode is so perfectly ridiculous, and an episode told mostly through flashbacks is always a good time. Between Charlie shoving Dennis in front of a car, the fumigation, Greenman, and getting stuck in a linen closet for 6 days, well... Perfectly ridiculous.
This double-length episode is also clearly uncensored, so get ready for tons of unbleeped f-bombs and a gory claymation scene. It's jam-packed of hilarious scenes, including Mac and Charlie having disturbing revelations about their childhood Christmas traditions; Charlie confronting a mall Santa; Frank being an especially awful father; and the gang aggressively Christmas-caroling at 4 in the morning.
Yet another iconic episode, and probably the best drinking game known to man. Everything about this game is hilarious: the three levels, the huge rulebook, the game pieces. It's so fun to see all their interactions as they ruthlessly compete.
This episode takes place entirely inside of a fancy Italian restaurant, as all the members of the gang find themselves there at the same time. Awkwardness and hilarity ensues. I love episodes like this that involve all the members of the gang together in the same place. Plus, this episode introduces Mac and Dennis's monthly dinner tradition, which is adorable.
This episode is a great insight into Mac's psyche, and Country Mac is a gift. Plus this episode is when years of build-up finally gets textual confirmation as the rest of the gang all agree that Mac is gay. Mac of course is not there yet, as he buries himself in denial and Catholic guilt. Kind of sad, actually.
This episode is basically on here for two reasons: The gang's hilarious and long overdue realization that they're severe alcoholics, and Frank slithering around on the floor covered in hand sanitizer. Plus, locking the gang in the bar would be my response to recent seasons, in which the gang has ventured a little too far from their roots.
This episode is possibly a masterpiece, and I love the manic tone of the whole thing, emphasized with long tracking shots. Charlie certainly deserves more credit for cheating through all of Paddy's health inspections. The carbon monoxide ridden basement and the recorder is probably my favorite part. I also love being thrust into one of the gang's schemes without any context; Charlie, though, figures out the whole thing.
This is the only episode on my list that ventures from the show's Philly roots and really, from the bar. Although this is a gripe I have with recent seasons, this episode justified the choice better than other non-Philly episodes. Dennis has several fantastic freak-outs in this episode ("Newflash, asshole!"), and I love the way it's shot like a horror movie.
Their crack addiction is mentioned a few times in later seasons: In one instance in season 7, Mac asks Dennis what he wants more than anything and Dennis admits it's crack.
The Nightman Cometh (Season 4, episode 13)
This is arguably the most iconic episode of the series, as Charlie's musical comes to fruition. The songs are ridiculous and funny, creating some awkward stage moments. Frank's enunciation of "boy's soul" to sound more like "boy's hole" deserves a mention here.
The World Series Defense (season 5, episode 6)
A Very Sunny Christmas (season 6, episode 13/14)
This double-length episode is also clearly uncensored, so get ready for tons of unbleeped f-bombs and a gory claymation scene. It's jam-packed of hilarious scenes, including Mac and Charlie having disturbing revelations about their childhood Christmas traditions; Charlie confronting a mall Santa; Frank being an especially awful father; and the gang aggressively Christmas-caroling at 4 in the morning.
Chardee MacDennis: The Game of Games (season 7, episode 7)
Yet another iconic episode, and probably the best drinking game known to man. Everything about this game is hilarious: the three levels, the huge rulebook, the game pieces. It's so fun to see all their interactions as they ruthlessly compete.
The Gang Dines Out (season 8, episode 9)
This episode takes place entirely inside of a fancy Italian restaurant, as all the members of the gang find themselves there at the same time. Awkwardness and hilarity ensues. I love episodes like this that involve all the members of the gang together in the same place. Plus, this episode introduces Mac and Dennis's monthly dinner tradition, which is adorable.
Mac Day (season 9, episode 5)
This episode is a great insight into Mac's psyche, and Country Mac is a gift. Plus this episode is when years of build-up finally gets textual confirmation as the rest of the gang all agree that Mac is gay. Mac of course is not there yet, as he buries himself in denial and Catholic guilt. Kind of sad, actually.
The Gang Gets Quarantined (season 9, episode 7)
This episode is basically on here for two reasons: The gang's hilarious and long overdue realization that they're severe alcoholics, and Frank slithering around on the floor covered in hand sanitizer. Plus, locking the gang in the bar would be my response to recent seasons, in which the gang has ventured a little too far from their roots.
Charlie Work (season 10, episode 4)
This episode is possibly a masterpiece, and I love the manic tone of the whole thing, emphasized with long tracking shots. Charlie certainly deserves more credit for cheating through all of Paddy's health inspections. The carbon monoxide ridden basement and the recorder is probably my favorite part. I also love being thrust into one of the gang's schemes without any context; Charlie, though, figures out the whole thing.
Mac & Dennis Move to the Suburbs (season 11, episode 5)
This is the only episode on my list that ventures from the show's Philly roots and really, from the bar. Although this is a gripe I have with recent seasons, this episode justified the choice better than other non-Philly episodes. Dennis has several fantastic freak-outs in this episode ("Newflash, asshole!"), and I love the way it's shot like a horror movie.
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