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Talk About Being Naïve! Review: It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia – “Charlie and Dee Find Love”

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  • November 1, 2012

  • 6 mins to read

IT'S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA: L-R: Rob McElhenney as Mac, Kaitlin Olson as Sweet Dee, Charlie Day as Charlie, Danny DeVito as Frank and Glenn Howerton as Dennis. CR: FX

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, S8 E4 – “Charlie and Dee Find Love”

Air Date: Thursday, November 1, 2012, 10:00 pm ET/PT on FX

Rating: ★★★★★

 

Ruby and Charlie get ready to play tennis.

When I saw the title of this week’s episode, my first reaction was, “What?” They can’t possibly make Charlie (Charlie Day) and Dee (Kaitlin Olson) fall in love with each other! But then, when they’re involved in an accident with the rich and very good looking brother/sister duo, Trevor (Josh Casaubon) and Ruby Taft (Alexandra Daddario), I realized I was wrong—especially with Etta James’ “At Last” playing in the background when the four come face to face. Could this truly be the “love at first sight” everyone searches for?

Observations:

The Gang can’t believe their good fortune when they first see the Taft mansion.

When Dee and Charlie tell Mac (Rob McElhenney), Dennis (Glenn Howerton), and Frank (Danny DeVito) they’ve been invited to dinner by the Tafts, the guys ask them who they’re going to be. With quizzical looks on their faces, Dee and Charlie don’t quite understand until Mac tells them, “Be anybody but yourself!” In true Sunny fashion, Mac is more interested in what he can gain from this new-found relationship. Thus, a plan is set in motion for Dee and Charlie to “become one of them,” meaning the affluent Tafts.

**

The scene at the restaurant put a big smile on my face. You know there’s no way in hell either Dee or Charlie could pull off that rich and famous act for any length of time, but it was funny while they were trying. Just wait ‘til you see Charlie with a big old platter of cheese! But the Tafts aren’t interested in making new well-to-do friends. That set off a big red flag in my mind. What could they possibly be up to? As Dennis, Mac and Frank watch the festivities inside the restaurant from their car, Dennis realizes the Tafts are playing Charlie and Dee so he sets out to protect them. Now, that’s what I call a good friend.

**

Frank and Dennis get ready for a round of tennis.

When Frank, Dennis and Mac take Dee and Charlie to the Tafts’ mansion the next day, they’re invited to stay. I have to say, I’ve never seen anyone play tennis like Dennis. Howerton portrays Dennis like a true bumbling idiot—flailing arms and all. But what really made me laugh was Ruby’s response when he removes his shirt. I know Dennis thinks he’s a God, but I guess Ruby didn’t get that message!

**

Dee trying to entice Trevor is quite comical. No one plays a drunk woman better than Olson, especially with the way she moves her body and slurs her speech. But even funnier is Mac bursting into the room with a karate move, which Trevor seems to like. As a matter of fact, he and Mac become good buddies. With a drunk female trying to seduce him, I have to ask myself, Why is he more interested in Mac than Dee?

**

In the beginning of the episode, Charlie once again stalks The Waitress (Mary Elizabeth Ellis, Charlie Day’s real-life wife) despite the restraining order she has against him. I wasn’t sure why The Waitress was a part of this episode until about 20 minutes in. I think the writers could have found a better way to come to the conclusion they do in “Charlie and Dee Find Love,” but what do I know? I’m not a script writer.

**

I’m not sure I understand Dennis’ reason for making Frank deal with The Waitress while Charlie’s tied up with Ruby, but it turns into one of the funnier scenes when she catches Frank in her apartment. I don’t think I’ve seen anyone run away as fast as The Waitress does.

**

Memorable lines:

Mac to Charlie: “Charlie, do not eat any cheese or any cheese-like substances, ok? If you see any cheese, you run away from it!”

Mac to Dee: “Dee, do not be a drunk punchy whore, ok, you whore?”

Dee: “But…”

Mac: “No, there is no buts! There is no buts! Do not screw this up for me…for you…for all of us.”

**

So, do Charlie and Dee really find love? Not by a long shot but it was fun watching the episode. Unfortunately, “Charlie and Dee Find Love” doesn’t live up to Sunny’s high comedic standards. I laughed and smiled but I didn’t have any good belly laughs or laugh-out-loud moments. It felt as if the writers were trying too hard to make this episode funny, and it didn’t work. Hopefully, I’ll be laughing my ass off next week!

Tune in to It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Thursdays at 10:00 pm ET/PT, only on FX.

LIKE Sunny on Facebook, and follow the show on Twitter @FXNetworks, using the hashtag #sunnyfx. You can also follow Frank @DannyDeVito, Mac @Robmcelhenney, Dee @kaitlin_olson, and Dennis @Glenn_Howerton. You can also submit questions to The Gang via the Sunny mailbag @SunnyMailbag.

All photos courtesy of Patrick McElhenney / © 2012 FX Networks, LLC. All rights reserved.

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Linda

Love TV, movies, and books--mostly mysteries, with a good love story thrown in every now and then. I have four adopted dogs who I adore. I love trying new recipes, and enjoy eating what I make. English language perfectionist. Reading in bed, Italian food, warm weather, the beach, all types of games = favs!

Linda

Love TV, movies, and books--mostly mysteries, with a good love story thrown in every now and then. I have four adopted dogs who I adore. I love trying new recipes, and enjoy eating what I make. English language perfectionist. Reading in bed, Italian food, warm weather, the beach, all types of games = favs!