It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Season 18 Episode 3 Review: The (Not-So) Glory Days of College

Critic’s Rating: 3.5 / 5.0

3.5

Out of all the upcoming episodes, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Season 18 Episode 3 seemed the most promising.

The first two episodes of Season 18 had me hopeful in terms of believing in the show’s potential to find its magic again without repeating

And while the idea of Dennis and Dee getting diagnosed with ADHD while Mac and Charlie don’t sounds great, the episode doesn’t live up to its premise. 

I was most invested in Charlie’s storyline about his inconclusive diagnosis, as it emulates the best parts of episodes like Season 12 Episode 8, “Flowers for Charlie,” that highlight Charlie’s unique outlook on the world.  

But everything else is mostly forgettable. 

Frank’s wild adventure with the unsuspecting Jie, along with Mac, Dennis, and Dee’s studying struggles, feels like a series of loosely connected scenes rather than a cohesive storyline with a rewarding payoff. 

Rather than building off the momentum of the fresh start, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Season 18 Episode 3, “The Gang Gets Tested,” conforms to the comfortable, mediocre standards of the latest episode. 

Let’s Talk About Being Neurodivergent

Even though I didn’t love the episode, I have to give the show credit for starting an open, approachable conversation about ADHD.

Mental health and neurodivergent labels are topics that TV shows often mischaracterize and sensationalize (see 13 Reasons Why). 

So, it’s quite a big deal that the episode opens with the Gang discussing Dennis and Dee’s ADHD diagnoses. 

While the scene of Dee and Dennis discussing the diagnoses is funny, the humor isn’t derived from the fact that they have ADHD but rather from how deep in denial they are. 

To portray ADHD on screen, the episode simplifies some symptoms, like getting easily distracted, but I also can’t fault the sitcom for not offering a more nuanced portrayal given the twenty-minute time limit. 

Also, I really enjoyed Charlie’s storyline and watching all the psychologists try to diagnose him. 

Even though I know we’re supposed to be laughing at how absurd Charlie’s logic is, I couldn’t help but find his earnestness endearing, even if it’s misguided. 

Obviously, all the scenes of Charlie explaining how his mind works to the psychologists are gold, but my favorite moment is when he’s about to find out his diagnosis.

For a lot of neurodivergent people like me, getting a diagnosis is often difficult but necessary in terms of understanding how our brains work. 

But of course, Charlie has a different approach and completely rejects the idea that he could ever fit into any box, even if it’s an entirely new one invented for him. 

It makes sense that as an older millennial, Charlie would subscribe to the “who needs all these labels” mindset, but at the same time, seeing him radically accept himself is inspiring. 

I hope this episode isn’t a one-off, because I would love to see the show keep discussing Charlie’s unique take on being neurodivergent!

Party Rockers in the House Tonight

The biggest problem with Frank’s storyline is that his motivations didn’t make sense.

It isn’t surprising that putting Frank on a college campus would lead to a disastrous dive and a break-in at the Dean’s office.

But I’m more surprised that he would rope a poor unsuspecting kid into his antics, especially since Frank tends to fly solo if he isn’t bringing the Gang along. 

The show writes off this decision as Frank trying to teach Jie a lesson of never doing anything a random stranger tells you to, but I also felt like the episode wasted precious time on a forgettable storyline.

Also, I didn’t love that Jie fell into the stereotype of a nerdy East Asian immigrant student who never goes out to party. 

Sure, he makes the perfect candidate for Frank’s antics, but the decision to reiterate a tired old trope for the sake of getting a few laughs felt cheap. 

I almost wish that the other members of the Gang, like Dennis and Dee, had been in these scenarios instead. After all, going head-to-head with jocks at a party sounds right up their alley.

Instead, Dennis, Dee, and Mac spend the episode too busy being scattered to study. 

Don’t Cram For Finals, Kids

Dee, Dennis, and Mac enroll in the course together, but they each have their own demons to battle.

Out of the trio, Mac is the most entertaining to watch, as he loses his mind over the loose tootsie roll Dennis keeps sneaking into his ear. 

Rob’s physical comedy is great in this episode. He should throw his body into bookshelves more often. 

Unfortunately, Dennis and Dee’s usual chaotic energy feels a little duller than usual, though part of it could be their anxiety around their new diagnoses.

One of my biggest concerns with the latest It’s Always Sunny seasons is their tendency to reiterate past storylines instead of offering new ones, and this definitely applies to Dennis and Dee in this episode. 

Dennis slips back into the “creepy guy leering at girls” routine again, but the show turns that trope on its head when it’s revealed that he sleeps with the old professor and doesn’t even get a good grade out of it. 

Meanwhile, Dee starts using crack again, just like in Season 2 Episode 3, “Dennis and Dee Go on Welfare.” 

The show spends way too much time trying to play up the humor of individual scenes, but doesn’t necessarily spend enough time making the story cohesive.

Ultimately, that’s why the reveal that none of them actually enrolled in the class doesn’t land.

I’m worried the rest of the season might see the Gang keep playing cartoonish versions of themselves, but we’ll have to wait and see if they can turn the tide in next week’s episode.

Paddy’s Pub Bulletin Board

• Charlie’s insight that hair is “the grass of the head” is kind of genius if you think about it! 
• The jocks that showed up at the party felt very 2000’s high-school-comedy-esque. Too bad it didn’t go anywhere. 

• Jie’s hip-roll actually got a laugh out of me. He’s got impressive dance moves. 
• Mac mentioned his mom again this episode. I have a strong feeling this season is building up to some sort of McDonald family confrontation. 
• I loved that Mac was determined to take excellent notes, even if he ended up destroying them anyway.

That’s all from me! What were your top moments from the latest episode of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia?

Don’t forget to vote in the poll below, and come back next week for our continued coverage of the Gang’s antics!

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia airs on Mondays at 9/8c on FXX, FX, and Hulu.