After part one’s tumultuous events, part two of the season 11 finale of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” showcases the gang’s final interactions in the face of a likely death.
Being locked together in the ship’s small jail allows a rare — for this season — prolonged interaction between the whole gang which pays off, creating a consistently enjoyable conclusion to the season.
The last episode ended with Mac’s big coming-out moment, even though his homosexuality has been obvious to viewers and the rest of the gang for years. Surprisingly however, this episode doesn’t really capitalize on this thread. Other characters mention how Mac immediately tries to embody stereotypes of gay men, but the viewer really doesn’t see much of this behavior beyond Mac’s insisting he’s a “top,” not a “bottom” — a frequent topic of conversation among the gang in general.
Largely, Mac is still the workout-obsessed control freak he has always been, and this is still the source of his funnier moments. Even though the episode doesn’t necessarily suffer for the lack of gay humor, it’s odd they didn’t really capitalize on this predictably temporary development.
Much of the episode sees the gang trying to fill their last hours together, and this leads to a number of great moments. Viewers see their penchant for inane conversation as they argue about boat noises, act out a great imaginary dinner party scene and even try a play on “Stomp” before ultimately turning to confessions. In classic gang fashion, the confessions end up being an excuse to tattle on each other.
These moments are great opportunities to showcase each individual character doing his thing. Dee alternates between trying to remain aloof and forcibly inserting herself into the gang’s activities, which fits well with her outsider status. Dennis is seen at his darkest and most unemotional, especially during the confession scene, and Charlie is as naively idiotic as ever. The gang’s final tranquil moment as they accept their fates is paired effectively with their cutthroat behavior once the possibility of survival presents itself.
Even though the suggestion of dying is obviously a fake out, the prospect of death shows how the gang will be depraved and narcissistic to the bitter end. The episode is a bit reminiscent of the fifth season finale of “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” in which Larry David similarly explores his hypothetical death.
It’s a poignant place to take the show, especially as it nears the end of its probable lifespan. Season 11 has definitely revealed signs of the show’s age, but the finale showcases what has made it one of the best comedies on television for more than a decade.
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