WARNING!!! The following article contains spoilers for It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

Summary

• The most re-watchable It's Always Sunny episodes provide big laughs and clever storylines for fans.
• The Paddy's Pub Gang continues to prove they're the least likable characters on TV, with over 100 unforgettable ensemble episodes.
• Memorable moments, like musical episodes and harsh cultural critiques, showcase the show's unique humor and dark comedy style.

With 16 seasons and counting, the most re-watchable It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia episodes cement the show's lasting legacy. The Paddy's Pub Gang can always be counted on to get up to some wild mischief and continue to prove they are among the least likable characters on television. The collection of episodes numbers far over 100 at this point, and while there is no sign of slowing down, there are some episodes fans can always return to.

The episodes of It's Always Sunny that never seem to get old offer the big laughs that fans are always looking for from the show. They feature the most clever and exciting storylines from the series and make great use of the unforgettable ensemble It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia has created. From the early favorites to the more recent episodes that prove the show still has it, the funniest Always Sunny episodes stand out.

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia is available to stream on Hulu.

25 "The Gang Turns Black"

Season 12, Episode 1

It is rare that It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia approaches social issues in such a direct manner. Any fan of the show knows that the entire purpose of the Gang's racist, sexist, misogynistic, hateful actions are done because they are all really bad people. Their stupidity is the joke, and their prejudices are part of what makes them terrible. However, in "The Gang Turns Black," the show delivers its own harsh indictment of racism in America, and the show does it in the strangest way possible.

This is a musical episode, with 10 original songs along the way.

This is a musical episode, with 10 original songs along the way. The entire story is a thinly veiled critique of what it is like to be discriminated against. It is also a case where the Gang doesn't really get it, while the entire audience knows exactly what is going on. When Dennis says it is hard to know when discrimination is happening, that is a staggering moment, but then in the end, none of them really learn anything, as is often the case.

24 "Charlie Kelly: King Of The Rats"

Season 6, Episode 10

In the season 6 episode, "Charlie Kelly: King of the Rats," Charlie walks up to the Gang, and he is completely in a daze after spending a long time bashing rats in the bar's basement. He its he killed about 200 rats and started to theorize about life and wonder if rats' lives are any less important than humans' lives.

It is an interesting moment of internalization, but that is just the setup because none of them really care about human lives or even that of rats. This episode is one of the rare ones where the Gang decides to stop being mean for a small moment to do something nice for someone else.

In this case, they decide that since Charlie is too upset, they should throw him a birthday party. The fact that it isn't his birthday doesn't matter to anyone and they move on forward with the plans, which makes it even more charming and surprisingly heartfelt. Of course, there are also jokes at Charlie's expanse about his illiteracy, but that just makes it even better.

23 "The Gang Tends Bar"

Season 12, Episode 8

One of the best It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia episodes sees the Gang actually have some heartfelt moments. This comes with several characters, including Frank and Charlie, who have a huge jealous spat that turns into reconciliation and kindness.

There is also a Dee and Charlie moment that shows that the romance that started in an earlier season ("The Gang Misses the Boat") might be real after all, and it continued on, possibly behind everyone's backs. However, what makes this episode so great is the Mac and Dennis storyline.

For 12 seasons, most fans just assumed Dennis had no feelings at all, didn't care about anyone else's feelings, and was as dark as it gets. However, this episode sees Dennis blowing up at everyone for ruining the bar's business by acting like fools. Finally, when the episode ends, though, Mac gives Dennis a present — an RPG-7 rocket launcher — which brings Dennis to tears in a shocking moment.

22 "The Gang Misses The Boat"

Season 10, Episode 6

While everyone in It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia is self-centered, only thinks of themselves, and has almost no conscience, they always seem to help each other. Rarely do they do it all as one unit, but they often split up into groups of two or three people to get things done — often at the expense of the others.

That is what makes "The Gang Misses The Boat" such an interesting and fun episode. Here, the Gang are all on their own, and things do not go well for them as a result. Frank ends up destroying three people's lives. Mac seemingly digs himself further into the closet as he still can't come out to anyone, not even his friends.

Dennis ends up failing at everything he does because of his anger issues. However, Charlie and Dee seem to do well on their own, and the two even have a romance start up between them. This is the episode where everyone realizes they have become codependent and need to know what that means for their lives.

21 "Hero Or Hate Crime"

Season 12, Episode 6

This episode sets up its story and jokes in an interesting way. The Gang is all standing around in the streets, and there is a piano hanging over the sidewalk with ominous music playing. Clearly, something bad is going to happen, and the most creative thing about the best It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia episodes is how they often subvert expectations. In this case, that really had little to do with anything other than the Gang saving Mac from the falling piano. But what matters here is that Frank uses a gay slur.

Mac says he doesn't plan to go back in the closet.

The main episode is about scratch-off tickets and the Gang going to arbitration to see who is the rightful owner of a scratch-off lottery ticket. The real story, though, is that this is the episode where Mac finally comes out to his friends once and for all. Of course, he does it to win the arbitration since Frank used a gay slur, but it only affects him if he is gay. Despite this, the heart at the end when Mac says he doesn't plan to go back in the closet seems heartfelt and helps this episode shine.

20 "Thunder Gun Express"

Season 7, Episode 11

It’s Always Sunny can have a lot of fun with outlandish concepts, but the show can also get big laughs from very relatable scenarios. “Thunder Gun Express” follows the Gang as they attempt to make it to a movie on time only to face one obstacle after another which results in one member of the Gang after another dropping out of their quest.

There is an excitement to the story as it is told in real-time with a ticking clock component. It is also another great example of how these so-called friends don’t care about each other as seen when somebody else gets left behind simply because the others cannot be bothered to help.

Possibly the best part of this entire episode involves Frank. He meets some Asian tourists and ends up giving them summaries of things that happened in past It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia episodes.

19 "Moyle vs. Ponderosa: The Trial Of The Century"

Season 11, Episode 7

This episode directly ties into the episode “The Maureen Ponderosa Wedding Massacre” from season 8. The bloodbath that ensued in that episode led to the Gang taking part in a high-stakes court case.

As fans can predict, seeing the Gang in court is a setup for some comedic gold. One of the big things here is that Charlie finally gets a chance to use his obsession with Bird Law, which is a nice callback for fans of the series.

The episode is a special one as it sees a lot of the show’s best recurring characters coming together, from the Moyles to Bill Ponderosa to Uncle Jack. There is even the return of Guillermo del Toro as Pappy Moyle, one of the most entertaining cameos in the show. But the real highlight that never gets old is seeing Charlie step into his wannabe lawyer role.

18 "The Gang Goes To The Water Park"

Season 12, Episode 2

It’s Always Sunny’s characters are so wild and entertaining at this point that the show can throw them into any new location and watch them have fun. As the title of this episode suggests, the Gang spends a hot day at the water park with mayhem ensuing.

The location provides a fun and energetic tone that makes it a fun episode to get wrapped up in

The result is Dennis finding a young protégé, Mac and Dee getting stuck in a water slide and Charlie and Frank using a shocking lie to get to the front of the line quicker. The location provides a fun and energetic tone that makes it a fun episode to get wrapped up in.

However, what makes the episode stand out is that Dennis finds a relationship based on respect, which is likely the first time this has ever happened to him. He also meets his match, and she gets the better of him in the situation. The best episodes are those where the Gang gets what is coming to them, and Dennis really gets his here.

17 "Sweet Dee Has A Heart Attack"

Season 4, Episode 10

This episode begins with Dee having a heart attack which doesn’t matter to the rest of the Gang. However, it does give everyone a wake-up call that they need to start looking out for their health. Mac and Charlie take a corporate job to get health care and Dennis and Dee focus on the lifestyle of healthy people rather than being healthy.

Even people who don’t watch the show know the popular Pepe Silvia meme. However, fans will know that scene is just one of the highlights of one of the funniest Always Sunny episodes​​​​​​. There are also some creative scenes throughout that many people will appreciate.

Frank ends up in a scene from the classic movie One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (which Danny DeVito was in) and this scene also includes actor Tim Sampson (the son of Will Sampson from the original movie as well). Add in homage to The Secret of My Success and A Beautiful Mind, and there is a lot going on here.

16 "A Very Sunny Christmas"

Season 6, Episode 13

The best Christmas episodes on television are the kind of ones that fans want to revisit every holiday season. It’s Always Sunny’s R-rated Christmas episode manages to maintain the show’s edge while also providing some Yuletide comfort.

There is also a great song and dance number, with The Year Without a Santa Claus wonderfully wild and violent. This is also very original, and not really a spoof of any holiday movie or TV show.

The episode finds the Gang getting into the holiday spirit in different ways, with Dee and Dennis attempting to teach Frank a Christmas Carol-like lesson, while Mac and Charlie are confronted with the dark truths of their childhood Christmases. Even watching this every Christmas, the scenes of Frank hiding in a coach and Charlie confronting a mall Santa never stops being funny. Seeing Charlie going off on Santa Claus when he accuses him of getting with his mom was darkly comedic.