Over 16 years and 14 seasons, It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia has followed the lives of Charlie, Mac, Dennis, Dee, and Frank as they continuously put themselves before others in almost every situation. The gang spends most of their time bickering and betraying one another, leading to some hilarious scenes.
While each character in Always Sunny possesses a distinct personality trait, with none of them receiving extensive character development, there are still certain quotes that highlight a different aspect of their personalities. Whenever the gang displays nice or thoughtful tendencies, it is genuinely surprising as it contrasts their usually mean personas.
Luther
“Well, I Wanted It To Be A Surprise.”
Luther MacDonald is a character that is integral to the development of his son, Mac. Appearing in only eight episodes out of 162 (so far), Luther’s primary personality trait is his lack of care and interest in his own child, which Mac seemingly is unaware of despite it being obvious.
In season three episode eleven, Mac and Charlie begin to believe that Luther is killing people that he wronged before being imprisoned and that he will kill them, too. After calling the cops, it is revealed that Luther actually planned to take Mac and Charlie to the Baseball Hall of Fame. His decision to surprise his son with a gift indicates that he does in fact love him, despite a display of the contrary.
Cricket
“Don’t Flatter Yourself, I’m Over You Sister.”
Rickety Cricket, or Matthew Mara, has undoubtedly suffered the most under the wrath of the main characters. Despite being a character that arguably deserves to join the Sunny gang, Cricket is only ever called upon by them for his assistance in their schemes, or he gets caught in their warpath.
The start of Cricket’s downfall saw him leaving the priesthood and confessing his love to Dee, who immediately rejected him. For several seasons, Cricket continued to express his infatuation with her, until season six episode four, in which he claims he is over her. Given that he appears to have no interest in her after this point, it is a moment that indicates a change in his primary personality trait.
The Waitress
“I Want You Back In My Life.”
The Waitress, played by Mary Elizabeth Ellis (real-life wife of Charlie Day), spends the majority of her 32 appearances exasperated by Charlie’s constant attempts to insert himself into her life. In an episode that sees Charlie dating another girl and abandoning his daily tasks to keep the Waitress safe, her life falls apart.
As her life gets worse due to Frank’s interference, she ends up in the hospital and calls Charlie, asking for his help. Considering her vehement objection to being involved with Charlie in any way, it is surprising to see her actively asking for his involvement in her life. It is a moment that lays the groundwork for their long-awaited, albeit short-lived, relationship in seasons 12 and 13.
Frank
“Oh My God. I Get It.”
Frank’s introduction in the second season of Sunny saw Hollywood star Danny DeVito saving the series from cancellation, as reported by Business Insider. DeVito plays the illegitimate father of Dennis and Dee, and while he is the father figure of the gang, he is just as despicable as the rest of them.
Frank gets away with some unbelievable things on Sunny, including using a homophobic slur against Mac. Frank admits he does not understand or particularly like Mac, but in the episode, “Mac Finds His Pride,” Frank reacts surprisingly to Mac’s dance. He explains that he finally understands Mac through teary eyes, which reveals another side to his personality. It showcases that Frank truly is the makeshift father figure of Mac and the gang in general.
Dee
“I Love You Guys Very Much, Sometimes You’re Not That Cool.”
Kaitlin Olson’s acceptance of the role of Dee Reynolds hinged on her desire to be a character that is just as despicable as the others, according to The Cut. She was initially written as the voice of reason, but her character became one of the most original and inventive female characters in sitcom television.
While Dee does some disgraceful things in Always Sunny, the beginning of the series features the remnants of her initial character design. In the first episode, Dee tells the gang she loves them, but that they are “not cool.” It is surprising when considered alongside her horrific behavior throughout the show, as she rarely shows affection for the gang, and when she derides them it is usually with much more offensive language.
Dennis
“I’m Leaving. I’m Gonna Go Be A Dad.”
Throughout the majority of the series, Dennis consistently showcases his sinister side. Whether it be threatening to turn Dee into “skin luggage,” or yelling about his “tools,” Dennis sometimes frightens the gang with the reveal of his dark nature. In the show’s 12th season, the mostly unchanging plot of the series takes a drastic turn.
Dennis’ decision to leave the gang comes after he finds out he is a father. Not only is it a surprising plot point, but Dennis choosing to leave the gang to raise his child is entirely unexpected given Dennis’ well-defined personality traits. As a malevolent, complex, and arguably creepy man, it is shocking to see him turn to fatherhood.
Mac
“No, I Think I’m Out Now. Yeah, I’m Gay.”
There are numerous reasons why Mac is considered the best Always Sunny character, one of them being that he has a greater arc than any other cast member. Mac mostly stays the exact same throughout the series, as a Christian man with conflicting morals who is in denial about his sexuality.
In a surprising season 12 episode, “Hero Or Hate Crime?” Mac reveals that he is gay. Considering the prior 11 seasons in which Mac rarely experiences any character development, it is a moment that appears to completely contrast his personality, as he is open and honest about an aspect of his life.
Charlie
“She’s Acting Like A Real B**** Now.”
Charlie Kelly is a character whose main goal in the series is to gain the affection of The Waitress. She consistently avoids his advances, but he is never deterred and continues to attempt to form a relationship. At the end of season 12, Charlie hopes the two can have a baby and tells The Waitress he loves her, which leads to them sleeping together.
Charlie’s attitude towards the Waitress following this moment is completely different, as he believes that she becomes obsessive and annoying, which comes as a total surprise for his character. This quote indicates that Charlie’s character development was for nothing, and it relates to the idea that because each member of the gang is awful, they do not deserve the ending they desire.
