I Didn’t Expect It’s Always Sunny’s Finale To Both Make Me Cry AND Have An All-Time Classic TV Reunion For Danny DeVito

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Be advised that the following discussion contains significant plot reveals from the Season 17 finale of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”. If you haven’t caught up yet, either through your Disney+ or Hulu subscription, consider this a spoiler alert!

Instead of ending the 17th season with an ordinary episode where the main group causes distress for someone else, as is customary in It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, they instead switched up the format and style for “The Golden Bachelor Live.” This shift led to one of their most fittingly excellent episodes, thanks to a delightful sitcom reunion and the last time Lynne Marie Stewart’s Bonnie Kelly was seen on screen.

For the past two decades, I’ve considered myself a devoted aficionado of this show, thinking I had seen it all and knew what to anticipate from each episode, having been left astounded on numerous occasions by the ingenious genre-bending finales that Always Sunny has delivered. Yet, I found myself humbled in the best possible way, with no need for the illustrious educators from Abbott Elementary to make a guest appearance.

I Adored The Taxi Reunion, And Carol Kane’s Performance Was Legitimately Emmy-Worthy

Despite Danny DeVito being frequently admired locally for his iconic roles like the Penguin in Batman Returns and Louie De Palma in Taxi, I must admit I never thought those characters would intersect with It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, given that one is set in New York and the other in Philadelphia. After all, they are two different cities, right?

Despite everything, it was incredibly touching and inspiring to discover that one of Frank’s two potential Golden Bachelor contestants was none other than Carol Kane, Danny DeVito’s former co-star from the show “Taxi.” In 2025, she will be seen in an episode of “Poker Face” and in the third season of “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.” She is a truly exceptional actress who, even with limited screen time here, left me absolutely astonished.

Despite Frank’s constant preoccupation with popping his blue pills and indulging in wild antics during his stint as Jesse Palmer’s Bachelor counterpart on “Golden Bachelor,” Kane’s Samantha emerged as a genuine person, contrasting Audrey Corsa’s exaggerated character, “Cock Chewa” – the cartoonish penis enthusiast. Among all women of comparable age, Frank developed feelings for Samantha, and their dinner scene together was undeniably the most compellingly dramatic moment in “It’s Always Sunny” to date.

Kane’s portrayal of living an entire life as “Sam” rather than “Samantha” was so powerful that it could potentially merit this show an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Star. And let me tell you, the climactic scene where Frank left the studio to prevent Sam from boarding a bus, proposing to her in the pouring rain, was nothing short of surprising! Who would have thought that Frank, who was previously portrayed as an odd vagrant, could be so romantic and endearing?

Somewhere out there, it is hoped that the spirit of the late comedian Andy Kaufman, known for his work on Taxi, would have given a approving nod. If this were the first time Kaufman’s spirit saw the show, it would likely find it quite perplexing.

Lynne Marie Stewart’s Final On-Screen Role Was Honored With A Tearful Post-Episode Tribute

As we approached the Season 17 finale, it was surprising to see Bonnie, Charlie’s mother, make a final appearance, given that actress Lynne Marie Stewart, who played her and was renowned from Pee-Wee’s Playhouse, had passed away in February 2025, just two months after filming ended. Her unexpected return as Dennis’ hidden advantage to shake up the competition certainly stirred my feelings.

In contrast to Kane, who was given grand monologues, Stewart found herself humorously branded as a ‘lady of the night’ on multiple occasions by Frank, who also generously complimented her intuition regarding his preferences in private. It wasn’t the most elegant farewell, but one couldn’t ask for more, even if Frank ultimately chose Sam over Stewart.

As a devoted film enthusiast, I wasn’t surprised when the episode concluded with a heartfelt tribute to Lynne Marie Stewart. However, this tribute was far from the usual single-image homage that many shows opt for when remembering their late cast and crew members. Instead, Rob Mac & Co. spared no effort, prolonging the final scene’s musical selection, Conway Twitty’s “You Were Always On My Mind,” to accompany a moving montage of Bonnie Kelly’s most memorable moments over the past two decades. The montage kicked off with scenes from Season 1’s “Charlie Got Molested,” offering a poignant journey through her remarkable career.

The montage started and finished on Bonnie’s poignant “gingerbread boy” quote, and as I sit here reflecting on it, my eyes are filling with tears. Whether the show will eventually touch upon Bonnie’s demise within its narrative is uncertain, but I can’t help but feel a pang of sadness at the prospect. However, let’s appreciate that Stewart managed to create such an exceptional finale instead. Rest in peace, Bonnie.

This Was Also One Of The Craziest Endings To Any Of The Gang’s Wild Schemes

In case anyone assumed that ‘It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’ would provide a sentimental season finale without causing temporary distress to most of its main characters, they were mistaken. Building on the penultimate episode’s parody of rehearsals, which included one of my favorite Dennis Reynolds lines, the gang barely survives their planned “Hometown Dates” dinner. This chaotic event concludes with Charlie losing his cool and shattering dishes onto the table.

In a surprising turn of events, the hilarious scene you see above unfolds due to an unplanned practical joke involving toothpaste. The gag goes wrong, leading to quite a spectacle: they end up with green-stained skin in various spots and some of them even lose big clumps of hair. This latter issue arises because Charlie secretly introduces Nair into the prank without informing others about it.

It’s quite surprising to move from the Gang’s cheerful planning to this chilling outcome. Not just their outward appearances have changed, but even their voices seem altered, as if they’ve been lifelong heavy smokers.

  • CHARLIE: The situation – [gasp] – under the circumstances – [gasp] – is quite understandable. Our appearance may seem gruesome, but all can be – [gasp] – quite easily explained.
  • DENNIS: Indeed, indeed. As you can tell, our voices have also been affected, creating an unintentionally sinister tone.

In a remarkably straightforward manner, it seems Dennis attempted to address such an unusual situation – one that left me almost incredulous given his absence. Considering the efforts he made to distance himself from the unfavorable publicity stemming from his appearance on Family Fight during Season 10, it’s surprising that he graced us with his presence in the studio.

Regrettably, another amazing finale puts It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia back on pause for a while ahead. Frankly, I can’t imagine how they could surpass the outrageous scenes this season delivered, particularly those involving the dog track. For now, I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed and staying tuned for future developments.

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2025-08-21 18:53