The infamous McPoyle family has been noticeably absent from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia since season 11, but the creepy family's overdue reappearance would serve the long-running sitcom's best interests. Over the course of 15 seasons, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia has had its share of eclectic reoccurring side characters from Rickety Cricket to Charlie's love interest, the Waitress. However, the McPoyle family is arguably the most memorable, and twins Liam (Jimmi Simpson) and Ryan (Nate Mooney) were instrumental during It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia's formative years.
Liam and Ryan were the first McPoyles shown on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia; their debut in season 1, episode 7, "Charlie Got Molested," and other appearances through the first three seasons helped build the show's reputation as a modernized version of Seinfeld. Gradually, more McPoyles showed up in episodes like season 3’s “The Gang Gets Invincible” and season 8’s “The Maureen Ponderosa Wedding Massacre.” Frustratingly, while the inbred family’s numbers increased, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia did not increase the frequency of the McPoyles’ onscreen appearances.
If anything, it's the opposite: the show has not featured or mentioned the McPoyles since season 11, and it's just as conspicuous as It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia's five missing episodes. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia needs to bring the McPoyles back - or at least Liam and Ryan. It's no secret that, while It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia continues to have its devoted fans, there's a growing consensus that the FX-turned-FXX sitcom has overstayed its welcome by a not insignificant amount. The McPoyles making a triumphant return to Paddy's Pub would simultaneously be nostalgic while also reinvigorating the increasingly stale, gimmicky show with some old-but-new life. The McPoyles are undoubtedly an integral, iconic part of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia's history, so it's surprising that they've only been in a handful of episodes over the course of almost two decades. Even the hated Rickety Cricket has made more appearances; the fan-favorite former priest's total comes in at around 24 episodes, and his last appearance was in season 14.
What Happened To The McPoyle Family In Always Sunny
The McPoyles were last seen way back in 2016 in It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia season 11, episode 7, "McPoyle vs. Ponderosa: The Trial of the Century." The episode is something of a spiritual sequel to season 8's "The Maureen Ponderosa Wedding Massacre," and the episode's arc revolves around the McPoyles hiring the Lawyer, another recurring character, to sue Bill Ponderosa for Liam losing his eye during the titular massacre. The wildly unqualified Uncle Jack and self-proclaimed bird law expert Charlie are tasked with representing Bill, leading to yet another episode where the Always Sunny Gang is telling stories in court. In an unexpected twist, Charlie's bird law theory directly leads to the judge throwing out the case, much to the Lawyer's enraged chagrin, and that's the last time the McPoyles are seen or even referenced on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
The McPoyle "bloodline is very strong" and Liam has said before that "legions of us, thousands sturdy, once ruled this fine land." It is time for the McPoyles to rule once more with their inexplicable lust for lukewarm milk. Most importantly, it is time for It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia to bring back the McPoyle family. Doing so would be beneficial for a couple of reasons for the longest-running live-action comedy series in American history.