Though it began its life as a small show on FX that no one was watching, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia has since become one of the longest-running live-action shows of all time. Its audience grew from the small cult following it began with to a wide audience that considers it one of the funniest shows on television.
With that much love from fans and after more than a decade on the air, there are no doubt a lot of opinions about the show. From those who stand up against common criticisms of the show to those who voice their dislike about fan-favorite episodes, Reddit is filled with passionate yet unpopular opinions.
Season 9 Is The Series' Worst
After a whopping fourteen seasons thus far, it's not surprising that some fans find certain seasons better than others. But while there are some seasons that are generally agreed upon as lesser entries, one fan thinks season 9 is the worst of the bunch.
Looking at the rating for the episodes of season 9, it seems like most fans see it as a very solid season overall with a few standout episodes like "The Gang Saves the Day." But not only does this fan think the season is trying too hard, but they also point to that popular episode as the main example.
Frank's Brother Is A Good Episode
One of the lowest-rated episodes in the entire series is "Frank's Brother" from season 7 which many fans see as a rare dud in the show. The episode is told in flashbacks to explain why Frank Reynolds and his brother had a falling out years ago.
Despite the nearly universal dislike for the episode, some are not as critical of it. While one viewer admits it is not a high point of the show, they still see it as a funny episode that improves over repeat viewings and features a great performance from Danny DeVito.
The Gang Broke Dee Doesn't Make Sense
Another popular episode from season 9 is "The Gang Broke Dee." It is one of the more brutal yet hilarious concepts in which Dee is taken out of her depression when she suddenly becomes a hit stand-up comedian on her way to success. But in the end, it all turns out to be a prank pulled by the gang.
While many love the episode, one fan feels it doesn't make any sense and is out of character for the show. They maintain that the gang being able to pull off such an elaborate farce as this goes against everything that has been established about them.
Cricket Is Annoying
Among the many memorable recurring characters on the show, Cricket is possibly the most popular. Though he started out as a respectable priest, he gradually has his entire life ruined by the gang and he continues to become more and more depraved with every new appearance.
Most fans found the downward spiral of Cricket to be a hilarious running joke on the show. But one fan felt that the more Cricket became disgusting and gruesome, the more annoying he became.
The McPoyle Episodes Are The Worst
Though Cricket is a strong contender for the most disgusting character on the show, he also has some serious competition from the McPoyles. These two brothers are former classmates of the gang who are hilariously creepy and are often antagonists.
The unsettling relationship between the brothers and their love of warm milk is hilarious to many fans, but not everyone. A viewer maintains that the episodes in which the McPoyles appear are the worst in the series simply because they are so uncomfortable to watch.
The Show Is Very Consistent
With any show that has been around as long as this one, there will inevitably be ups and downs. This is the opinion many fans share about the series, feeling that there are certain high points as well as some seasons where the quality has dropped off.
In a positive outlook from one fan, they offered the thought that the show has remained remarkably consistent since its beginning. In their mind, any dips in quality have been largely unnoticeable and the show has been reliably great.
Charlie's Songs Aren't Funny
There are a lot of strange aspects to the character of Charlie Kelly that fans simply love. But perhaps his most popular eccentricity is his bizarre musical sensibilities. Influenced by huffing glue and paint, Charlie has created several hilarious songs that are too weird to even explain.
Charlie's songs even led to a musical episode called "Nightman Cometh" which many see as a series highlight. But not everyone is impressed with Charlie's talents with some calling his songs unfunny.
Frank Is The Worst Of The Gang
The addition of Frank Reynolds on the show was largely seen as a much-needed boost of energy. Danny DeVito's very committed performance in the role was incredible and Frank very easily became a member of the gang.
One fan agrees that Frank is a very funny character, but maintains that he is the worst of the main group. For a character who has delivered many great moments on the show, it's hard to see Frank as lesser than the others.
Dee Is Irritating
Dee was initially used as the more grounded and sensible female character on the show. But over time, they started to embrace her as a true member of the gang and allowed her to be as depraved and funny as the others.
Dee quickly established herself as one of the most memorable characters, but her charms were lost on some. While one fan acknowledged that her character, like the others, was meant to be unlikable, they simply found her to be too irritating.
The Show Is Unwatchable
With a show that has been around as long as It's Always Sunny and has earned such a strong following from fans, the most unpopular opinion that one could have is that the show is not good.
Indeed, that is the opinion shared by one viewer who went so far as to dub the show unwatchable. They described it as listening to a bunch of people with shrill voices trying to talk over each other and compared it to hanging out with drunk people while you are sober.