You would think after 12 seasons, a show would run out of things to talk about. How many shows do you know that could keep it fresh for so long? It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia has been on the air for 13 years and continues to find a way to keep itself fresh, relevant and absolutely hysterical.
The 13th season just wrapped and dare I say it was probably the best season of the show in a long time. Not only does it continue to put the gang in outrageous and hysterical scenarios but it does so in a way that is so unexpected. As soon as you think the episode becomes predictable, as many long-running shows are, it gets flipped on its head and becomes something totally different.
At the end of season 12 Dennis quits the gang to go raise a family and I, like many, was concerned how the show would work without one of the key members but luckily Dennis was in almost all the episodes and the one he was missing worked just as well. The gang is still the gang no matter what and the show finds clever ways to justify his absence but when they are all together it's truly magical and as amazing as ever. Their chemistry is truly something remarkable, they know these characters so intimately that every scene is so natural and it's such a joy to watch each member riff off each other. There is never a dull moment and every line is so natural to each character making it seem like you are watching a reality show and not something that is scripted.
Season 13 had some of the most creative episodes to date and really showed how the show matured into something more than just raunchy, and rude humor. There are episodes that riffs on the whole "Inception" formula that and even Home Alone which are absolutely hysterical. It all culminates into a finale, which was not only laughed out loud funny but also poignant and beautiful in a way this show has never been.
Each character shows real growth this season. From season one Mac, Dennis, Dee, Charlie, and Frank have all been pretty much the same garbage human beings. Whenever you would think they change or become better people the feeling is short-lived and they return to their old ways, it's often hysterical, but predictable. But now, in this season the gang really morphe into something a little more complex and sympathetic, they are still mostly garbage humans but now a little less.
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia season 13 is not just another great season but also a massive step up in what a comedy show could be. It follows none of the tropes and formulas of most comedies on TV and really surprised me on the direction it takes. The gang is just as amazing as ever and has real character growth and maturity resulting in a season finale that will be talked about for months to come.