Still Raw: 'It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia' Turned Back The Clock And Is Delivering One Of The Best Seasons They've Ever Had

Before this season started I blogged about the teaser, calling it ridiculous and let me tell you something. I think I undersold it. That's all I can think about after watching last night's 5th episode 'The Gang Goes To The Dog Park.' If you haven't watched it yet you don't understand the raw comment. You will one day. You should today, because last night's episode just confirmed the gang turned back the clock, went very old school and is delivering one of the best seasons they've ever had.

I know, I know. People long for the old days. People refuse to believe anything new can be better, I get it. But this season is easily off to a start we haven't seen since the early seasons. Reminder these are the 5 episodes we've gotten so far this season: 

1. The Gang Fucks Up Abbott Elementary

2. Frank Is In A Coma

3. Mac And Dennis Become EMT's 

4. Though Leadership: A Corporate Conversation

5. The Gang Goes To A Dog Track

You can't find a weak spot in that group. I don't know shit about Abbott Elementary, but it was still a fine episode. Not one I'd start the season off, but they rebounded considering I think you can throw Mac and Dennis Become EMT's and The Gang Goes To A Dog Track into top-15/20 all-time episode range. 

So far they've hit The Bear and Succession in different episodes. They are micro/macrodosing peppers, slap fighting, you name it, they've touched on it so far. But this last episode of The Gang Goes To A Dog Park was probably the most old school feel to the show in a long time.

SPOILERS AHEAD

Let's get into last night's episode. The whole premise of Mac raw dogging the bus ride to the dog track while Charlie can't understand it and thinks it's eating raw hot dogs is just so dumb that it works. Throw in Dennis/Dee talking about class, thinking they are going to the Derby is all the set up. Once we're there it's the old school, early episode stuff. You get Mac and Charlie together, being raw, finding a weird dude to hang out with. Charlie also delivered an incredible line: 

‪“Raw spelled backwards is war.”‬

‪Charlie - “That’s cool. Got any other words you can spell backwards?”‬

Then it gets dark. That gun shot in the trailer had everyone wondering what the hell happened, and, well, it only made sense for it to be Sparky. Frank scheming a big bet and all the gambling shit with Dee/Dennis was perfect, staring off with Frank introducing them as 'these are my kids and whatnot.' You also had the throwback to Dennis running for government early in the series when he's talking to the Saudi's on camera. 

All I know is this season has fucking delivered. It's everything that people have been screaming for and it's firmly in the running for an elite season.