It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia: The D.E.N.N.I.S. System

When I first got the news that I’d be tasked with covering It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia I excitedly told my friend Adam. A die hard fan he responded: “Wow, that’s like if I got to review porn”. Indeed Adam, indeed. So welcome one and all to Poptimal’s inaugural coverage of It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia. Think of me as just another friendly bar fly at Paddy’s and to quote our beloved Frank, I promise to get “reeeal weird with it.”

So on with the show, and what a show indeed. One of my favorite things about Sunny (particularly this season) is how it continues to evolve into a tighter more effective show, while still staying true to its off the wall crazy. This show proves time and again that there is nothing funnier than stupid people who believe they are smart. This week featured Dennis getting to wax poetic over his foolproof strategy of getting women (i.e. the D.E.N.N.I.S. system). Coming off more like a bizarro version of NPH from How I Met Your Mother, Dennis lays out his systematic approach to loving the ladies, using his most recent dalliance with a cute pharmacist  to illustrate. The system is simple, he tricks women into believing he’s a decent guy, manipulates them into sleeping with him, ignores them, reunites with them for one last “bang”, only to never talk to them again. It’s genius, and I’m afraid every frat boy in America might try it.

In true Sunny fashion things devolve pretty quickly, having each of “the gang” try to implement their own take on the “system”. Mac, playing the sensitive roommate, swoops in and preys on Dennis’ discards (moving in after completion, or the M.A.C), while Frank, ready with a pack of hundreds and a box of magnum condoms, “ploughs” through any left over. “It’s a delicate ecosystem,” Mac admits, and for some reason the absurdity not only works, it makes total sense.

Meanwhile, the D.E.N.N.I.S. system is completely messing with Dee’s head, and her relationship with the adorably dim Ben (the soldier she met online). Planting the seed of paranoia, Dennis tells Dee that the only reason Ben follows her around like a puppy (he literally sat inside a car with the windows rolled up in 100 degree heat) was because he was playing her. So of course Dee responds by rejecting any sweet advances (he makes her a romantic picnic) by asserting her independence and falling down a hill. Kaitlin Olson always goes above and beyond whenever Sunny decides to humiliate Dee, and I think that no other actress could make such a repulsive character as appealing.

Better yet is Charlie’s attempt to “D.E.N.N.I.S” the Waitress. As he grouses about his utter failure at winning her heart (she apparently has so many restraining orders on him he lost count) he decides to break into her apartment, take apart her kitchen sink and do something with a bag of hair. I love that instead of including Charlie into the entire sex food chain scenario, they revisit his undying quest to win the Waitress. Watching Charlie try to smooth talk is always hilarious, but his musings on plumbers and fair workers (she’s working at the fair now) just “going together” was gold.

Things completely fall apart at the end when Frank upsets the delicate chain by attempting to by pass Mac by trying to convince Dennis’ Pharmacist lady that “she has the AIDS, big time!”. Charlie fails at demonstrating his worth to the Waitress, Dee gets a key to the chest (which was intended for the Waitress) from a carnie she was flirting with in order to make Ben jealous, and Dennis gets outraged over the utter misuse of his system. All in all a very fitting end, but I wonder if anyone gave poor Gladys a ride back?

Fun Facts:

-For those who didn’t know Mac and Dee are married in real life

-so are Charlie and the Waitress

-and so are Dennis and the Pharmacist…gotta love how they keep it in the family.

Season 5, Episode 10: The D.E.N.N.I.S. System (originally aired November 19, 2009)

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Thursdays at 10pm on FX

Photographs courtesy of FX and IMDbPro