It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia just leaned into a long-standing Mac and Dennis theory, suggesting it could finally happen. Season 17, episode 7, “The Gang Gets Ready for Primetime,” is undoubtedly a highlight of the season, bringing the best out of each of the Gang members and offering a perfect mix of laugh-out-loud humor and genuine character complexity.
Dennis spends much of the episode preparing Mac, Charlie, and Dee for an appearance on the Golden Bachelor, believing that Frank’s reality TV stint will bring them to national television once again. Following his embarrassing stint on Family Fight, Dennis wants to put on a better appearance in It’s Always Sunny season 17.
Many of It’s Always Sunny’s best episodes have not only been masterclasses in the show’s chaotic style of humor, but have also offered a more earnest insight into how these characters feel. This most recent episode lets its jokes run wild, but it also offers a rather serious look at Dennis.
Mac & Dennis Becoming A Couple Could Finally Happen After It’s Always Sunny Season 17 Episode 7
As the longest-running live-action sitcom of all time, It’s Always Sunny offers purposefully minimal development. They still live in the same locations, still work at the same struggling bar, and haven’t gained much, if any, insight into their shortcomings as people. This makes Mac’s arc a compelling exception.
It took over ten seasons of It’s Always Sunny before Mac finally came out as gay, despite the other characters knowing it for years. The show has also heavily leaned into the idea of Dennis’s excruciating insecurity, which is the primary motivator behind his horrible, narcissistic deeds. Many have suspected that Dennis is a deeply closeted homosexual himself.
Dennis doesn’t take any issue with Mac being gay, but it wouldn’t be surprising if he had trouble accepting it in himself, feeling as if he needs to live up to a certain standard of masculinity. Regardless, he’s remained Mac’s roommate for decades and remains close to him despite Mac’s evident feelings for him.
The most recent episode leans heavily into the feelings between Mac and Dennis, with Dennis trying his hardest to dissuade the crowd from thinking he and Mac share a romantic connection. There’s even a meta comment where Mac suggests that America might be ready for them to finally be together.
It’s Always Sunny Has Always Shied Away From Making The Gang’s Relationships Romantic
Whether It’s Always Sunny would ever actually pursue this is unclear, as it would likely have drastic implications, changing Dennis as a character. If the latest episode is indicative of anything, he’s nowhere near ready to get too close to the reality of his feelings.
Previous episodes have seen brief romantic stints, with Charlie and Dee oddly hooking up. However, the paradigm seems set in stone for the most part, and It’s Always Sunny might risk sacrificing its winning formula by going too far down such a route.
