It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia season 17’s ending offers plenty to unpack, so let’s get into it. It’s Always Sunny season 17 was all over the place, from the Abbott Elementary crossover to hilarious standalones, to the final, three-part arc setting up Frank’s appearance on The Golden Bachelor.
For those who are unfamiliar, The Golden Bachelor is an actual reality TV dating show that features men and women over the age of 65, typically trying to find a second chance at love. For Frank, who once dug up the grave of his ex-wife to steal jewelry, searching for love is a more complicated quest.
Why Frank Chooses Samantha In The Golden Bachelor
Frank’s three contestants for The Golden Bachelor are Samantha, played by the iconic Carol Kane, C*** Chewa, a satirical version of the Hawk Tuah Girl, and Bonnie Kelly, Charlie’s mother. After Samantha confesses her feelings to Frank, and he turns her away, the season’s final scene shows him returning to her and choosing her as his wife.
Samantha shared with Frank that she had spent her entire life feeling dissatisfied with being nicknamed “Sam,” but that being around him allowed her the emotional freedom to use her full name. It’s a rather absurd backstory, but it’s evident that Samantha wants Frank for who he is, and not for his money. She has her own money; chicken money.
The scene is evidently meant to satirize a rom-com movie ending, with Frank running after her, just barely catching her before she boards her bus. Frank admits that he was harsh before, and that he rejected her out of fear of not being good enough, agreeing to marry Samantha as the conclusion of his stint on The Golden Bachelor.
While It’s Always Sunny’s characters have had their fair share of genuine, emotional moments over the years, Frank has never been one of them. With that in mind, it’s unclear if the finale has an actual arc for him or if it’s just setting up a joke for season 18.
He began his time on the reality TV show searching for a younger woman to sleep with, but he ended up with someone who actually seems to care about him and who is age-appropriate. Frank seems to have been touched by the experience of being around Samantha.
Charlie’s Chemical Explosion Hair Removal Twist Explained
No one is more hurt by Frank’s stint on The Golden Bachelor than Charlie, who’s personally jealous that Frank has sought out a romantic connection rather than just going to him. The long-time roommates have shared a profound emotional connection over the years, and they’ve bonded in a rather offbeat way that’s impossible to explain.
Mac suggests testing the winner of Frank’s Golden Bachelor run with a prank: using a potentially dangerous chemical explosion to see if the person is fit for joining the Gang. Notably, Charlie reacts to this with “I can work with that.” We later see that he added a significant amount of hair removal product, causing outrage from Mac, Dee, and Dennis.
When the Gang appears on The Golden Bachelor, not only have they embarrassed Frank, but they’ve also made themselves appear like sinister movie villains who could blend in on a Tim Burton film set. This makes for a hilarious twist as, despite the Gang being primarily background characters in this episode, they manage to live up to Frank’s fears.
What It’s Always Sunny Season 17’s Ending Means For Season 18
It’s Always Sunny season 17’s final episode is somewhat strange in its pacing, and it almost seems like there’s meant to be more to the story. Unfortunately, the It’s Always Sunny season only has eight episodes, so this is all we’re going to see for now. There are some curious set-ups for the next season.
As I said before, Frank’s ending seems rather heartfelt, a tone that’s pretty surprising for his character. His TV reunion with Taxi star Carol Kane, along with the closing tribute for Lynne Marie Stewart, makes this a particularly emotional episode, but this is It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, so there might be a catch.
I’m curious if the episode will have some similarity to season 12’s “Dennis’ Double Life,” in which it’s revealed that Dennis has a baby. He leaves the ending of that episode on an unexpected emotional note to go be with his child, but then returns almost immediately in season 13.
I could see Frank and Samantha still being married in It’s Always Sunny season 18’s premiere, only for the Gang to find some way to ruin this and return to normality. It’s also possible that Frank has a longer-term, devious plot in mind, such as using Samantha for her poultry money.
It’s Always Sunny season 17’s themes were focused on Paddy’s Pub in the corporate world, and the details about her wealth shouldn’t go unnoticed. Maybe Samantha’s money is the key to the international Paddy’s franchise.
It’s Always Sunny’s Tribute To Lynne Marie Stewart Explained
The episode ends on a rather somber note, with a tribute to long-time It’s Always Sunny guest-star Lynne Marie Stewart, who passed away in February 2025. She first appeared on the show in season 1, with the season 17 finale sadly being her final episode.
Aside from being a remarkable, hilarious guest star on It’s Always Sunny, Lynne Marie Stewart had a multi-decade career with titles related to Pee-wee Herman, iconic shows like M*A*S*H, and movies like The Running Man. Rest in peace to one of the greats.
