The gang has formed some odd, sometimes strong bonds in FX’s It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Which are the best relationships in the show?
Content Warning: The following article contains spoilers for the FX series It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, as well as discussions of incest, racism, and drugs.
Beyond all the wild antics and wacky stunts in FX’s hilarious sitcom, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, there are genuine relationships that have emerged over the years. These aren’t always the healthiest partnerships and can sometimes even be damaging for the characters, but they’re undeniably entertaining and perfectly fit into the show’s zany world.
From Charlie and The Waitress’ chaotic relationship to Dennis and Dee’s unbreakable bond, there are a lot of interesting partnerships in the series that have resulted in some unforgettable moments. These relationships aren’t always romantic, as some friendships are more fascinating than the couples on the show.
Artemis and Frank have a chaotic on-and-off relationship that has been highlighted several times in the series. Frank gets along with the recurring character so well because of how wild they both are, not to mention they can easily resolve any argument with makeup sex behind Wendy’s dumpster.
They’re both happy with their lack of commitment, with Artemis even going as far as introducing Frank to his parents as her “part-time lover.” Artemis is also occasionally supportive of Frank, despite how rowdy he can be. Fans may recall how she seems genuinely concerned rather than annoyed when Frank takes too much “dog poison” and steals her rug.
It’s safe to say that among all the McPoyles, Liam and Ryan have the strongest bond. The incestuous siblings always have each other’s back, with Liam often acting as the leader and Ryan being a loyal, but dim-witted follower.
For instance, when Liam tells Ryan to “stab somebody” hoping he would stab Dennis or Dee, Ryan quickly obeys his brother by stabbing him. The only major argument they’ve had so far was resolved easily during Liam’s wedding, as he’s able to convince Ryan that he’s not tainting their bloodline and is actually spreading it to others to assert dominance.
The best Mac and Dennis episodes underscore how close the two friends have become over the years. They’re definitely more than just roommates, as they go on monthly roommate dinners, hunt Cricket together, and even attempt to move to the suburbs.
When the two briefly ‘break up,’ they realize how dependent they’ve become on each other, and the whole gang knows it, too. Mac can’t live without controlling and bossing Dennis around in their apartment, and Dennis is too needy and intolerable for anyone else in the group.
Bonnie and Charlie don’t exactly have the healthiest mother-and-son relationship, but it’s obvious that the two of them care deeply for each other. Bonnie’s OCD manifests in ways related to protecting Charlie, like when she turns the lights on and off several times to make sure her son doesn’t die.
For Charlie’s part, he’s shown that he’s easily affected by his mom’s complaints, as fans can see when he starts a fundraiser after learning about her (fake) cancer and when he puts hidden cameras in their house after Bonnie claims Mrs. Mac is abusing her.
Mac’s relationship with his still-unnamed mom is more funny than meaningful, as Mac is obviously in denial of Mrs. Mac’s apathy. She has only ever communicated with him through grunts, which Mac claims to understand.
Mrs. Mac has shown so little care for her son that she actually lies to him about his heritage in exchange for some cigarettes and falls asleep during his (fake) funeral. Mac’s desperate attempts to win her affection always result in gut-busting scenes, but are mostly cringey for the rest of the gang who have to watch Mac fool himself into thinking his mom loves him.
An unexpected and unusual friendship forms between Mrs. Mac and Bonnie when the two are forced to live together after Mrs. Mac’s house burns down. Things don’t go well at first, with Bonnie being bothered by Mrs. Mac’s excessive smoking and Mrs. Mac hating Bonnie’s quirks, but the gang still insists they can make it work.
They find that they have one thing in common, though, and that is enough for them to appreciate each other as housemates and eventually become friends. It’s unfortunate that one thing is racism towards their innocent neighbor.
The best Dennis and Dee episodes highlight how twisted the cruel twins can be and how strong their bond is. Beyond being twins, they have the unique shared experience of being raised by Frank, which is not an easy thing to endure.
They’ve both grown up to be narcissistic adults and can often support each other’s senseless ideas. From injecting collagen to infiltrating an exclusive pool club, Dee and Dennis will go to great lengths to prove to others that they’re the powerful rich “golden gods” they imagine themselves to be.
One of the earliest messy relationships featured on the show is the one between Charlie and The Waitress. Their partnership has taken a lot of twists and turns since Charlie’s stalking days, which include The Waitress actually sleeping with Charlie before scaring him off.
A memorable moment between the two emphasizes the insecurities The Waitress has and how Charlie genuinely sees her as the best person in the world. Things predictably fall apart when their romantic relationship isn’t the perfect one Charlie envisioned it to be, so he ghosts The Waitress before going right back to stalking her.
The “Gruesome Twosome” has an unbreakable bond that has turned into a father-and-son relationship over the years. Frank sees Charlie as the ideal weird son he’s always wanted, while Charlie takes care of Frank like he’s an old man, accepting his disgusting habits like the “toe knife.”
The best episode that emphasizes Frank and Charlie’s relationship is actually the one where Charlie meets his biological dad. For a long time, it has been theorized that Frank might be Charlie’s real father, so it’s jarring for him to see Charlie reject him for Shelly. He’s there for Charlie when his father dies, though, assuming the role of the father figure once again after throwing the corpse off of a cliff.
If there’s one recurring character who deserves to join the gang, it’s Cricket. They have actively played a role in his downfall from being a decent average man to a homeless drug addict. His infatuation for Dee may have started the whole thing, but each member of the group has contributed to his situation today.
Whether it’s Mac and Dennis hunting him in the streets in broad daylight or the gang paying him in lemons to do ridiculous tasks, Cricket has a toxic relationship with the group. Fans can’t be blamed for occasionally feeling sorry for him, but it’s hard not to laugh at his hilarious interactions with the gang.
Saab is a freelance writer for Screen Rant. She’s based out of Metro Manila, Philippines, where she lives with her partner, two fat cats, and two hundred houseplants. She’s passionate about all things pop culture and design. When she’s not typing, she’s tending to her indoor garden or watching true crime stories on Netflix.
It's Always Sunny: 10 Best Relationships From The Show – Screen Rant
