It’s Saints vs. Scientists at Paddy’s. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia - "Reynolds vs. Reynolds: The Cereal Defense"

Retrospective, Season Finale

Air Date: Thursday, December 20, 2012, 10:00 pm ET/PT on FX

Rating: ★★★★★

The Gang turns Paddy’s into a courtroom

When Frank (Danny DeVito) rear ends Dennis’ (Glenn Howerton) car, the Gang holds a mock trial to decide who’s at fault. But what starts out as a matter of “credibility” soon turns into an argument about “evolution.” With Charlie Day, Glenn Howerton, and Rob McElhenney serving as writers, “Reynolds vs. Reynolds: The Cereal Defense” is a crowning moment in Sunny’s history. With its brilliant dialogue and fantastic acting, this is one of the funniest season finales I’ve seen.

Observations and Thoughts:

The episode opens with Frank careening down the street, listening to the turn-by-turn directions on a tape Mac (McElhenney) made for him that serves as his GPS system. Cut to Dennis (Howerton) stopped at a red light eating a bowl of cold cereal and it’s not hard to guess what happens next. I initially thought there would be a lot of damage to Dennis’ car and pictured him walking around in a neck brace, but all Dennis wants is compensation for cleaning up the mess made by his cereal and milk. The whole scenario is a joke—I mean, I know Frank has eyesight problems, but using homemade GPS tapes? Come on! Better yet, who eats a bowl of cereal while driving!? Ridiculous! Or is it? *snicker*

Charlie acts as Frank’s attorney

After realizing they can’t go anywhere near a courtroom, Dennis and Frank decide to forego the legal system and let the rest of the Gang decide who should pay. I began this season finale thinking Frank was 100% responsible, but by the end of “Reynolds vs. Reynolds: The Cereal Defense,” I wasn’t so sure.

Mac presents his “Trial Meter”

With Paddy’s set up like a courtroom—Dee (Kaitlin Olson) and Dennis are at one table, and Charlie (Day) and Frank at another—Mac struts in, all proud of himself for making a poster board “Trial Meter,” complete with little gavels for each member of the Gang. As Dee and Charlie’s arguments are presented and rebutted, everyone is able to place their gavel under Dennis’ or Frank’s name, or place it on a little fence. I know this is going to lead to ridiculousness and boy, am I right!

Charlie presents special evidence while Frank is testifying

The Donkey-Brain Defense

Non-stop laugh-inducing is how I describe Charlie’s defense of Frank. As he transitions from eliciting a response from Dennis about what qualifications a person must have to make them “donkey brained,” to cross-examining Frank about a piece of evidence that states Frank is officially deemed not to have “donkey brains,” it seems like Charlie is on his way to winning the case. This isn’t the first time Charlie has considered himself to be a terrific lawyer and I must say, he does a pretty good job of acting and sounding like a real attorney. But not so fast, my fellow Sunny fans. You know it’s not going to be that easy.

Rebuttal of the Donkey-Brain Defense

Dennis’ rebuttal of Frank is so simplistic, it’s laughable. Yet, Mac, who appoints himself judge/bailiff, does a great job of disproving Dennis, prompting everyone to switch their little gavels on the “Trial Meter.” It sure doesn’t take much to change these guys’ minds but then again, that’s not something new, is it?

Dee’s Cross-Examination of Judge/Bailiff Mac

Dee seems determined to discredit Mac’s testimony by pointing out how implausible he is by using the “super hero” argument. Almost as soon as Mac corrects Dee’s argument, he puts his foot in his mouth when discussing “evolution,” making Charlie doubt him. Poor Mac just doesn’t know how to quit when he’s ahead.

Mac uses a second poster board to redeem himself

Mac’s other poster board is an “Evolution Meter,” designed to make him credible in Charlie’s eyes again so Frank can win the case. The way Mac proves the theory of evolution is false, using a creation-evolution discussion, is extremely smart for a guy like him. Wait, did I just say smart?

Memorable Lines:

Dee: “Dennis, you don’t want to go anywhere near a court. How many bench warrants for sexual misconduct do you have?”

Dennis: “I probably have, uh … yeah…”

Dennis: “This is an open-and-shut case and anybody who can’t see that is a savage and an idiot!”

Dennis: “What!? You actually don’t believe in evolution anymore?”

Charlie: “I don’t know. He created a reasonable doubt. He makes me sound like a stupid science bitch.”

Dennis: “Oh my God.”

Forensic Analysis

Since the Gang can’t come to a decision about who’s at fault, Charlie suggests “seeing is believing” and makes everyone go outside to re-enact the accident. Knowing the Gang as well as I do, I should have expected the outcome. But because I didn’t, and I hope you don’t either, it was that much more laughable. I don’t know about you but I can’t wait for the next season of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

To stay up-to-date with the Gang until next season, pay a visit to the show’s official website at http://www.fxnetworks.com/sunny/.

LIKE Sunny on Facebook, and follow the show on Twitter @FXNetworks, using the hashtag #sunnyfx. You can also follow Frank @DannyDeVito, Mac @Robmcelhenney, Dee @kaitlin_olson, and Dennis @Glenn_Howerton. You can also submit questions to The Gang via the Sunny mailbag @SunnyMailbag.

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Love TV, movies, and books--mostly mysteries, with a good love story thrown in every now and then. I have four adopted dogs who I adore. I love trying new recipes, and enjoy eating what I make. English language perfectionist. Reading in bed, Italian food, warm weather, the beach, all types of games = favs!