I am the only one who thinks this episode was amazing?! the ending was awsome
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (TV Series)
The Gang Does a Clip Show (2018)
User Reviews
Review this title22 Reviews
Underrated
YasinMcMurphy18 October 2018
A clip show or a descent into madness?
dannytaylor-2175518 October 2018
Warning: Spoilers
I feel it's necessary I preface this with the fact that i've never done a review before, so bear with me.
For starters, I sense this episode won't get the praise it deserves because of how much of a sharp left turn it takes halfway through. The whole "Inception" concept was just brilliant in my opinion mainly due to how they managed to take the antiquated premise of a clip show and basically ripped the trope to pieces. I had no idea where things were headed the further down the rabbit hole I was led but loved every second of the journey.
The Seinfeld bit felt a little contrived, but not so much like a shark jump. It was done decently enough to not pull me out of the episode if that makes any sense. I thought the ending was really good too knowing that the show's coming to an end soon. In other words, if they did something like that earlier in the series, it would probably make every following episode seem like a weird fantasy universe that exists only in Charlie's head.
Also, I love how they continue to highlight just how detached from reality the gang is becoming year after year. They're so wrapped up in their delusions and mild insanity and it's more prevalent now than ever before.
Overall though, a really creative and ambitious episode and definitely one of my favorites this season. I'd put it right below episodes 4, 5, and 6 but that'll likely change once I can rewatch the whole season.
For starters, I sense this episode won't get the praise it deserves because of how much of a sharp left turn it takes halfway through. The whole "Inception" concept was just brilliant in my opinion mainly due to how they managed to take the antiquated premise of a clip show and basically ripped the trope to pieces. I had no idea where things were headed the further down the rabbit hole I was led but loved every second of the journey.
The Seinfeld bit felt a little contrived, but not so much like a shark jump. It was done decently enough to not pull me out of the episode if that makes any sense. I thought the ending was really good too knowing that the show's coming to an end soon. In other words, if they did something like that earlier in the series, it would probably make every following episode seem like a weird fantasy universe that exists only in Charlie's head.
Also, I love how they continue to highlight just how detached from reality the gang is becoming year after year. They're so wrapped up in their delusions and mild insanity and it's more prevalent now than ever before.
Overall though, a really creative and ambitious episode and definitely one of my favorites this season. I'd put it right below episodes 4, 5, and 6 but that'll likely change once I can rewatch the whole season.
So underrated
chaitanyamaheshwari10 October 2020
This episode just blew me away. I was expecting to just keep forwarding, but darn!! This was something completely unexpected. Was expecting this to be quite highly rated, but so disappointing to see it this underrated, that lazy me had to write a review about it.
Finish the episode before you review it!
pledgerock19 October 2018
If this was just a regular clip compilation episode it would be lazy and I'd probably give it more like a 5 or 6. But it's Sunny! They're not going to give you a traditional clip show! I thought it was brilliant. I had a feeling they'd do something a little different and I'm glad I stuck with it. The Seinfeld bit was hilarious!
"Well, at least we're not being lazy, right? We're coming up with new stuff."
alencar_darwin18 October 2018
Warning: Spoilers
I can almost hear the cries of those thinking this season is uneven at best or just plain bad and that this episode demonstrates exactly that. Well, I disagree. What a shock.
I thought I died. When they said they remembered The Contest my heart went faster, because I knew, instinctively, about what they were talking, and the whole scene made me die. I laughed so much, so much, I couldn't feel my face for a while.
As the title of the episode suggests: it's a clip show: something lazy and boring which show-runners do when they are out of ideas and want simply to cash in on their past glory. Not the case with It's Always Sunny. Why? Because, as has been proven time and time again, IASIP doesn't abide to cliches, the show subverts them, usually with high meta-fictional bravado, and so it is with this episode.
While waiting for their phones to update the software which will take about half an hour in which, as Dennis put it: "What are we gonna do without our phones for 30 minutes", they are lost in existence without nothing else to do as in most of our tech-enslaved society - anyway... they decide to remember the good auld times, even though Dennis protests, seeing as something only old people past their prime do. And so a typical clip show begins, they want to remember something and the show cuts to said memory, making a collage of old episodes. Pretty basic and lazy and boring, after all viewers and admires and fans can watch clips on YouTube at any time. But, in this case, is it lazy?
As always, with this wonderful show, even this seemly simple concept is turned on its head when they start to mess with each others memories, from small details all the way to complete fictional accounts, giving us the greatest Seinfeld reproduction scene (I've always wished that they would do a full-blown Seinfeld reference, of course I liked the small ones: Frank's tight jeans, yada yadas thrown here and there, Mac saying Frank with the same inflection Jerry says Newman, etc., but I wanted more, and I got it in spades).
The pastiche alone in this episode deserves the highest of commendations, it is simply divine, add to this the magnificent ending which can give birth to some pretty wild hypothesis of the reality of the show and its characters (for those who like theorise about such things) and one gets an episode that goes fast and hits hard and makes one think and enquire. Deeply satisfying.
I thought I died. When they said they remembered The Contest my heart went faster, because I knew, instinctively, about what they were talking, and the whole scene made me die. I laughed so much, so much, I couldn't feel my face for a while.
As the title of the episode suggests: it's a clip show: something lazy and boring which show-runners do when they are out of ideas and want simply to cash in on their past glory. Not the case with It's Always Sunny. Why? Because, as has been proven time and time again, IASIP doesn't abide to cliches, the show subverts them, usually with high meta-fictional bravado, and so it is with this episode.
While waiting for their phones to update the software which will take about half an hour in which, as Dennis put it: "What are we gonna do without our phones for 30 minutes", they are lost in existence without nothing else to do as in most of our tech-enslaved society - anyway... they decide to remember the good auld times, even though Dennis protests, seeing as something only old people past their prime do. And so a typical clip show begins, they want to remember something and the show cuts to said memory, making a collage of old episodes. Pretty basic and lazy and boring, after all viewers and admires and fans can watch clips on YouTube at any time. But, in this case, is it lazy?
As always, with this wonderful show, even this seemly simple concept is turned on its head when they start to mess with each others memories, from small details all the way to complete fictional accounts, giving us the greatest Seinfeld reproduction scene (I've always wished that they would do a full-blown Seinfeld reference, of course I liked the small ones: Frank's tight jeans, yada yadas thrown here and there, Mac saying Frank with the same inflection Jerry says Newman, etc., but I wanted more, and I got it in spades).
The pastiche alone in this episode deserves the highest of commendations, it is simply divine, add to this the magnificent ending which can give birth to some pretty wild hypothesis of the reality of the show and its characters (for those who like theorise about such things) and one gets an episode that goes fast and hits hard and makes one think and enquire. Deeply satisfying.
This is some Criss Angel stuff!
minutolo14 August 2020
Watching this "clip-show" is witnessing a social commentary on cherishing moments in your life... with the narcissistic attitudes that only Always Sunny can provide. This is a highly underrated episode and it's a really engaging spin on the cliches of clip-show episodes.
Not Your Grandpa's Clip Show
Samuel-Shovel20 August 2019
Warning: Spoilers
In "The Gang Does a Clip Show", while everyone waits for their phones to finish a software update, the gang reflects on the good times they've had over the years. They soon discover however that a lot of their memories have conflicting viewpoints and they start to struggle to figure out what's real and what's fake.
The dreaded clip show episode comes for every sitcom if the show lasts long enough and apparently IASIP is no exception. I like the little twist they put in this one though as they poke fun of both themselves and other comedies. Probably my favorite moment is them misremembering an episode of Seinfeld as something their gang did. Charlie as Kramer is something I didn't realize I needed in my life.
We've had a strong little group of solid episodes here in the midst of Season 13. I hope it continues.
The dreaded clip show episode comes for every sitcom if the show lasts long enough and apparently IASIP is no exception. I like the little twist they put in this one though as they poke fun of both themselves and other comedies. Probably my favorite moment is them misremembering an episode of Seinfeld as something their gang did. Charlie as Kramer is something I didn't realize I needed in my life.
We've had a strong little group of solid episodes here in the midst of Season 13. I hope it continues.
Finish watching the episode!
martywright9 January 2019
Not great
vn_larsen118 April 2021
FINISH THIS EPISODE!!!
thecineman-9943125 January 2021
The Gang Does a Clip Show
bobcobb30118 October 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Even if Sunny is not what it once was, the show has had a remarkable run and there is nothing wrong with a 55% clip show.
We did get some fresh stuff though like recreating a clip from the episode The Contest of Seinfeld. One of my all-time favorites, and it is good to honor the classic program.
I get that this will be polarizing, but overall it was okay. I wouldn't advise doing something like this again though when the show finally does wrap.
We did get some fresh stuff though like recreating a clip from the episode The Contest of Seinfeld. One of my all-time favorites, and it is good to honor the classic program.
I get that this will be polarizing, but overall it was okay. I wouldn't advise doing something like this again though when the show finally does wrap.
Sorry it's weak
davidemarion18 October 2018
Hilarious
raiderhrhr19 October 2018
I think this show has gotten markedly better the last couple of seasons. The way they lampoon themselves as characters and as the show was great. Won't put any spoilers here, but the way they make a clip show into a Mr. Robot/Inception mind play with perception changing reality with new material just kicked but. Very original and fresh.
Not Sunny's Best, But Hey, It Was Pretty Darn Good
charlynnjanellehanes18 October 2018
Warning: Spoilers
This episode, while taking from classic tv shows, added a new twist on what we know to be a clip show.
The beginning was a bit long and drawn out, but we did get to look back at memorable moments like naked couch frank and dennis' implication.
I think the episode was great when they took the time to misremember things, and we got some good bits of humor from that. Classic daddy long legs frank, and the bit with the two charlies becoming self-aware of their voice was incredible.
Overall, this episode was not incredible, like the last three had been, but episode 8 looks promising and Its Always Sunny hasn't even begun to peak.
The beginning was a bit long and drawn out, but we did get to look back at memorable moments like naked couch frank and dennis' implication.
I think the episode was great when they took the time to misremember things, and we got some good bits of humor from that. Classic daddy long legs frank, and the bit with the two charlies becoming self-aware of their voice was incredible.
Overall, this episode was not incredible, like the last three had been, but episode 8 looks promising and Its Always Sunny hasn't even begun to peak.
Really funny take on clip shows!
alexanderjguerra8 July 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Ah yes, the good ol tv clip shows! Sunny's hilarious take on clip shows is so refreshing. How they go to extremes to change their perception of events is absolutely brilliant. The Seinfeld bit killed me, also tongue in cheek because they had done like 3 of them during their run ;-)
Weak but not terrible
colebarba18 October 2018
I personally think this season has been amazing. The first two episodes were solid, while the third had a great concept that I felt they didn't quite deliver on as well as they could have. Then you have three straight episodes that I believe all could already be in consideration for the top 25 Sunny episodes of all time with Time's Up, New Wheels, and the Bathroom Problem. This episode was a step down from the previous three as the jokes were few and far between as well as the plot being a much. However, as with the Boggs reboot, I enjoyed the underlying satire that they were going for. Shows get old, they run out of ideas, and they start just rehashing concepts from earlier seasons. I believe this episode was deliberate filler, every season of Sunny has one due to the strain of other projects the cast/writers are involved in. I think they did what they had to do with this filler episode and they seem to almost acknowledge that's what it is in the episode. A lot of fans seem to think that this season has been terrible and that they've lost their magic. I have to strongly disagree, as I mentioned before there have been several strong entries to Sunny canon already. Satire has always been the main theme of Sunny and this season has been full of brilliant dissections of our culture today, even if there are a couple of weaker episodes.I know I've been all over the place with this review so I'll shut up now because of the implication.
A Swing And A Miss
dougmacdonaldburr19 October 2018
Warning: Spoilers
This is not a good episode. It is not what it first seems to be. I respect that they tried to do something different, but, it really did not work. It was more like bad science fiction than an episode of comedy. This season has been very inconsistent. It has had some of my favourite ever episodes, but, there have also been a few of the worst. This is one of the worst.
Sucked
mrlloydcopper23 October 2018
The cheapest and laziest way to make a show is to use clips. Yes I know the hardcore fans are going to say "you just didn't get it, it's ironic etc". The problem is I am a hardcore fan and it wasn't funny. At all. It was stupid and the "real" memories just reminded me how good this show used to be. This is in the top ten of their worst episodes.
Lazy Episode
ddoouubblleemm26 October 2018
The first time I ever stopped watching an episode before it was done
jhanlon7619 October 2018
"It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" is my favorite TV show, but this is the first time I stopped watching a new episode before it was over.
This episode is the very definition of lazy. An entire episode of clips of older, funnier episodes? It makes me long for the originality of what this show used to be.
Oh, no. Did my favorite show just jump the shark?
This episode is the very definition of lazy. An entire episode of clips of older, funnier episodes? It makes me long for the originality of what this show used to be.
Oh, no. Did my favorite show just jump the shark?
this whole season isnt sunny
ben-8573216 August 2019
The acting is off, the writing is off, and there's really no funny jokes. What is the point of this episode? It starts as just a montage of old moments and then it turns into this random assortment of scenes that make no sense.
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