It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (TV Series) Dennis Takes a Mental Health Day (2023) User Reviews

Peak IASIP Writing

[evanluttrell · 10/10 · 21 July 2023]

Instant classic, probably the best episode this season, and arguably one of the best episodes they've ever done. Really only utilized one character and you could never tell where it was going. I don't want to use the term "it felt like classic Sunny" because I have enjoyed every season of the show, but this truly had a great mix of classic and newer jokes.

This combined with all of the jokes between really gives us one of the best episodes of the show. The writer's room on this season has just been killing it, and this episode is a great showcase of that. Between the Tesla jokes, the pressure cooker, and the overall frustration with technology, I was belly laughing the whole damn time.

Been waiting on this kinda of acting and writing forever

[j_cary88 · 10/10 · 20 July 2023]

Glenn is perfect in this episode. Been waiting for this kinda of episode for years... definitely rivals the suburbs episode, or the billboard one great buildup, great music... great acting. Well worth the wait for the final episode. The part where he rips out the dude heart is morbid but funny at the same time. Adds to the psychopath element to his Dennis character and the ending is just perfect. What a great season. The best since season 11 if u ask me.

So glad this show is staying around for a few more years at least. It's not over. But now I get to start over, always my favorite show, actors are incredible. A must watch.

The Golden God returns

[gautliebr · 9/10 · 20 July 2023]

Finally, an episode where Dennis can show off his psycothic behaviour untethered, with his rage knowing no bounds. Once again, Glen Howerton delivers a great performance. Did you know he went to Julliard?

Very relatable episode that gives us a glimpse into the mind of our favorite psycopath: Dennis. The episode is even funnier when you realise many of the things brought up in the episode come from Glen Howerton's real life experiences, as he discussed on the It's Always Sunny podcast. His frustration with apps and technology making everything more complicated really shine through.

Only thing missing is the rest of the gang who just appears for a few seconds!

Assurance that going outside is a nightmare.

[infinitezer0 · 9/10 · 20 July 2023]

Commentary on how modern day "luxuries" wear on the first world psyche. It is a perfect role for a sociopath like Dennis. It's fun to relate to someone, but laugh at them at the same time because the karma is due. Writing and performances are on point.

Then you realize the swerve. It relies on a reference or two and wraps up pretty quickly from there. In essence, I think the ending was to frustrate the audience because we were relieving our stress, but in fact Dennis got one over on us. At least we got the laughs along the way, but I would have appreciated an ending that was more fluid with the momentum they built.

The Psychotic Mind of Dennis

[slateofmind · 10/10 · 24 July 2023]

I've been waiting for an episode where Dennis can really let his psycho flag fly and this delivered in a big way. When you put the title together with the ending, you realize just how perfectly it fits with his character. Think about it, THAT is what a mental health day looks like for Dennis. Yikes lol

Another commenter on here complained about how this was basically just Dennis dealing with first-world problems. They're missing the point entirely. If the character is a narcissist, what else would you imagine he would find himself becoming enraged over? The plight of the working class?

This was a bold, refreshing, disturbing, and hilarious journey deeper inside the mind of Dennis Reynolds. It's right up there with the suburbs episode and "the implication"

Stressful but Eye-Opening

[clownbaby-06006 · 10/10 · 20 July 2023]

This was a stressful episode to watch, as all the mishaps that happened to Dennis are very real. This movement toward everything being on apps and the cloud and "advanced" technology is scary. It's idiotic, really. It's in no way better than the old way of doing things. People don't seem to understand that while advancements in technology are crucial, there are also some "advancements" that are detrimental. Car connected to the phone? Stupid. Can't pay with cash? Get outta here. While we're at it, there needs to be a stance taken against QR code menus. Give me a paper menu. Just last week I went somewhere where you ordered everything on the phone - no need for a waiter/waitress. It sounds good on paper but you couldn't customize your orders. Also, no server to refill your drinks, get you more napkins, or whatever else you need. Yet we're expected to tip this absentee waiter? No. I say no more. We need to take a stance against this devolution.

Possibly the best ending of ANY IASIP episode.

[Bairbear · 9/10 · 20 July 2023]

It was mostly a solid and entertaining episode which almost makes you resonate with the main cast's most psychotic character. His frustration at the overuse of phones and the relatable rage that comes with being stuck on customer service and bouncing from call to call alongside Howerton's brilliant portrayal of the character really starts to make you feel for Dennis. However, just when you start to feel sympathy for the guy, we are shown the most mind blowing and unexpected examples of his sociopathic mind. One of the few times where the "it was all in their mind" twist not only made sense with the character, but enhanced the entire episode.

More black mirror than IASIP

[yrztmwgb · 10/10 · 25 September 2023]

Probably the only episode of the season that didn't have a rushed abrupt ending and actually felt like a full story start to finish. It was a breath of fresh air to get an episode like this thrown in to a season that just felt a bit slow and tame compared to all the previous seasons. Not only can you relate to Dennis's anger towards modern society and almost feel bad for him even though he is a terrible person, you also get another look into his unhinged mind which is constantly getting more and more out of control and elaborate! Personally I think it was a solid finale and hope the next season ramps it up a notch!

One of the funniest episode endings out there

[bmburnaugh · 10/10 · 27 July 2023]

If you haven't seen how far Dennis will go is just one of the funniest things about this show. Ending was top tier. I think always sunny might go for a while longer, and was worried they would start showing the same off feeling recently that south park has had. Glad to see all is sunny.

To think these guys put on a show that can keep you cracking up then deeply make you pissed is a skill. Recently its felt slow or just dragging, I'm glad to see the gang actually explore their characters into something entertaining and relatable. So many times we are shown how stupid or assholish they are. Yet here in moments like this, Dennis has made one of the funniest moments of this show.

Incredible smart and finally funny

[jonasarjunior · 10/10 · 22 July 2023]

I was a little let down by this season which have very intelligent and well-produced episode, but just not funny. I hadn't had any big laughs before this episode. Glenn KILLED in this one. What an amazing actor. I felt every bit of anger he felt in it as I absolutely share the same frustrations.

The style the show has changed. Not for better or worse. It went from just silly funny to smart storytelling with a comic aspect. But his one really solidified this new style and I don't hate it at all. I miss the old silly sunny with quick scenes, but I also like this new one with longer, slower-paced ones.

Most naturally entertaining episode in years

[SuspendedDisbelief_vs_Plothole · 9/10 · 29 July 2023]

This is not formulaic IASIP, so I understand why some reviews are negative. But I've slodged through the last few years waiting for something reminiscent of the old magic - when the show was fresh and original - and this was worth the wait.

A) well structured: pacing is great, tension build is steady, callbacks and foreshadowing are nuanced, and the ending is provocative. New meaning to the phrase "I'll rip your heart out."

B) character balancing: There is a classic A storyline and B storyline, with one character dominating the A line but with interface to the B line. It's much more watchable rather than each of the 5 characters getting exactly 20% of the jokes as the writers often strive for lately. And it lets the B storyline steal the show with comedy gold because of the change of pace.

C) plot: The MacGuffin of "system" overload is relatable, and yields the naturally outrageous situations, but Howerton's range to showcase his struggle to manage them during his zen time is just beautiful. And I really enjoyed the ending FWIW, but familiarity with The Usual Suspects helps.

Others are calling this the season finale. If so, my only minor complaint is while it's very memorable it doesn't close out a season with any grand flourish. But I'll take it over a clunker any day.

Has Dennis Reynolds ever been better?

[sebster1001 · 25 September 2023]

This is a phenomenal episode, are you kidding me? Dennis is seriously angry, and Howerton executes flawlessly - and deserves the full focus of the episodes - the rest of the guys dreamboard cutouts of themselves, deliberately of course, THis season really had some highlights! Pressure cooker makes the diamond. YEs! Like Michael Douglas in Falling Down, but also Keyser Soze? But with smartphones instead of payphones! I mean, come on, you can't beat that? Happy to see Glenn Howerton sooo commited, still, in season 16! This show is up and down for me, almost always funny, but when it get's it right, it really is something to behold!

what the hell was that?

[nerrdrage · 6/10 · 11 September 2023]

This episode is like something from an entirely different series. Casting Dennis as a put-upon everyman is 90 degrees from the character. He's a psychotic weirdo whose antics are funny precisely because they're outlandish and not at all relatable. Of the cast, maybe Charlie is relatable; Dennis is the least relatable of the bunch.

I agree with the point of this episode, our world is getting filled up with "smart" crap that is in many cases not an improvement over what it's replacing and in many cases worse. But the point of Sunny is not to complain about the dysfunctional world, it's to laugh at the characters who would be dysfunctional even in a world that isn't screwed up.

Maybe it's time this show was put out to pasture. The characters are also looking pretty old now, except for Dee, and I guess that's plastic surgery, right?

Need to take a mental health day from It's Always Sunny

[treborbasset · 4/10 · 22 July 2023]

I'm so baffled by all the 10 star ratings. I'm hoping that it's just because it's a recent episode so all the people who don't think just come along to rate it 10 because it's a show they like. Hopefully over time sane people who understand how a rating system works will arrive.

This is not the best episode of It's Always Sunny. Currently at 9.2, making it the best episode of season 16 and better than almost every episode of the previous 16 seasons. Definitely not!

This is a Dennis episode, not just in the sense of him being dominant, but he's literally the only character. The other members of the gang appear very briefly via a phone call.

Episodes focused on a single character can succeed, but it's very difficult to pull off. It has to be something really special. It's particularly baffling considering the recent improvement in quality this season. The golden years of the show were season 1 to 11 (and maybe 12). All seasons after this have been mediocre, but season 16 was a bit of a return to form. It's like they remembered what made the show was funny.

Indeed, that is probably the reason season 16 has been better: because of the podcast. So it's confusing how they could come up with this episode. The best thing about this show is the five main cast members and how they interact with each other - the dialogue, the facial expressions, the banter, the absurd ways they deal with the situations they find themselves in.

In "Dennis Takes a Mental Health Day", we watch Dennis - all episode - interacting with customer service for long periods. All of the humour in this episode could have been performed in a three minute stand up routine, and it wouldn't have been particularly funny. These are boomer-tier observations. It's not wrong, these aspects of modern life and technology ARE annoying, and we all know that. Pointing it out might get a mild chuckle - "yeah, that's annoying for me too". That's the extent of the humour.

To spin this into an entire 30 minute episode focused on one character is spreading the comedy very thin (and I love Dennis). This just wasn't like an episode of It's Always Sunny. This could have been any sitcom, or a brief stand up routine.

And then we have the ending. I was just confused. Dennis magically appears at a beach house, without transport, and then reaches inside another man's chest (who just stands there accepting it). Dennis pulls his heart out, and then removes a diamond from the heart and eats it. I don't know what this means. What was that?

This is shortly followed by the old it was "all just a dream" trope. Dennis was day dreaming the entire episode! And he is awesome and can throw something away without looking. The End.

I'm sorry... WHAT? This is a 10/10 for people? This wasn't an episode of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. It's my favourite show, and I will continue to rewatch seasons 1-12, and then perhaps 1 episode per season after that and most of season 16. But this episode I will never watch again.

If the podcast somehow improves this episode for you because Glenn Howerton previously mentioned some of the topics, then there might be something wrong with you. That doesn't make it funny. Previously hearing something doesn't make you part of an "in group" or make a reference to something funny. You are not Glenn Howerton's friend, he doesn't hang out with you.

Innovative, peak Sunny

[ibocr9 · 10/10 · 29 July 2023]

Wow. This episode takes you into turns you don't expect. You might think you know where this is going but you really you don't. The way you feel about Dennis in the beginning will be different about how you feel in the end, without giving too much away.

It keeps you tense and on edge but the payoff is so worth it. A cathartic episode. All while providing commentary on modern day things that bug us. It's difficult to do that without making it cringeworthy but they really nailed it. Also shows they still understand their characters after so long.

Needless to say, fantastic performance by Glenn Howerton who doesn't fail to deliver as usual. A Dennis-centric episode was badly needed.

Really glad they can still come up with those classics even after so long. That's what makes this show so great after 16 seasons.

SICKNESS BE GONE.

I've binged the whole series.

[bryceadamson · 10/10 · 25 November 2023]

My goodness how does this show just continue to get better !!! Honestly one of the greatest shows of all time.

I have just binged the whole season in the last few months being reluctant to start but wow.

The character archs are great and continues to make me laugh over and over again.

This episode made me laugh so much especially for someone who works in the mental health sector myself. I find when I take a "mental health day" everything just goes to crap as well hahaha

D E N N I S hahaha man being on hold sucks, apps suck, the system sucks everything sucks. I would like to rip the heart out of the system as well. 10/10 episode 10/10 show hope they keep going forever.

Best episode in a while

[stevenmortonuk · 9/10 · 13 August 2023]

This is the best Sunny episode in a while. Some of the recent episodes, especially last season, have been below par. This episode is great though. Back to the high level they set years ago.

The acting is great. Glen does a great job at expressing the frustration that many of the true to life situations can create.

The rest of the cast are not really required, but they make small appearances. This episode is all about Dennis though.

The story is tight, well written, and consistent with Dennis's already established personality. The funny moments are clever and almost Curb in nature.

A good episode: worth watching.

Finally.. a funny episode this season

[rich-12169 · 9/10 · 3 August 2023]

The whole season feels like the gang has moved on to bigger and better things but still hang out on the set of the show. It does not feel like the show is being filmed or that the characters are acting. It just feels like they are being stupid on camera. And that feel lasts me through most of the season.

But this finale episode had me laughing almost constantly. Why do we have so many customer service systems that are so...out of whack that you would have thought the devil himself came up with them. And yet we still have them and they are not going away...despite how strongly they turn customers off...why why why.

Back From the Dead

[btoews · 8/10 · 29 July 2023]

12 perfect seasons-then a weaker Season 13 followed by a very weak season 14 and really bad 15 and I was dreading watching this season-the first episode was terrible and I figured these guys are done-then somehow starting with the second episode until this one the once great show is back somehow. It was like watching a once great athlete deteriorate steadily over a span of three years and then suddenly get a second wind. I was dreading watching season 16 and now I am looking forward to season 17. Big surprise. IMO what they need going forward is more strong role players-bring in some new talent to replace the hole left by the departure of Bill Ponderosa and even his sister Maureen-and get Cricket more involved-he brings a lot to the table.

Dennis Takes a Mental Health Day

[bobcobb301 · 8/10 · 23 July 2023]

It is amazing that after all of these years It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia has had a bunch of really good episodes this season. It seemed like 8 or 9 years ago the show was on its last legs, but the short seasons and long breaks seem to have done good for it.

Dennis has always been my favorite character, so an episode focused on him was a good move. But this had so many scenes that were both relatable and laugh out loud funny, and really exposed a lot of the glaring flaws in the customer service world.

The ending kind of ruined it for me and felt like the twist this thing did not need, but that is par for the course with season finales for Sunny. But overall quite funny.

Best episode, ending must have been way shorter

[oozgurserdar · 17 October 2023]

This is by the best episode from a season which would otherwise have been a 'meh' one. The only problem with it was the ending. It felt as if the writers or the director was just trying to push it to 23 minutes. The killing of the car company head should have lasted one minute max. Otherwise, the epooside's harsh criticism of the so called technological systems that surround us is spot on. I too do not want to download apps that will not fix anything. Or, as mentioned in the episode, you do not have to fix something that has been fixed or invented thousands of years ago. I wish the episode was written by one of the big three.

"lets call it self care💀"

[peytoonw · 10/10 · 28 April 2024]

One of my favorite sunny episodes in a while, and overall. Glad they brought back the golden god and really gave dennis a chance to shine, he is one of the most comical characters i think. This whole delusion of an episode from him was great, i thought the whole making fun of mental health days and "self love" stuff was hilarious, the boba scene was perfect, gave him even more of a chance to shine. This is the kind of satire comedy that we need to bring back, with curb ending and sunny running rarely we really need to bring this stuff back, we cant have fun and make fun of each other anymore😭, sunny, keep doing what youre doing, cant wait for more seasons to come out.

A Surprisingly Weak Finale

[coasteraddict-16796 · 5/10 · 20 July 2023]

This episode is another example of the fact that the show is better when we're watching the full gang's dynamic. This episode, while being a fun opportunity to see into Dennis' mind, is ultimately boring and unfunny. Even if it's relatable in some ways, it feels like an idea that was never fully thought through, like Howerton just thought it'd be funny to do an episode where he gets mad at technology.

Seasons 11-15 set a precedent of having finales that were emotional and gave our main characters genuine moments. S11 had the gang accepting mortality, S12 had Dennis realizing his fatherhood, S13 had Mac accepting his sexuality, S14 was a metaphor about the attitudes surrounding keeping the show going, and S15 had Charlie coming to terms with his grief and his father's negligence. With all of that in mind, this finale is boring, shallow, and delivers almost no laughs. The funniest scenes are when the gang is talking about the pressure cooker.

5/10, a disappointing end to a legitimately decent season.

Ending botched it

[notchycookies-44872 · 1/10 · 20 July 2023]

I am a huge fan of the show and have been for years now, but man they really botched this episode. It was great and I was loving it, until the ending. The episode did not pay off in any satisfying way for me. The outburst towards wally was a better payoff of Dennis' building rage than this episode. It had everything going for it until Dennis asks, "What beach?" Everything after that just ruined the episode. The greenscreen really took me out of it, and the twist was terrible and completely ruined the whole thing.

I really am a big fan and am leaving this review because I care about the show and want to give my feedback.

This is officially the worst episode in the series

[confretto · 3/10 · 28 July 2023]

Dear sweet lord this was a terrible episode. Had to turn it off three different times out of boredom or anger. What happened towards the end of this season? They were on a bit of a roll with the first few episodes but the last couple were just absolutely unfunny. I know the show will never be what it was before but come on they are so much better than this. Been a huge fan for a long time and it seems they are being given a little too much freedom from the network heads.

The entire episode was the same bit repeated over and over again. The scene in the tea shop was paaaaaainful to watch. It felt extremely forced.

And the ending...what the actual hell...Just because you paid $50,000 to use Roxette doesn't mean you have to use THE ENTIRE SONG. Yeesh. And then to top it all off the whole episode wasn't real. Nothing actually happened. It was all a farce. Like stewie kills Lois/Lois kills stewie. Yeesh.