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It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia has a long history of putting its characters, and their doomed-to-fail acquaintances, through crazy, consequence-free situations.
But in Season 17, Episode 3 ("Mac and Dennis Become EMTs"), the show introduces an old favorite from earlier seasons only to send him on his journey to one of its darkest moments to date. The Lawyer's return, interpreted by Brian Unger, is an unusual moment when the lifelong harm inflicted upon the victims of the gang becomes uncomfortably obvious.
Although this is not the first occasion on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia that the gang has ruined a life for entertainment or incompetence, The Lawyer's return after six seasons does particularly feel bleak.
Rather than being a snappy legal foil or disposable supporting character brought in for one quip, his return to It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia ends in shame, injury, and finally jail time. All within one episode, and not symbolic or dreamlike, just straightforward, on-screen chaos, done the usual Sunny way.
The dark turn: The Lawyer is framed and imprisoned
The episode gets dark when The Lawyer, who initially played the role of a serene, composed character attempting to deal with the gang's crap, is framed for a crime he didn't commit. Mac and Dennis, in their irresponsible decision to play the role of EMTs, have a series of out-of-control events culminating in The Lawyer getting physically injured, embarrassed, and arrested.
The kicker: he's sentenced to 30 days in jail, not for what he did, but for being in the wrong place at the wrong time, and with the gang. This is one of the show's most explicit images of collateral damage inflicted by its main characters.
Who is The Lawyer & why does his return have significance in It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia season 17?
The Lawyer first appeared in It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Season 3 and throughout the series developed into a reliable supporting cast member. Level-headed and rational with an excellent understanding of the law, he was frequently the voice of reason in the gang's unrealistic and zany antics.
Unlike some other recurring characters of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia who eventually found themselves going along with the gang's energy (or losing their minds), The Lawyer always tried to maintain his cool and professionalism.
Nevertheless, his It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Season 17 return illustrates how even the most even-keel characters can't help but fall prey to the eventual long-term chaos surrounding Paddy's Pub. His journey, which initially was professional and stable, has been sadly altered by the plot of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
The darker side of repeating characters in It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Season 17
While The Lawyer's fall is not as completely chronicled as Rickety Cricket's, it follows the trend in the show's writing: the repeating characters are usually victims of the gang's unbridled selfishness. Like Cricket, The Lawyer was initially a healthy, functioning adult, but has seen his life and well-being wear away through repeated exposure to Mac, Dennis, Dee, Charlie, and Frank.
What is so great about this return is the tone. The episode doesn't take a moment to think or struggle with ethics; instead, it makes The Lawyer's downfall come organically within the madness of the Sunny world. The gang continues unchecked, and The Lawyer is now left to face the legal repercussions of something he didn't commit, another casualty of their undeterred dysfunction.
Is this a new direction for It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Season 17?
Is there any strong evidence that this plot is a change of direction for It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia? The Lawyer's return is typical of the show's long history of casting recurring characters to speed along their self-destructions. His arc in It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia does not include redemption or depth; it is simply a result of the show's dark universe, where actions have repercussions, but never for its main cast.
The fans have reacted with equal measures of shock and admiration. Some compare The Lawyer to other fallen side characters, while others point out how it is possible for It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia to weave long-term callbacks into the narrative so subtly. Either way, The Lawyer's arrest has been one of the most talked-about moments of season 17, largely due to the extent to which it lays bare It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia's fundamental idea: people get hurt, but the gang is always there.
The Lawyer's return in It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Season 17 is neither heroic nor victorious; it's just another example of how the gang's irresponsible touch leaves things in shambles. Although the character has been established for years as a brilliant, capable outsider to their world, his fate is that even the most capable among them can't avoid being collateral damage.
As It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia goes on its record-breaking run, The Lawyer's increasingly somber turn might not alter the show's tone so much as preserve it. In Sunny's world, justice is an illusion, decency a weakness, and if you spend enough time with the gang, you'll end up being brought down — on the up-and-up or otherwise.
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