"The Gang Goes to Ireland" is the fifth episode of the fifteenth season of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia and the 159th episode of the series overall.
Synopsis[]
The Gang's in Dublin! Dennis longs for a charming, authentic European experience, but ends up helping Frank with some of his business's "dirty work." Mac and Charlie learn about their Irish heritage. Dee rushes to the set of an Irish soap opera, where she will play the role of "Obnoxious American MILF."
Plot[]
10:15 AM, On a Friday, ???????, ??
The Gang sticks something up Dee's nose to wake her up. Dee asks where she is. Dennis reveals that while she was passed out from drinking, they took her first-class ticket to Ireland, broke it up into five coach tickets to Ireland and then gave her sleeping pills so she could wake up Dublin, Ireland, fully rested. Mac and Dennis tell her that this is what friends do, they support each other. Mac remembers that Dee has fifteen minutes to get to the studio. Dee, refusing to believe this is actually happening, runs outside. Dee screams in horror, before hurrying to get a taxi. Just then, she is hit by a van.
Dee is forced to have the others drive her to the studio. Dennis tells Dee about the plan for their vacation, and Mac is excited about getting to trace his family lineage. Dee, frustrated, yells at Dennis for getting such a tiny car, so he points out that "big American trucks" are exactly what they want to get away from, and tiny cars are part of Europe's charm. The Gang arrives at the studio. Dee is informed by the director that she is an hour late, but luckily, they don't need her for another hour. He also points out a massive bruise on her forehead. Dee informs him it is just makeup, before going to wash it off.
Mac and Charlie walk around the city. Mac tells Charlie how at home he feels, whilst Charlie is quick to point out how much similar it is to Philly, noting drunks, Irish people, the magical elements, like the banshees and the spirits and the sprites. Charlie also mention someone named "Shelley". Mac points out that all these things are made up, including Shelley, his supposedly imaginary friend. Charlie corrects him, saying Shelley is his pen pal, but Mac points out that he writes to him in an imaginary language. Charlie claims that Shelley being real explains how he knows more about Ireland than Mac. this angers Mac, telling him that he does not have a Shamrock tattoo on his body. It is one of three of his primary identities: the others are his sexuality and his badass nature. When Charlie asks if he is talking about what he identifies as or what he actually is. Mac explains that they are the same, and asks Charlie to support him on his big day. Mac quickly find the house address his dad grew up in, but it turns out to be a regular old MacDonald's restaurant.
To give Dennis an authentic Irish experience, Frank takes him to the worldwide headquarters of Frank's Fluids, LLC. Upon entering the building, a run-down corporate tax shelter, he picks up on the smell of a dead cat named Ralphie. Dee rushes in, explaining that the bruise on her head is hematoma, so Dennis decides to help her get rid of it by redistributing the blood. It works. Franks requests their help in shredding some documents, stating that Frank's fluids, LLC may or may not have been the official beverage supplier of convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein, and their names are on those documents. Dee refuses, citing her acting gig, but Frank tells Dee to relax, stating it is only a couple of boxes. He opens a door, into a room, filled with stacks of several boxes, much to Dee's chagrin.
Mac and Charlie are at the library, looking through family tree books. Mac is growing frustrated, citing the number of names that are either "Mc" or "Mac". Charlie finds something on "McDonald" in an old book, which he reads from. Mac is shocked to learn that the book is written in Irish or Gaelic and Charlie is able to read it fluently, despite his illiteracy. Charlie explains that this is what Shelley taught, making Mac realize that Shelley is in fact a real person. Charlie reveals that his mom invested in the idea and set him up with Shelley Kelly. Upon hearing that Shelley's last name is "Kelly", Mac begins to question that maybe Charlie and Shelley are related. Mac tells him that since Charlie's mom is a whore, she probably banged him the late '70s and thus Shelley could eb his half-brother. Charlie immediately remembers that Shelley is into the same things he is into. Mac calls hi mom for information on his lineage, but she drops the ball on him when she tells him that he is actually not of Irish descent and is actually Dutch and that Luther changed his name to "Vandross".
At an Irish pub, Frank is burning the shredded documents int a furnace, while telling Dennis about a sex-party he had on an island with Epstein. Dennis disgusted, implores him to stop. Dennis then proceeds to tell him how he has noticed that redheads have a distinctly pleasant odor to them, different from other hair types. He's been wondering if it is a genetic thing or a mutation sprung by generations of being away from the motherland. He has wanting to find a native with an authentic head of Irish hair, and he believes he has found the right one, in the form of the pub's hot bartender. He goes up to her and asks if she is Irish and when she says yes, he forcibly smells her hair for proof. he finds no scent, declaring her a liar. She asks if he is okay, but he tells her he is fine. She asks if he has gotten a temperature check and gives him one. She tells him he has a fever. Dennis starts telling her that he and Frank have travelled a long way to Ireland, but she gets furious when she spies Frank dumping the shredded documents into the pub's beer supply. Charlie calls Frank and updates him on the library fiasco and his half-brother who supposedly lives in the country.
Dee arrives at the studio, where the director reprimands her for being two hours lates. The director points out the redirected blood has gone down to her eyes, making the skin there purple. The frustrated director tells her to leave, informing her that the part has already been recasted: the lady now playing the role is the Waitress. The two women begin to argue. Dee begs the director to give her another role, so he gives the role of an "abused wife", which starts shooting tomorrow. During a car drive, Dennis starts violently coughing. When Frank brings up his fever, Mac begins to suspect that Dennis may have COVID-19. Dee ecstatically leaves the studio building with the call-sheet, overjoyed that her name is on it. Just then, she is hit by Dennis' car. As they check up on Dee, Dennis starts violently coughing again, raising Mac's suspicions as Dennis was the only one who did not the vaccinations. The Gang stuffs her into the car's small and cramped boot, before driving off.
Cast[]
Starring[]
- Charlie Day as Charlie Kelly
- Glenn Howerton as Dennis Reynolds
- Rob McElhenney as Mac
- Kaitlin Olson as Dee Reynolds
- Danny DeVito as Frank Reynolds
Guest Starring[]
- Mary Elizabeth Ellis as The Waitress
- Sandy Martin as Mrs. Mac
Co-Starring[]
- Sam Lucas Smith as Conor
- Kemma Filby as Bartender
Trivia[]
- Charlie has evidently patched the holes in his green jacket, which was shown to still be ripped up in the season premiere.
- The shamrock tattoo Mac tries to show off can be seen in Season One's "Charlie Got Molested" and Season Three's "The Gang Gets Held Hostage."
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