10 Unique TV Episodes That You Must See
5. It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia - The Gang Turns Black
A musical body-switch episode.
Spontaneous musical episodes are a frequent occurance these days, especially in sitcoms, and the format can often feel stale and forced. It's Always Sunny, in their twelfth season, reinvented the format in true It's Always Sunny fashion, somehow using the overly cheesy, fantasy musical concept as a foundation for a serious discussion about racism in the U.S.
The episode follows the gang as they are struck by the clichéd "magic" electric shock and imagine themselves as their black counterparts. The proceed to go on a musical themed adventure which subjects the sociopathic gang to everyday racism, something they'd never understood, let alone sympathised with.
The writers produce lyrics that would not only fit right in a musical but are self-aware and reflective of the deeper issue that they are exposing. Though not the first time a show had attempted a musical episode, the dichotomy between the music and the serious undertones cements this episode as an important one to watch, especially in the current climate.