Season 7 is something of a turning point for the series. For one thing, Macs season-long weight gain is an acting and artistic feat for which Rob McElhenney receives too little credit. But its also the season thats right in between the shows run as a more-or-less traditional sitcom and its increased experimentation with concept episodes. In some way, this two-part episode the seasons finale is a concept episode too, taking place entirely at the Gangs high school reunion. Turns out that not only was self-proclaimed golden god Dennis a loser in high school, so was every other member of the Gang. Charlie was called Dirtgrub and forced to eat bugs, Mac ratted on everyone and banged Denniss trashy prom date, and Dee is forced to wear her humiliating back brace again. Several classmates introduced in earlier seasons return with their continuities intact. A seemingly reformed Cricket is actually pickpocketing everybody. The Waitress falls off the wagon and cant find her name tag. But the payoff really comes at the end. After a particularly unhinged monologue from Dennis, the Gang decides to impress their former classmates with a musical performance. Theres a great reveal where we see what the Gang thinks is going on and then see what everyone else is seeing. The reunion encapsulates many of the shows subplots and allows the viewer a rare glimpse of the severely dysfunctional Gang through the eyes of everyone else in their world.
Kyle Schmidlin is a writer and musician living in Austin, TX. He manages the news blog at thirdrailnews.wordpress.com. Follow him at facebook.com/kyleschmidlin or twitter.com/kyleschmidlin1.
