History YMMV / ItsAlwaysSunnyInPhiladelphia

** The season 13 episode ''The Gang Solves the Bathroom Problem'' suggests that Charlie may be [[AmbiguousGenderIdentity nonbinary or trans femme]], even outside the commentary of the episode.

*** In an earlier season episode, ''A Woman's Right To Chop'', Charlie seems genuinely confused when it is revealed Mac's dog is pregnant why the dog wouldn't be a father to the puppies. When Mac says they don't really do gender, Charlie refers to gender as "old school".

* IncestYayShipping: Dennis and Dee, due to the large amount of IncestSubtext between them, which has included stuff like them playing lovers in Charlie's "The Nightman Cometh" play, posing as a married couple more than once, Dennis believing he drunkenly impregnated Dee at a Halloween party, and to say nothing of Dennis' AnguishedDeclarationOfLove to Dee in "The Gang Broke Dee". Moreover, Dennis, for all his putting down of Dee's appearance and dreams, also has the most PetTheDog moments towards her and while Dee herself doesn't vocally reciprocate it, [[AwLookTheyReallyDoLoveEachOther she is shown to still care for him]]. Considering how screwed up all of the main characters are, it wouldn't be surprising if this one actually became canon at some point. Even their actors ship it, with Kaitlin Olsen and Glenn Howerton admitting that Dennis and Dee have a very deeply dysfunctional and codependent relationship that makes them, in a twisted sort of way, perfect for each other.

** While many fans believe that Creator/GlennHowerton is one of the best actors in the main cast, some episodes still stand out in terms of his acting ability, most notably "Mac and Dennis Move to the Suburbs" and "Dennis Takes a Mental Health Day". "The Gang Tends Bar", "Sweet Dee Gets Audited" and "[=PSTDee=]" are also favorites, really showing how broken Dennis is.

** While many fans believe that Creator/GlennHowerton is one of the best actors in the main cast, some episodes still stand out in terms of his acting ability, most notably "Mac and Dennis Move to the Suburbs" and "Dennis Takes a Mental Health Day".

** The season 16 episode ''The Gang Solves the Bathroom Problem'' suggests that Charlie may be [[AmbiguousGenderIdentity nonbinary or trans femme]], even outside the commentary of the episode.

** Many fans tend to agree with the rest of the gang that ''The Nightman'' is Charlie's subconscious personification of childhood sexual abuse. This is despite Charlie denying being molested by his uncle, and WordOfGod being that this is actually the joke.
--> A rape joke is not remotely a funny thing; a man writing a musical that he thinks is about self-empowerment, and not realizing that all his lyrics sound like they're about a child being molested, is a funny thing. The joke is coming from confusion and misunderstanding, which are classic tropes of all comedy.\\
- Glenn Howerton

--> A rape joke is not remotely a funny thing; a man writing a musical that he thinks is about self-empowerment, and not realizing that all his lyrics sound like they're about a child being molested, is a funny thing. The joke is coming from confusion and misunderstanding, which are classic tropes of all comedy.//

* {{Fanon}}: Many fans choose to believe that the flashbacks depicted in "The Gang Buys a Roller Rink" are actually the Gang's [[UnreliableNarrator unreliable memories]] at play given that their characterizations wildly contrast what has already been firmly established in continuity. Specifically, Dennis and Dee, who are portrayed as having been [[UsedToBeASweetKid good-natured and innocent]] until the revelation of Frank's infidelity made Dennis a cynical, sex-crazed sociopath and a severe head injury caused Dee to develop into the temperamental and bitter {{Jerkass}} she is today.

** When "Charlie Got Molested" aired, it was a standard humorous misunderstanding plot (except with child abuse) in which the Gang mistakenly believed Charlie had been molested. Later once it starts being implied he was actually molested, the episode becomes harsher. This is particularly true of the ending where he talks about going somewhere and crying now that everyone in his family believes he was molested. Then comes Season 13, when it's revealed he was flat-out ''raped'' at one point... by none other than [[spoiler:Dee.]] Not only that, both [[spoiler:Dee]] and his implied abuser, Uncle Jack, are present in the room during the scene in which Charlie is confronted about his alleged molestation in Season 1.

** Mac's ArentYouGoingToRavishMe in "Charlie Gets Molested" is both funnier and sadder where by Season 11 [[note]]Charlie was clearly abused by Uncle Jack, Dennis was raped by the school librarian and his/Dee's talk about it is literally gender reversed from their talk about Dee's college professor, Dr. Gainer[[/note]], he's ''the only one'' of the younger gang not molested. It also ties into him thinking literally any affection has to be a good thing, not getting any from his parents.

** Charlie is very brash, hotheaded, childish, has NoSocialSkills, and is very BookDumb, though he's also quite cunning when he puts his mind to it, to the point where he's often described as a savant. Consequently, a number of audiences interpret him as being autistic or otherwise neurodivergent.

*** Charlie does not like removing his shirt, and finds sex to be gross, despite also enjoying having sex. While these could also be potentially a different LGBT identity, they're also signs of body dysphoria

*** In an earlier season episode, ''A Woman's Right To Chop'', Charlie seems genuinely confused when it is revealed Mac's dog is pregnant. When Mac says they don't really do gender, Charlie refers to gender as "old school".

*** Charlie does not like removing his shirt, and finds sex to be gross, despite also greatly enjoying sex. While these could also be potentially a different LGBT identity, they're also signs of disphoria about his body.

** The season 16 episode ''The Gang Solves the Bathroom Problem'' suggests that Charlie may be [[AmbiguousGender nonbinary or trans femme]], even outside the commentary of the episode.

*** Charlie does not like removing his shirt, and finds sex to be gross, despite also greatly enjoying sex. While these could also be potentially a different [[UsefulNotes/Asexual LGBT identity]], they're also signs of disphoria about his body.

*** Charlie does not like removing his shirt, and finds sex to be gross, despite also greatly enjoying sex. While these could also be potentially a different [[Asexual LGBT identity]], they're also signs of disphoria about his body.

** The season 16 episode ''The Gang Solves the Bathroom Problem'' suggests that Charlie may be [[AmbiguousGender nonbinary or trans femme]], even outside the commentary of the episode. He may only identify as a cisgender male due to lack of access to resources, and Dennis and Mac's pressure for him to conform more to their ideas about masculinity.
*** Despite referring to himself solely in masculine terms, he genuinely seems uninterested in performative gender roles or asserting his gender, unlike everyone else in the gang.

** Mac and Charlie mocking Dennis and Dee for getting addicted to crack, for being one of the first moments to actually show the group being completely sociopathic towards each other.
** Dennis' implication speech, due to marking a turning point for his character from "perverted dickhead" to "sociopathic monster."

** Frank crawling out of a couch [[FanDisservice naked and drenched in sweat]] is one when to comes to demonstrating the sheer vulgarity of the show and the lines it is willing to cross.

** Similarly, Charlie's breakdown in the Season 15 finale is just as noteworthy, due to being one of the more effective TearJerker moments in the whole series.

* JerkassWoobie: Really, everyone in the Gang qualifies as this. They're all terrible, terrible people, but they're also just ''so'' pathetic that you really have to feel for them at times. Of special note are Mac and Dee, whose deep-seated insecurities and self-hatred become more and more apparent as the series goes on.
** Dee is the group's ButtMonkey and TheFriendNobodyLikes who has been mercilessly put down by her family (especially her mother) her entire life. It's also clear all she ''really'' wants is to win the Gang's approval. However, she's so shrill, angry, and spiteful -- not to being a shameless rapist -- that she often brings her misfortunes on herself.
** Mac even more so than Dee, who come Season 13 has clearly made an active effort to improve his physical stature, one of his largest insecurities, and is all but invalidated by the Gang. One of the most important points in Mac's character arc is that he wants to be accepted by people, but he especially wants the love of his father, who had been absent during his childhood. Mac choreographed a stunning performance, only for his father to walk out halfway through. Mac actually ''predicted'' the rejection and worked it in his performance, expressing his genuine heartbreak.
** Dennis's extreme vanity is actually a mask for [[InferioritySuperiorityComplex his insecurities]], and his unhealthy sexual behaviors stem from being a victim of statutory rape himself, as well as what sounds like textbook grooming from his mother (getting pimped out by Frank WordOfGod made him worse too). When his facade cracks and he regresses to crying like a little child, it's hard not to feel bad for him despite him being the worst of the Gang.

** Charlie is a StalkerWithACrush to the Waitress who keeps saying he will leave her alone but never actually does, was seconds away from torturing a "leprechaun", and is just as sexist as Mac and Dennis when he's angry enough. But he's a victim of CSA by his uncle, and no matter how much he tries to deny it, he wrote a whole musical about being in love with his abuser. He was also raped by Dee, and doesn't want to be alone with her after (although he does quarantine with her during the COVID pandemic later on, along with him joining her on her excursion to get ice in "The Gang Solves Global Warming", albeit the promise of free cat food). He also grew up fatherless and not even knowing who his father was as his mom was a prostitute. When he finally does meet his biological father he dies a few days later, leading him to have an emotional breakdown over having to carry his corpse up a mountain when he was never there for him growing up, and only finding closure in the fact his death means he doesn't have to wait for him to show up.
** Rickety Cricket. By now, he's a completely insane, barely human wretch who openly has sex with dogs, does every hard drug under the sun, enjoys animal cruelty, is a compulsive thief and in later seasons, someone who pimps out homeless teenagers. That said, his descent into this is heartbreaking. He started out as a happy, well-kept priest who was manipulated by the gang over the years, caught several horrible diseases, forcibly turned into a drug addict by the Gang's doing, got horribly mutilated several times over the years, had both people and ''dogs'' force themselves upon him and ultimately has become so broken both mentally ''and'' physically that he's completely lost any ability to return to a normal life.

* MisaimedFandom: The show has gotten both praise from racists and criticism from activists for its occasional depictions of {{Blackface}} and {{Brownface}} with Dee's acting characters and the Gang's ''Lethal Weapon'' sequels, both of which have led to five episode of the show being banned/pulled from streaming services. Both sides completely miss the point that, not only are the characters all terrible racists, but the portrayals are depicted as ''offensive'' InUniverse, with bystanders of all races reacting to the acts with horror and anger.
* MoralEventHorizon: While the gang has certainly committed such horrendous acts to place them well beyond the horizon. A few key moments stand out. Quite a few other characters have crossed it as well.

* PeripheryDemographic: The show has a hefty subsection of abuse victims who actually really appreciates how the show handles trauma and abuse. It's all BlackComedy, but it still matters and makes sense in such a warped way; Charlie getting abused by his uncle and making a whole musical about it, Dennis refusing to believe he was raped by a teacher and so seemingly punishing every woman he can, Mac's internalised homophobia and abandonment complex, and Dee growing up with no boundaries from her brother and stepfather with constant emotional abuse, so she manipulates men into sleeping with her. In addition, Dennis' D.E.N.N.I.S system and "implication" are often praised by victims and feminists for calling out tactics used by abusers meant to create a PlausibleDeniability, instead showing how chilling and disturbing they are when broken down.

** In "The Gang Exploits the Mortgage Crisis," Kate, the woman in the couple hiring Dee as a surrogate, is played by Creator/MelanieLynskey.

** Rickety Cricket. By now, he's a completely insane, barely human wretch who openly has sex with dogs, does every hard drug under the sun, enjoys animal cruelty, is a compulsive thief and in later seasons, someone who pimps out homeless teenagers. That said, his descent into this is heartbreaking. He started out as a happy, well-kept priest who over the years was manipulated by the gang, catches several horrible diseases, forcibly becomes a drug addict by the Gang's doing, gets horribly mutilated several times over the years, had both people and ''dogs'' force themselves upon him and eventually and eventually reaches the point where he's so broken (mentally ''and'' physically) that he's completely lost any ability to return to a normal life.

* IncestYayShipping: Even the actors/creators ship Dennis and Dee, with Kaitlin Olsen saying they're secretly in love with each other and they're the Series/GameOfThrones of basic comedy, Glenn Howerton calling it a romance and trying to find a way for them to sleep together, Charlie Day casually calling Jersey Shore the characters' first kiss, and Danny Devito pointing out the sexual tension between them. It also helps that the former two like teasing about how the siblings should make out, or Dee being the big spoon, or groping each other in the Nightman live shows.

** Rickety Cricket. By now, he's an completely insane, barely human wretch who openly has sex with dogs, does every hard drug under the sun, enjoys animal cruelty, is a compulsive thief and in later seasons, someone who pimps out homeless teenagers. That said, his descent into this is heartbreaking. He started out as a happy, well-kept priest who over the years was manipulated by the gang, catches several horrible diseases, forcibly becomes a drug addict by the Gang's doing, gets horribly mutilated several times over the years, had both people and ''dogs'' force themselves upon him and eventually and eventually reaches the point where he's so broken (mentally ''and'' physically) that he's completely lost any ability to return to a normal life.

* {{Narm}}: Some people get this response from the shows more earnest moments -- it's very hard to hit genuine emotion when your main characters are all stupid, hateful assholes. "Mac Finds His Pride", for example, has a dance routine where Mac reconciles his sexuality and his faith. It's genuinely beautiful and emotional...but it's ''Mac'', whose faith has always been portrayed as EgocentricallyReligious stupidity and whose sexuality has been the subject of near-constant mockery for the last three seasons.

** For those who didn't like Seasons 13 and 14, the Ireland StoryArc is commonly seen as revitalizing the show and consistently returning the Gang to the fucked up BandOfBrothers they were in Seasons 2 to 12. Charlie gets some CharacterRerailment and an emotional story arc revolving around his long-lost father, Dee and Dennis share several diabolical SiblingTeam moments again, Mac gets things to do other than pine after Dennis, and Frank receives more depth thanks to his father-son relationship with Charlie in the season finale.

** For those who didn't like Seasons 13 and 14, the Ireland StoryArc is commonly seen as revitalizing the show and consistently returning the Gang to the fucked up BandOfBrothers they were in Seasons 2 to 12. Charlie gets some CharacterRerailment and an emotional story arc revolving around his long-lost father (and the rest of the gang readily help him throw his real dad off a hill), Dee and Dennis share several diabolical SiblingTeam moments again, Mac gets things to do other than pine after Dennis, and Frank receives more depth thanks to his father-son relationship with Charlie in the season finale.

** The Ireland StoryArc is commonly seen as revitalizing the show and consistently returning the Gang to the fucked up BandOfBrothers they were in seasons two to twelve. Charlie gets his emotional moment, the rest of the gang readily help him throw his real dad off a hill, Dee and Dennis share twisted and varyingly incestuous {{friendship moment}}s again, Mac gets things to do other than pine after Dennis, and Frank wants to be a better father after failing so badly with the twins.
** While Season Sixteen still has some detractors, several fans and critics have praised it as a return to form, featuring more grounded storylines, the return of executive producers Scott Marder and Rob Rosell, and the reappearance of several fan-favorite side characters, such as Uncle Jack, Gail the Snail, and even the [=McPoyles=]. It also continues the trend started in the previous season of pitch black comedy with underlying sadness (consisting of several insights as to why the Gang are all like that), as well as the Gang just giving a shit about each other in general. Several fans have attributed this change to The Always Sunny Podcast, which started around the time that writing and production of this season took place.