History Heartwarming / ItsAlwaysSunnyInPhiladelphia

'''As a Moments subpage, all spoilers are unmarked [[Administrivia/SpoilersOff as per policy.]] Administrivia/YouHaveBeenWarned.'''

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** Watch "Being Frank". When Frank injures himself in the towing yard Charlie is immediately concerned and the panicked response from Frank (who has little idea of what is going on) to the only guy he obviously trusts is quite touching:
--->'''Frank''': Charlie, are you there?

* In "Sweet Dee Dating Retarded Person," Charlie and Dennis write the "Day Man" song together after they were both kicked out of Mac and Frank's band. It's just refreshing to see members of the group just getting along, singing, and dancing with each other that doesn't devolve into an argument or screaming match.

* There's a legitimate one at the very, very, ''very'' end of "A Very Sunny Christmas", which has the Gang finally all together for Christmas throwing rocks at trains, and a flashback to a young Charlie and Mac doing the same and being surprisingly sweet.
** And also Frank's change of heart and the Gang's reaction to the gifts he gets them, especially Dennis' excitement. At least, until the experience is ruined when the presents are all stolen by Frank's old business partner.
* The episode "Mac and Charlie: White Trash" ends with the Gang cooling off with a fire hydrant. There are no jokes, no mockery, no bickering, just a group of friends laughing and sharing a genuinely enjoyable time.
** Similarly, "The Gang Exploits the Mortgage Crisis" ends with the Gang playing together happily in [[ComedicSociopathy in the rich couple's pool.]]

* "The Gang Gives Frank An Intervention": During the eponymous intervention, Charlie demands to know why Frank doesn't play [[RunningGag Nightcrawlers]] with him anymore. A genuinely surprised Frank promises to play it with him more.
* In "The Gang Gets Stranded in the Woods", it's revealed that Frank had arranged for Mac to finally get to meet Chase Utley at the Animal Rights banquet. It's undermined by the fact that Mac, Dee, and Frank are still lost in the woods while Dennis and Charlie are partying, but it's still nice to see that he remembered and genuinely wanted him to meet his hero.
** Dennis takes it upon himself to help Charlie keep calm while they're out of Philly and embrace their predicament as an adventure. Later on, when Dennis loses his jacket, Charlie makes a lot of money, and have a great night at the banquet. He even has enough money left over to take himself and Dennis back to Philadelphia. It may have been at the expense of the other characters but, like most of these examples, watching them genuinely enjoy each other's company and helping each other out deserves a mention on the Heartwarming page.
* In "Mac Fights Gay Marriage", Mac tells the rest of the gang that Carmen (the trans woman who dated him in season one) got married and all of them show genuine happiness for her, even defending her when Mac starts making transphobic statements out of jealousy.

* The entirety of "Dee Gives Birth." From Dennis' genuine concern for Dee when she is in labor (even wanting to be in the room when she gives birth) to the looks on the Gang's face when Dee was getting rolled down the hallway, baby in hand. Set to a Music/KateBush song no less. Later, they even laughed at one of her jokes. Who would have thought that this show could pull off a truly touching moment?

** After the credits, there's a picture of a baby, stating the episode is dedicated to Kaitlin Olsen and Rob [=McElhenney=]'s real life son Axel who was born around that time.
* Soon after they meet their real father, Bruce Mathis, Dee and Dennis actually look genuinely happy singing on stage with him at his charity performance.

* When Dee, Dennis and Charlie all get the full story of the Southern-Asian family's situation (the mom is having an affair with her husband's friend, and they and her daughter were about to run away to California when the dad came home to confront them), [[EvenEvilHasStandards they all become uncomfortable with the situation, especially when the daughter starts crying]]. It's only when the dad threatens to have their discussion go "all night" when they stop caring.

* Mac's father, despite being sent back to jail because of his own son and then later having Charlie and Mac try to sabotage his parole hearing, tells Mac that no matter what his son has done to him, he will always love him.

* "The Gang Tries Desperately to win an Award" has the Gang admitting that they don't need an award to feel special. They decide that an award doesn't matter as long as they like themselves.

* PlayedWith. Although while it is quite mean-spirited and cynical in the context of the situation, in the ending of "The Gang Squashes Their Beefs", the Gang end up agreeing that they shouldn't care about their relations with others because they still have each other.

* When Charlie fainted in "Chardee Macdennis 2", both Dennis and Dee were there to see him recover and said that they were worried and glad he survived. This being Sunny, it is immediately ruined by the two telling Charlie that his team lost because he cried immediately when the Waitress started talking and they burn his team's flag while smashing the figures.
* While it is more underplayed, there's no deny that Mac's father Luther genuinely loves his son and wants to make amends, as demonstrated in "Dennis Looks Like A Registered Sex Offender," Luther got arrested for violating his parole: he's not supposed to leave the state, but had purchased plane tickets for himself, Mac and Charlie to visit the Baseball Hall of Fame. In "Mac And Charlie Dies Part 2", after getting out of jail again, Luther writes Mac a letter saying he still loves him even after Mac attempted to frame him for sexual harassment and that he's trying to learn to forgive Mac.
* An easy-to-miss set detail, but one that says a lot: In later seasons, there is a picture of Ernie, the RecurringExtra whose actor died early in the show's run, hanging above the bar. It's both a nice tribute to the actor and a surprisingly touching gesture for the Gang to make InUniverse. Maybe there really was someone outside the five of them whom they all cared for.
* "Being Frank" ends with our first look at Charlie and Frank playing Nightcrawlers.

** The entire Gang holding hands beneath the water as they wait to drown. It's undermined seconds later once they realize they're being rescued and start kicking the crap out of each other to reach the surface, but in the moment it's a genuinely sweet, heartfelt gesture that shows the five of them really do love each other in their own warped way.

* In "The Gang Goes to a Waterpark," Dennis takes a LittleMissConArtist under his wing for a day after she successfully scams him. Throughout the day, he shows genuine interest in and support for her, albeit in her potential for crime. It's the only time over the whole series that Dennis likes a female character for herself, however warped a scenario it is.

-->Then there's Frank. A tempered, conservative man who only wants Mac to find his pride for only his, and the gang's, gain. But at the end, he connects with Mac's struggle. A man who he previously thought was weird (Being Frank) he now understands and sympathizes for. A completely unexpected character development.

* A great example of why Charlie is widely considered the least morally bankrupt person in the group is in "Underage Drinking: A National Concern" when he listens to high schooler Sara's boy problems and takes her to prom where he steps aside for her original boyfriend to dance with her.

** A noticeable example comes when Charlie votes with Dennis and Frank, and Mac and Dee refuse to go to the concert because Dennis and Frank used Buffett's words against them. Dennis, Frank, and Charlie wanted the gang to go, and Frank decides if Mac and Dee won't go, there's no point in going. After they do compromise, they all leave singing Pina Colada.

-->'''[=u/DorkSide=]:'''It represents Mac's desire to desire/love women (which is why he visualizes God as a woman); God is important to Mac and God being a woman who tells him 'it's okay' at the end of the performance is God telling him it's okay that he loves men, that she recognizes his love for her (as God), as well as his sexuality and does not reject him because of it. The first act Mac and God part ways and look forlorn because Mac feels as though he has sinned due to his inability to love women in that manner; the second act is God letting Mac know that it is okay to be as he is, that he can still be a Godly man as a gay man.

** Throughout the episode, the group tries to give Charlie nice things, such as a trip to the movies or a day at the spa, but they fail due to Charlie's own idiocy. Though they're tempted to [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere give up as they always do]], Dee, Dennis, and Mac [[{{Determinator}} refuse to stop trying]]. Eventually, they sneak into Charlie's apartment and read his "dream book," a bizarre collection of odd pictures and misspelled words that contains the things he fantasizes about. At the end of the episode, they reveal that they painstakingly recreated these items, including a roast chicken wearing denim shorts, a [[ToothyBird bird with teeth glued on the beak]], and three different types of "worm hat" (a hat made from worms, a hat that makes the wearer ''look'' like a worm, and [[BreadEggsBreadedEggs a hat for a worm]]). Watching Charlie light up as he he finally sees his dreams come true is adorable.

* In "Sweet Dee Gets Audited" Frank seems genuinely concerned about Dennis when he talks about feeling empty inside. Its an understated moment, but it is one of the few moments where Frank seems concerned and sympathetic towards one of his children.

** After years of denying Charlie's paternity, Frank says he's sorry he's not Charlie's biological father.

* The Gang returning to help Charlie finish the Irish burial of his father in "The Gang Carries A Corpse Up A Mountain" after having abandoned him earlier.

* Dee and Charlie bonding throughout "The Gang Misses the Boat." It's really nice to see that without the toxic influence of the rest of the gang that the two of them can actually encourage and support each other enough to get somewhere close to normal. The making out and probable sex may have ruined the relationship with awkwardness, but it was nice too.

*** When Frank tries to find a new group of young people to hang out with, his typical schemes and antics [[RealityEnsues cause them to lose their bar and be slapped with a huge fine for serving liquor to minors]]. When the owners tell him the bad news, Frank immediately responds that the Gang would always have an even crazier Plan B in situations like this. Even when they're supposed to be spending time apart, he's still thinking about them. Granted, his kindness toward his original friends [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere makes him flee the damage he's caused to these new people]], but it shows that he has at least some decency and loyalty.

*** Though it's more likely this is because Mac and Charlie were the only ones he could get to actually believe he was as great as he said he was.

* A great example of why Charlie is widely considered the only good person in the group is in "Underage Drinking: A National Concern" when he listens to high schooler Sara's boy problems and takes her to prom where he steps aside for her original boyfriend to dance with her.

* There's a legitimate one at the very, very, ''very'' end of "A Very Sunny Christmas", which has [[spoiler: the Gang finally all together for Christmas throwing rocks at trains, and a flashback to a young Charlie and Mac doing the same and being surprisingly sweet.]]
** And also [[spoiler: Frank's change of heart and the Gang's reaction to the gifts he gets them, especially Dennis' excitement. At least, until the experience is ruined when the presents are all stolen by Frank's old business partner.]]

** And, of course, Charlie gives the waitress's would-be fiancé, [[spoiler:who had only been manipulating her as revenge for being turned down in high school,]] a gift: [[spoiler:a box full of hornets.]] ''Awww...''
*** [[spoiler: To be fair, [[IfICantHaveYou he was going to give it to him before he found that out too.]]]]
*** [[spoiler: He did look like he was going to have second thoughts, before he found out about the fiance's intentions.]]
*** However, keep in mind: [[spoiler:Brad told Charlie he was going to to this scam with Dee next]].

* In "The Gang Goes to Jersey Shore," when Charlie meets the Waitress and they spend the evening together. For a show like this, it's almost too heartwarming to believe. [[spoiler: So obviously, it's [[SubvertedTrope subverted]] when the Waitress reveals she was on ecstasy that night, and shuns Charlie the next morning. However, it's DoubleSubverted when it's revealed Charlie honestly doesn't care that she was high, and enjoyed the night on its own merit. Aww....]]

* When Dee, Dennis and Charlie all get the full story of the [[spoiler:Southern-Asian]] family's situation (the mom is having an affair with her husband's friend, and they and her daughter were about to run away to California when the dad came home to confront them), [[EvenEvilHasStandards they all become uncomfortable with the situation, especially when the daughter starts crying]]. It's only when the dad threatens to have their discussion go "all night" when they stop caring.

* Mac's father, [[spoiler: despite being sent back to jail because of his own son and then later having Charlie and Mac try to sabotage his parole hearing, tells Mac that no matter what his son has done to him, he will always love him.]]

* [[spoiler:Subverted]] in "The Gang Broke Dee". The Gang seems genuinely concerned about her and supportive of her new career, [[spoiler:until it's revealed that it's just one big plan to show her things could be worse, because they found her mopey "broken" behavior annoying and wanted to get back at her for joking about suicide.]]
** However, it seems like Dennis wanted Dee to be happier (and out of their hair), and thought that if she did go with the plan of trying to continue her new career, she would become more depressed and kill herself. Plus, [[spoiler:he wasn't in on the plan to show her things could be worse, and even told her he loved her.]] [[spoiler:Double Subverted?]]

* Dee and Charlie bonding throughout "The Gang Misses the Boat." It's really nice to see that without the toxic influence of the rest of the gang that the two of them can actually encourage and support each other enough to get somewhere close to normal. [[spoiler: The making out and probable sex may have ruined the relationship with awkwardness, but it was nice too.]]

* When Charlie fainted in "Chardee Macdennis 2", both Dennis and Dee were there to see him recover and said that they were worried and glad he survived. [[spoiler: This being Sunny, it is immediately ruined by the two telling Charlie that his team lost because he cried immediately when the Waitress started talking and they burn his team's flag while smashing the figures.]]
* While it is more underplayed, there's no deny that Mac's father Luther genuinely loves his son and wants to make amends, as demonstrated in "Dennis Looks Like A Registered Sex Offender," [[spoiler: Luther got arrested for violating his parole: he's not supposed to leave the state, but had purchased plane tickets for himself, Mac and Charlie to visit the Baseball Hall of Fame]]. In "Mac And Charlie Dies Part 2", after getting out of jail again, [[spoiler:Luther writes Mac a letter saying he still loves him even after Mac attempted to frame him for sexual harassment and that he's trying to learn to forgive Mac.]]

** The entire Gang holding hands beneath the water as they wait to drown. [[spoiler: It's undermined seconds later once they realize they're being rescued and start kicking the crap out of each other to reach the surface,]] but in the moment it's a genuinely sweet, heartfelt gesture that shows the five of them really do love each other in their own warped way.

** And then it turns out that the letter she sent Charlie, believed to be a letter saying Mac's mom is holding her captive, [[spoiler:is ''actually'' a letter asking Charlie to be around more, since she misses him]].

* In "Hero or Hate Crime?", [[spoiler:Mac finally comes out as gay. While it's kind of ruined by the gang immediately stating that they hate him the second he leaves the room and swindling him out of his lottery winnings, they make it clear that they're happy for him and even put off on stealing his money for a day to let him enjoy his newfound comfort.]]
** The look on his face [[spoiler: when he finally decides to stay out]] is one of happiness and relief.
*** Oddly enough the group's acceptance of Mac [[spoiler: coming out]] is quite possibly one of the few decent things they've ever done. It also showcases just how strong their friendship, albeit dysfunctional, really is.

** TheReveal that [[spoiler: Frank got Jerry the tapeworm because he heard Charlie say he was flabby. Charlie clarifies that he said Frank smelled crabby, and that he likes Frank's crab smell.]]

* "Dennis's Double Life": [[spoiler: Dennis quits the Gang to be a father. He initially tried to get out of taking responsibility by scheming his way into alienating the mother and his son, but, at the very end, he decides he doesn't want his son to grow up with an absent father like he did and leaves for North Dakota.]]
** From the same episode, [[spoiler: Charlie finally sleeps with the Waitress because he tells her that he loves her, no matter how far she'd fallen. Subverted later on, because he realizes how bitchy she can actually be.]]

** Even if [[spoiler: Luther didn't accept him]], Frank and the other inmates [[spoiler: are completely enraptured by Mac's performance and give him a standing ovation]].

* In "The Nightman Cometh" after the [[EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep Waitress]] denied Charlie's marriage proposal, Frank was the only one who tried to comfort him. But of course it was then [[ComplimentBackfire rendered null]] by one [[CrowningMomentOfFunny line]].

** A noticeable example comes when Charlie votes with Dennis and Frank, and Mac and Dee refuse to go to the concert because Dennis and Frank used Buffet's words against them. Dennis, Frank, and Charlie wanted the gang to go, and Frank decides if Mac and Dee won't go, there's no point in going. After they do compromise, they all leave singing Pina Colada.

* The end of "The Gang Wins the Big Game" features a montage of actual Eagles fans celebrating their Super Bowl win, including Kaitlin Olson and Rob [=McElhenney=] at the real game. Between the absolute joy in the clips and Frank's speech about how this is their chance to feel like champions for once, the episode is more or less a love letter to the city of Philadelphia.

-->'''Charlie''': [[ItMakesSenseInContext JUST BASH ME, FRANK! JUST BASH ME LIKE A RAT!]]
-->'''Frank''': I'm not gonna bash ya, Charlie! I'm not gonna bash ya!