‘It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’ Season 18 Episode 8 Release Date, Time, Trailer and Where to Watch as Mac and Dennis are Benched with a Christmas Card Catastrophe
Paddy’s Pub is about to get a lot more bedridden. Two members of the Gang are headed for the sidelines in the next installment of ‘It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia‘, and it lands in the closing stretch of a season already packed with weddings, funerals and Renaissance faire warfare. The season promises battles with nerds, LARPers and a petulant McPoyle clan at the Renaissance Faire.
Fans keeping up with the longest-running live-action sitcom in television history will want the essentials. Below is the release date and time, where to stream it, and a spoiler-light preview of what Charlie, Dee and Frank are in for.
Release Date and Time for the Newest Episode
The eighth episode, titled ‘Mac and Dennis Tear Their ACLs’, is scheduled for September 28. Rotten Tomatoes lists the same date for the installment.
As for the time slot, the season premiered at 9 p.m. ET and 6 p.m. PT on FXX, FX and Hulu. Following the two episode premiere, one new episode has been airing weekly through October 12. That makes this a Monday night affair.
The episode was written by David Hornsby and directed by Heath Cullens. Two more episodes are slated to follow, on October 5 and October 12. That is a reminder of how close the season is to wrapping.
Where to Watch the Series on TV and Streaming?
Viewers in the United States can catch the show live on FXX and FX, and it also streams on Hulu. Episodes are available on the FXNOW website and on Hulu the same night they air.
International fans have a separate route. The show streams on Disney+ outside the United States. Rotten Tomatoes also points viewers to subscriptions on Disney+ and Hulu for the season.
Catching up before the latest episode is easy, since this is an expanded season of ten episodes, up from eight in each of the previous three seasons. The show set the record for longest-running live-action comedy series in 2021. It keeps extending that record every time the Gang returns.
Episode 8 Preview and the Christmas Card Chaos
The official synopsis says a Christmas card catastrophe leaves Mac and Dennis bedridden, with Charlie nursing them and deliberating over which one is the originator of all their ideas. That alone sets up a classic clash of egos. Mac and Dennis have each been quietly taking credit for years.
Meanwhile, Dee and Frank are tired of sitting at the bottom of the communication ladder and decide to flip the script. They try to work out what their injured friends were plotting before they got hurt, and it all ties back to a Christmas card competition.
Early critical reaction is glowing. IndieWire says this episode stands out from the rest of the season, and describes it as not quite a bottle episode, though it has the same vibe, with a couple of new sets including one that needs a bit of CGI trickery. The critic also highlights a hilarious scene built around the rules for watching a movie with Dennis and Mac.
Season Buzz Heading Into the Final Stretch
The season has been a hit with critics so far. Rotten Tomatoes shows a 100 percent approval rating based on nine reviews, with an average score of 7.3 out of 10. The trailer set the tone with a promise of star cameos.
FX teased loads of star cameos, nods to iconic Philly traditions and homages to other classic TV sitcoms. One recent episode has Mac and Charlie chasing the mystery of why ‘Gilligan’s Island’ never reached 100 episodes. That kind of pop culture rabbit hole is what fans have come to expect.
Viewers seem to be sticking around too. The Labor Day episode, which competed against an MLB game, still saw ratings tick up. With a Christmas card feud, a pair of torn ligaments and a Charlie Day nursing shift on deck, so who do you think really deserves credit for the Gang’s best ideas, Mac or Dennis, and does Charlie earn a promotion from bar janitor to full time caretaker after this one?
