Plot: What’s it about?
The gang from Paddy’s Pub is back once again, poised to get into all kinds of socially questionable situations. Dennis learns his ex-wife is soon to be wed once again and of course, he refuses to let her move on without crashing her wedding. Frank is also stuck in the past, but only because his memory is failing by the second. This is thanks to an outlandish treasure hunt which not only threatens his memory, but what little sanity he has left. Even the social elite aren’t immune to the gang’s adventures, as some of them decide to seek out romance within Philadelphia’s richest citizens. And perhaps in an all too expected turn of events, the entire gang ends up in therapy, but will their sessions help them turn their lives around? While this band of misfits has had some wild times in the past, this season’s mayhem reaches more epic levels than ever before.
This is one of the funniest shows on television, hands down. The tone might be a little dark for some, but the writing is razor sharp and the cast is great. This eighth season is one hilarious episode after another, with countless quotable moments and tons of classic Always Sunny awkwardness. Although I have watched the show since it debuted, I didn’t realize it had been on for so many seasons, but it shows no signs of slowing down here. The group is still able to take a simple idea and run with it, spiraling the premise into mayhem and bleak humor. I was glad to see Frank given some awesome moments, as well as various groupings of the gang allowed to get into their own little situations. I’m always a fan of the times when Charlie and Dee are given scenes with the just of the two of them, for example. As always, strands from previous seasons are woven in with current episodes, as well as a parade of familiar faces from the gang’s earlier adventures. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia is simply one of the best shows around right now, so of course this eighth season is highly recommended.
Video: How’s it look?
The episodes are presented in 1.78:1 AVD HD transfer. I found detail to be strong and the overall image to be great, so fans should be satisfied with this presentation. The clarity is on par with the over the air HD broadcasts and color and contrast perform at a high level as well. So all in all, the show looks good in this treatment.
Audio: How’s it sound?
This DTS HD Master Audio track hits all the right notes, but the material doesn’t ask too much of the track. The show is fueled by dialogue of course, so the surrounds aren’t able to flex that often. The vocals sound excellent, with clear dialogue that is never harsh and no volume issues surface. The music adds a little life into the mix, but for the most part, the front channels shoulder the burden here. That is fine however, as the show shows terrific and as it should. This release also includes subtitles in English, Spanish, and French.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This release includes the Lady House: Lost Premiere, audio commentaries on some episodes, deleted scenes, and several behind the scenes featurettes.
