"The Gang Exploits A Miracle" is chronologically the ninth episode of the second season of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. The episode was broadcast as the seventh episode, and is listed as such on most major streaming platforms.
Synopsis[]
When the gang finds a water stain in the office that resembles the Virgin Mary, Frank begins charging patrons to see the miracle. Dennis fasts because he thinks his face looks fat.
Recap[]
11:00 AM on a Tuesday
Charlie stumbles out the office, having slept in there, and tells the gang that there is a water stain. They go in to see it and Mac recognizes it as a resemblance of the Virgin Mary. Frank decides to cash in on the "miracle".
A news crew covers the "miracle" and Dennis thinks he looks fat on TV. Philadelphians are coming to view the "miracle" but aren't donating very much money to Paddy's. A former high school classmate turned priest, Matthew Mara, stops by the bar to view the stain. The boys remember him as Rickety Cricket, the boy who wore leg braces and was in love with Dee. When he leaves, Frank tries to convince Dee to get Cricket to bless the stain. She finds him outside his church and flirts with him, but he refuses to bless the stain. Dee returns to Paddy's and Frank blames her failure on her aging beauty. She goes to confession and tells Cricket that she is in love with him.
Meanwhile, Mac and Charlie argue about the legitimacy of the stain when a woman asks Mac to bless her. They decide to become more religious and bless the other visitors. Mac dresses in all black and Charlie dresses in all white and they compete with each other in inspiring and blessing Paddy's patrons.
Dennis returns to Paddy's after a three-day fast. He is convinced he looks less fat now, but has trouble speaking and walking due to his malnutrition. He and Frank go find an old senile priest, Father O'Grady, to bless the stain. O'Grady instead urinates on the stain, washing it away. The people who came to see it blame Charlie and Mac for being false prophets and leave.
Cricket, having left the cloth, returns to Paddy's and professes his love for Dee. She apologizes and tells him that she doesn't love him, and that he should return to the priesthood. Unfortunately the Catholic church won't let him return. Dennis collapses to the floor and Mac suggest a way for Cricket to cheer up - by tea-bagging Dennis.
Cast[]
A malnourished Dennis
Starring[]
- Charlie Day as Charlie Kelly
- Glenn Howerton as Dennis Reynolds
- Rob McElhenney as Mac
- Kaitlin Olson as Dee Reynolds
- Danny DeVito as Frank Reynolds
Guest Starring[]
Co-Starring[]
- Gina Morelli as Hispanic Woman
- Jack Axelrod as Father O'Grady
- Philip Perlman as I.V. Man
Trivia[]
- This episode marks the first appearance of Matthew Mara, known to The Gang as Rickety Cricket. Cricket is portrayed by David Hornsby, a producer and writer for Always Sunny.
- Seeing images of the Virgin Mary created "naturally" was a big religious trend in the mid-2000s. In November 2004 a piece of toast featuring a likeness to the Virgin Mary sold for $28,000 at auction. In April 2005, a water stain in Chicago made national news, likely inspiring this episode of Sunny.
- The subplot of Dennis fasting was inspired by Glenn Howerton undergoing the Master Cleanse throughout the development of the second season.[1]
- In later episodes Charlie becomes very anti-religious. In "Charlie's Mom Has Cancer" he throws a fit at Mass and calls Catholicism a scam and in "Reynolds vs. Reynolds: The Cereal Defense" he instantly dismisses Mac's opinions because Mac is religious.
Notes and References[]
References[]
Notes[]
- ↑ This wiki prefers DVD order over broadcast order. Please refer to the Season 2 Notes for more information.
| < Season 1 |
Season 2 | Season > 3 |
| 1. "Charlie Gets Crippled" 2. "The Gang Goes Jihad" 3. "The Gang Gives Back" 4. "Dennis and Dee Go on Welfare" 5. "Mac Bangs Dennis' Mom" 6. "The Gang Runs for Office" 7. "Hundred Dollar Baby" 8. "Charlie Goes America All Over Everybody's Ass" 9. "The Gang Exploits a Miracle" 10. "Dennis and Dee Get a New Dad" |