The Gang F***s Up Abbott Elementary

I used to love this series, but the last two seasons have been deeply disappointing, and this episode unfortunately continues that downward trend. Crossover episodes feel like lazy "greatest hits" compilations that rely on tired clichés instead of offering genuinely fresh content. The cinematography was particularly jarring-excessive shaky cam and artificial camera movements in the opening minutes were genuinely headache-inducing. It's frustrating to see a show I once enjoyed lose its creative spark and resort to these kinds of cheap gimmicks. The writing feels increasingly stale and uninspired.

This is such a great episode especially if you saw the Abbot Elementary episode first. I never watched that show but as a Sunny fan i realized it was a must and even tho its not the funniest thing ever and it restrained the characters a bit, it was good on its own. The Sunny characters also did not feel like themselves in that episode UNTIL this season premiere of Sunny because it explains why they acted differently with their devious and personal motives. All jokes landed pretty smoothly they were funny and natural, They done all that while also allowing the abbot characters shine. Basically a perfect episode.

Sunny is back with a lot of chemistry.

Season 17 kicks off with Always Sunny proving it still has plenty of gas in the tank. The premiere leans hard into the gang's signature mix of delusion, dysfunction, and biting satire. What's impressive is how fresh it still feels, tackling modern themes like AI and conspiracies without losing the show's core chaotic identity. The writing is tight, the timing is sharp, and the gang's chemistry remains unmatched. Seventeen seasons in, Always Sunny still manages to be both wildly stupid and sneakily brilliant. The gang still has it and the gang is back. Makes you want to watch Abbott as well. Philly Special.

The episode is surprisingly funny, but mostly in the first half.

If you're someone like me, who hasn't seen Abbott Elementary or its own Always Sunny episode, you'd be confused about the setting and the characters of that show. But there are enough hints to deduce why the gang is there and what they're doing.

So about the episode itself, I think it's just fine, I'm kinda being generous with the 7, because the episode starts out very funny, but peters out quickly, and the second half isn't as funny and good as the first half. And I think it's because they focus more on the Abbott Elementary characters than the gang.

The episode also doesn't really have a plot other than Frank saying he wants to do some Frankery, and by the end, he does it, and it's not like a huge twist or a laugh-out-loud moment either, it just kinda ends.

The Abbott Elementary characters are also not so annoying and too weird for this show that would take you out of the episode. They are surprisingly not bad and don't ruin the episode, it's just that focusing on them instead of the gang automatically makes the episode more boring.

So overall, this episode is mostly forgettable, but still not unwatchable or not funny, because it is funny, and it's mostly a 6/10 episode, but the funny moments in the first half were so funny that I give it a 7.

I have heard from critics on the places like The Ringer podcasts etc how Abbott Elementary is a modern version of The Office, yet out of the dozens of people Ive discussed TV shows with I have never met someone who actually likes this show. I count myself included, I was excited when I heard the Office comp and was about as disappointed as can be. It's like a sitcom for people who used to share Minions memes a decade ago. The Sunny crew brought out a few funny scenes but didn't laugh out loud once, it was just a total waste of an episode. I guess it's bc of the Philly ___location but there are many other shows I'd rather see a crossover between. The tone should at least be compatible.