In short, the first season is classic in retrospect. I find that I did not appreciate the sheer zaniness during its initial broadcast. Nearly a year later, the second season arrived and the show had changed, not for the better. It was a case of nearly jumping the shark. Fonzie was lining up the motorcycle and preparing to jump.
The lesser of the two seasons, this second go around with the goofy gang saw the success of the show lead to the addition of a big name to the cast. While that could be seen as a coup, it also wedged in an element that did not mesh very well. Danny DeVito joined the cast as Frank, Dennis and Dee's father. As funny as DeVito can be, he brings an unwelcome addition to the buddy dynamic of the other four.
Don't get me wrong, the second season is still funny. The problem is that DeVito's Frank comes in as a recently separated man of wealth seeking to relive his lost youth by moving in with Charlie. It was an odd fit. The gang became more active in the schemes while Frank was a major instigator. The end result of shoehorning Danny DeVito into the cast was the overall feel of the show becoming more scripted, plotted, and less organic than the first season. Don't worry, you will still laugh, there are some great lines and moments through the 12 season two episodes.
While I will complain about DeVito's addition in season two, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia is a funny show, considerably better than I originally thought. The humor is wild, over the top, and memorable. You won't be disappointed if you give this a shot sight unseen.
Audio/Video. The show is presented very nicely. The audio is presented in Dolby surround and it sounds fine. The series is primarily dialogue driven and it is always clear. The video is 1.33:1 full frame. It has a low budget, slightly gritty look that matches the irreverent tone of the show. In other words, it is fine.
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