Did Frank and Sam’s Gross-Out Wedding Go Too Far?

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia‘s landmark 18th season has officially kicked off with two back-to-back episodes: “Frank Marries a Corpse” and “Dennis and Dee Don’t Get Rich.” Warning: Spoilers for It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Season 18, Episodes 1 & 2!

But in a show that has been filled with colorful and questionable humor since its debut back in 2005, did the FXX comedy take it a smidge too far with its latest debut? As fans will recall, Season 17 concluded with Frank’s (Danny DeVito) experience on The Golden Bachelor, where he met Sam (Carol Kane) and decided to pursue romance.

Season 18 opens on the morning of their wedding, but something isn’t quite right for the bride-to-be as well as her groom as they appear sickly while getting ready for the ceremony with their respective bridesmaids and groomsmen. While Frank is feverish under Dennis (Glenn Howerton), Mac (Rob McElhenney), and Charlie’s (Charlie Day) watchful eyes, Dee (Kaitlin Olson) is less sympathetic towards Sam’s aches and pains… until she has a reason to be.

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While Dee devised a plan to scare Sam off from going after Frank’s money by getting the Waitress (Mary Elizabeth Ellis), Artemis (Artemis Pebdani), and Gail the Snail (Mary Lynn Rajskub) to play bridesmaids, she has a change of heart, learning just how wealthy Sam is. Sam is so wealthy that she even offers to leave money to Dee as her stepdaughter, signing legal paperwork that Dennis joins in on.

The problem? A headache and neck pain led Sam to an early demise, pre-vows with Frank. Determined to validate their document, Dee helps walk Sam’s corpse down the aisle to make the marriage official, but when Frank goes to kiss his bride, her head falls off! Yikes!

It turns out that Sam and Frank had enjoyed the night before their wedding having sex in a creek. While Frank’s reaction to the bacteria-ridden water wasn’t as severe, Sam’s ate through her neck, causing the sudden decapitation. The second episode of the two-part premiere follows the funeral arrangements and Dennis and Dee’s efforts to validate Sam’s legal document to make themselves rich.

It turns out to be a tribute episode to late star Lynne Marie Stewart, who played Charlie’s mom, Bonnie. Pulling double duty, it was a dual funeral, featuring clowns, a band, and a cannon that blasts Sam’s corpse, leaving Dee and Dennis without any digits (which they’d been using to forge paperwork signatures) to use.

Needless to say, Season 18 is off to a blast, but did it take things a step too far in the gross-out category? We’d argue that It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia is always funniest when pushing the envelope, and these episodes certainly do. But what did you think? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below and stay tuned for more as Season 18’s ten-episode run continues on FXX.

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Season 18, Mondays, 9/8c, FXX, FX & Hulu