The fact that it was a fantasy was very on brand. Dennis is someone who craves the feeling of control - over his health, his relationships, over everything - so the fact that he responds to something that’s beyond his control (aging, mortality) with an incredibly elaborate fantasy that allows all these bad things to happen to him but in the end he still manages to calm himself down was extremely in character for this new, less tightly wound Dennis we’ve had all season. THIS IS HOW HE’S GOTTEN TO THIS POINT.
This ep was an insight into his mind, how he’s actively been practicing changing the way he thinks and responds (‘it’s not your fault’ ‘the system is broken’) in situations where he feels stressed or overwhelmed or threatened. The violence he allows himself to indulge in is fantasy, he’s blowing off steam internally (inside the pressure cooker) so that he can be better in real life.
tldr; it wasn’t a dream, it was his fantasy - and not just fantasy, but fantasy as a coping mechanism!
Dennis Reynolds - Why am I anxious?
WAIT. Is Uncle Donald gonna be Country Mac's fucking DAD?? Aka potentially a supportive family member??? Why ARE Mac's cousins all so chill and content about being gay when Mac isn't 🤨 are we gonna finally find out??
#SO CUTEEE
Just started watching Always Sunny, and I couldn’t help but doodling Mac. He’s just so pretty!!
Closeups below cut
well. i sure did dig up. something.
dennis' tools rant but just the babbling and weird noises he makes
on some level I am always thinking abt that gif of glenn on set for dennis gets divorced going in like he’s gonna grab rob’s face and kiss him
#CUTE
doodle of the gang but as teens
I’ve been drawing so much sunny lately, i want 2 die
stop these hands
#macdennis #macanddennisbreakup
mac, who wants to get closer. dennis, who keeps moving away. yet dennis only retreats as far away as the chair here.
the way dennis winces after saying "maybe we ARE spending a little bit too much time together". but this is a moment of pain that dennis does not let mac in on. he doesn't want mac to see how much this hurts him to say. he wants to pretend like he's strong when he isn't.
the way dennis' face changes when he says "[i feel like i'm not...] flourishing" & shoots mac this gaze...
i think he's waiting for mac to fight back. to try to "save" their relationship. to prove that dee's wrong. to go "no, that's bullshit dennis, our relationship is so awesome and you know it!". but mac doesn't
look at how hurt dennis is by mac's defeat. he's thinking "really? you give up on me just like that? but i thought..."
"WAIT! ...don't do that"
look at how surprised mac is that dennis DOES try to stop this break-up from happening, that he finally touches him after moving away from him every time mac tried to get close on the couch
the thing that makes Mac and Dennis funny is that they’ve literally been behaving like a couple for the entire duration of the show. they are Dating Without Benefits. no wonder Mac is on his knees begging for that dick bro that’s his whole boyfriend