How Malcolm in the Middle inspired It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia's iconic episode

Malcolm in the Middle was very influential on the modern sitcom. It revolved around a dysfunctional family and was one of the first sitcoms not to use a laugh track. The show was never about being uplifting or about a conflict that would be resolved in 22 minutes.

Nope. It usually revolved around one or more of the main characters doing something wrong and then getting what's coming to them by the end. The formula worked, and the show proved how creative they could be with it. It's fair to say that shows like Malcolm in the Middle paved the way for shows that came after it, like It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

Malcolm in the Middle broke new ground, and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia took it to a new level, which is what led to great episodes like "The D.E.N.N.I.S. System."

Why "The D.E.N.N.I.S. System" is an iconic episode of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia has produced plenty of classic episodes in its nearly two-decade run. Among their more iconic episodes is the tenth episode of its fifth season, titled "The D.E.N.N.I.S. System."

In a nutshell, the episode encapsulates how much of a full-blown psychopath Dennis Reynolds is because of the titular "D.E.N.N.I.S. System" that he's designed in which he gaslights, manipulates, and psychologically tortures a poor woman into hooking up with him multiple times.

As disturbing as Dennis' presentation is, what makes the episode one of the show's funniest is seeing how badly everyone else in the gang tries and fails to execute "The D.E.N.N.I.S. System" in their own lives afterward.

When fans think of what makes the episode that epitomizes It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, "The D.E.N.N.I.S. System" comes to mind because it shows how the gang is as psychotic as they are dysfunctional and deserve absolutely everything bad that comes to them.

The funny thing is, there was a Malcolm in the Middle episode that aired years earlier that also presented a similar system, though it's not nearly as well-known as It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

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"Cynthia's Back" is eerily similar to "The D.E.N.N.I.S. System"

Now, for full context, in the 14th episode of Season 3, titled "Cynthia's Back," one of Malcolm's classmates, Cynthia, returns after a trip to Europe. When she does, she dresses in baggy clothes and acts very snotty toward her classmates.

As Malcolm tries to re-establish his friendship with the once blissful and courteous Cynthia, he realizes why she has become so antagonistic towards everyone—she's hiding her big breasts, believing they make her look like a freak. While Malcolm understands and promises to keep her secret, he accidentally spills the beans to his troublemaker brother, Reese.

From there, Reese tells Malcolm his disgustingly thorough plan to see her topless, which sounds very much like The D.E.N.N.I.S. System. He feigns romantic interest in her to let her guard down to do what he wants.

Luckily, Malcolm thwarts Reese's plans before he gets the chance.

The difference between the two episodes is that Reese's scheme fails (he never should have told Malcolm before putting it into action) while Dennis' works (at first). Both schemes are unmistakably evil, but while Reese's is perverse, Dennis' is that, plus it would cause actual trauma to another person.

Also, multiple unrelated subplots occur in "Cynthia's Back," while "The D.E.N.N.I.S. System" revolves around the aforementioned system.

The similarities don't make it a ripoff

It shouldn't be too surprising that some material from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia may have been explored first in Malcolm in the Middle because the shows are cut from the same cloth. When South Park first aired its early seasons, one of their biggest criticisms was, "Simpsons did it!"

Just because they've explored similar themes doesn't mean one ripped off the other. Rather, the show that preceded the other served as inspiration.

"The D.E.N.N.I.S. System" can be streamed on Hulu, as can "Cynthia's Back."

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