Written by Charlie Johnson
I’m not sure if it’s more reflective of where we are as a society or the writers of Philly have matured a lot over the past season, but it feels like The Gang have been doing a lot of thinking about where they stand in the world. This week’s episode focuses on another politically sensitive issue. This time around they are discussing the issue of non-binary genders. This comes after episodes about the #metoo campaign, Trump’s Make America Great Again, and feminist representation of women in new media. This episode, like those before it, tackle the issues in a humorous and all-inclusive way.
If You Like Pina Coladas…
It’s 2AM on a Friday night and The Gang is at Paddy’s getting ready to go to a Jimmy Buffet concert. Everyone is looking forward to him singing Escape (The Pina Colada Song!) as Dennis is trying to inform them that song is in fact by Rupert Holmes. They’re kind of drunk so what does it matter. Mac bursts out of the bathroom singing and sits down. It turns out he just emerged from the ladies room. When Dee calls him out on this he explains that “As a gay man, I just feel more comfortable in the Ladies room.” Things get heated as Dee expresses how she feels uncomfortable so Dennis jumps in to keep the pre-concert vibes in check and suggests a debate to figure it out.
Charlie Has Some Explaining to Do
Mac contests that he should be allowed in the bathroom because he and women are attracted to men and find women’s bodies disgusting. A compelling argument for body shaming. Dee counters by saying not all women are attracted to men. We forgot about the lesbians! As well as this she doesn’t want a man pooping next to her. This is fair and valid. Mac wonders why this is an issue now as they have been next to each other on several occasions over the past few months. Mac has been seeing pink high heels for a while and it turns out they don’t belong to Dee, but instead they belong to Charlie. In a strange revelation, Charlie tells The Gang how he was often put in a dress by his single mother, so he could be taken to the Ladies room. Now he can’t do his business unless he is in the full outfit. Playing devil’s advocate, Dennis reminds Dee that she said she’d be fine sharing the space with a transgender woman. While Charlie isn’t a woman in any physical sense, he does appear to identify as one when he poops. The Gang is now in agreement. The old binary system of mens and ladies are out of fashion and they need to make some new signs.
That’s Confusing
The first prototype sign shows a half-man-half-woman, a wheelchair and a baby. Everyone thinks it’s confusing. Frank is uncomfortable because it looks like “You either gotta be in a wheelchair or as He-She,” to use the bathroom. Mac suggests that he make a solution on the laptop. The Gang wants him to do it in front of them because he destroyed their last three computers, but they give in. He returns four hours later with a photoshopped monstrosity that is blurred from our screen. It is described as being “mainly dicks” with a few pictures of “roadkill and roast beef sandwiches to accurately depict what a vagina looks like.” Good grief Mac! No wonder no one lets you near a computer. Everyone votes on feeling uncomfortable and takes it down. Next up is Charlie and Frank’s attempt.
All Inclusive Bathroom
I’m going to let this image speak for itself. Drink it in for a moment. It means that men, women, “He-She interspecies whatevers”, Christians, Muslims, and the dollar sign represents the Jews. Frank needs to bring religion into this big mess so that he can feel safe, knowing where the Muslims and Jews are doing their business. Dee suggests the most sensible thing all night. Just putting the word toilet on the doors. Boom! Problem sorted. Or it would’ve been until she decided to go for a number two in the old Men’s room causing a rethink of the idea. So close! Because no one wants to share a bathroom with Dee, The Gang vote that she should only be limited to one bathroom while the men get to pick. This nearly derails the entire night into an abortion debate after Dee screams “My Body, My Rules!”
Number 1 or Number 2
Charlie proposes this new idea. One room for number 1 and one for number 2. An eloquent solution it would seem. After admitting that everyone would use the room number 1 to poop because they couldn’t go knowing people would know what they’re doing in room 2, they decide to make the poop room more private with some extra partitions. I know that last sentence is confusing but so is trying to explain the thought process of these mad people. Bear with me though. They’ve nearly reached a decision. After we find out that Frank always poops with a gun in his hand because the constitution says he can, The Gang start trawling through old legal documents.
Minority Report
After Frank butchers the meaning of some of the constitution, Mac suggests giving the cleaner of the two bathrooms to the minorities. This is a touching yet self-serving notion. Dee jumps on board while Mac and Dennis begin competing for Charlie’s vote as he’s a notorious swing voter. Frank does a quick google and finds out that Philadelphia is 54% women and 68% Christian. By this logic, Dee is in the majority as a woman and Mac is as a Catholic. The old Switcheroo. Charlie votes with Dennis and Frank for the minorities and a decision is made. Minorities, in this case being non-Christian men, get the good bathroom. Dee and Mac decide not to go to the concert because they’re upset, and the rest of The Gang won’t go unless they are too. They sit in silence. In their sadness, they reach a moment of clarity.
“We all identify very differently out here, you know? But in there, in there we’re not so different. In there we’re all the same.” This is one of the greatest lines the show has ever produced. It speaks volumes to the down to earth way that these guys actually think while off set. Finally, an agreeable sign is hung on the toilet and everyone leaves for the concert.
Conclusion
As I stated off the top of the article, Philly has been remarkable this season in its social commentary. What make this show so funny and relatable is the subject matter it tackles. Most of it is everyday stuff that normally makes no difference. But because it’s the stuff that we deal with and have to think about, we find ourselves drawn in. If nothing else, Philly gets us talking to each other about these issues. I honestly found no flaws in this episode. It was simple in premise while speaking quite literally about a relevant issue. I also laughed my ass off. What more do you want in a show.
Ten Out of Freaking Ten 10/10
