10x02 The Gang Group Dates

[7.4/10] Nice Dennis-focused episode. I appreciate the character-based comedy of how his ego will not allow him to take the whole date-rating thing lying down, which only drives him deeper and deeper into his self-defeating, egomaniacal insanity. A great showcase for Glenn Howerton.

And a nice outing for the rest of The Gang as well. There’s admittedly something mildly problematic about Dee sleeping around and rating her dates poorly in the guise of it being empowering only to be a little disgusted to realize that the guys don’t care about the ratings so long as they get to sleep with her, but it works as a comic twist.

Plus I loved Frank, Charlie, and Mac each trying their best to get through one date without alienating the ladies they’re taking out, and screwing it up in dumb but amusing ways. (I got a particularly stupid kick out of Frank saying, “Hello, I’m Frack.”). There there was also some particularly great editing in this one, with the montage of Dennis slowly losing it, Dee running through various conquests, and the others going through a series of whistle-based false starts being a particular highlight.

Overall, another winner in Season 10.

EDIT: On rewatch, I think I'd bump this one up to at least an 8. Dennis slowly unraveling from being rated poorly is great, and Mac, Charlie, and Frank's dating misadventures just get better and better. Lots of really good laughs in this one.