The gang still doesn't understand how finances work in It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia Season 16

Frank has always been a little immoral, but when 'The Gang Inflates' reveals he bought Dee's building and is personally responsible for the rising costs that led to Dee's eviction Dee, it's hard not to wonder if he's gone a bit that far this time. Things get even worse with the revelation that he only agreed to fund Dennis and Mac's inflatable furniture business because he knows they will fail and he can exploit them forever.

It all works as a spiritual sequel to the 2009 episode, "The Great Recession." There, Mac and Dennis didn't sabotage themselves with a furniture store, but instead tried to game the system with "Paddy's Dollars", their own pub-specific currency that made no sense. You'd expect Dennis to be the reasonable one to explain to Mac why this is a bad idea, but that's not the case; he is just as delusional and overwhelmed as his partner. In the 14 years between "The Great Recession" and "The Gang Inflates," none of the characters grew wiser or more self-aware. Usually, this lack of character development would be a problem, but for "Always Sunny," it's part of the show's charm.

And of course, much like "The Great Recession" resolved with Frank inexplicably receiving a government bailout, the gang's money troubles in this episode are resolved by Frank's surprising craving for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle pies. Charlie plays Frank like a fiddle, only giving him the pies when he agrees not to kick Dee out and forgive Dennis and Mac's loans. Frank hasn't changed - he will always be a selfish business predator in an endless pursuit to exploit the people around him - but for now, at least, he has been kept at bay.