Charlie's Fate In The Abbott Elementary & It's Always Sunny Crossover Episode Could Not Be More Perfect

Published Jan 11, 2025

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Tensions were high during It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia visited the elementary school as volunteers, but a running gag from the FX series came to a head early in the episode: Charlie's illiteracy. While the rest of the "Gang" consisting of Dennis Reynolds (Glenn Howerton), Deandra "Sweet Dee" Reynolds (Kaitlin Olson), Frank Reynolds (Danny DeVito), and Ronald "Mac" McDonald (Rob McElhenney) were causing chaos around the school, Charlie was ironically the calmest It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia character there.

It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia season 17, Charlie had the best storyline in the crossover and deserved it.

It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia's Charlie Finally Learned How To Read In The Abbott Elementary Crossover

Barbara's Experience With Adult Literacy Came In Handy

Barbara Howard (Sheryl Lee Ralph) and Charlie Kelly (Charlie Day) talking in the Abbott Elementary and It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia crossover

Charlie began his “volunteer” work in Jacob Hill’s (Chris Perfetti) class by fixing his broken air duct, but Jacob quickly discovered a new problem— Charlie couldn't read the board. While Jacob at first brushed it off as his handwriting being poor, Charlie mistook “Industrial War” for “Innovative Wear” and started discussing fashion. When he tried to prove himself by reading off the subpoints, it was clear that Charlie could only recognize certain letters. Jacob brings his concerns to Melissa Schemmenti (Lisa Ann Walter), who refuses to believe it until Charlie picks up one of her children’s books and laments the lack of pictures.

Charlie’s book choice references a running It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia joke where he’s an expert in “bird law.”

Finally, Charlie ends up with Sheryl Lee Ralph’s Barbara Howard, Abbott’s kindergarten teacher who also has experience teaching adult literacy. Barbara has been a part of Abbott Elementary’s most heartwarming moments, and she uses her patient, understanding demeanor to broach the subject of reading with Charlie. Though at first he’s embarrassed and flees, Charlie comes around to the idea of learning how to read by using books on birds. By the end of the episode, he’s reached a kindergarten reading level.

Charlie's Graduation Ceremony Was A Hilarious Way To End The Abbott Elementary Crossover Episode

His Moving Up Day Was A Celebratory Closing Scene

While Charlie’s reading subplot could have been concluded after the scene of him reading in the library, Abbott Elementary chose to highlight his achievements and have the resolution to his storyline be the crossover’s bookend scene. At the end of the episode, Barbara hosts a “Move Up Day” for Charlie, a ceremony that normally marks a kindergarten student graduating to 1st grade. Out of all the It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia references in Abbott Elementary, Charlie’s inability to read got the best payoff, with a perfect resolution that was funny while still being earnest and upbeat.

Glenn Howerton as Dennis Reynolds in the Abbott Elementary/It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia crossover episode.

What Was Dennis Doing During Abbott Elementary's Crossover With It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia?

The Abbott Elementary & It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia crossover was a hit, but Glenn Howerton’s Dennis was mysteriously evasive for most of it.

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Given the real reason why the It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia characters volunteered at Abbott Elementary, it’s unlikely that any of them expected to grow or be transformed by their time at the school. For most of the Gang, that rang true. While the others got into petty squabbles, tried to put on a well-adjusted act, or avoided the camera crew entirely, Charlie was the It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia character who had the best experience in the crossover. Now that he knows the fundamentals of reading thanks to Abbott Elementary, more opportunities will likely open up to him.