Nine years after their most recent appearance, a fan-favorite guest star is returning toIt’s Always Sunny in Philadelphiaseason 17. Now the longest-running sitcom of all time, FX’sIt’s Always Sunnyheads into season 17, whichpremieres on Jul 15, 2025, with the second part of itsAbbott Elementarycrossover, the first of which premiered in January this year. Aside from that, the Gang will be up to their usual antics, with fun titles like “Frank is in a Coma” and “Mac and Dennis Become EMTS” for fans to look forward to.
It’s Always Sunny’sseason 17 traileroffers a glimpse at some of the season’s gags, including the Gang going onThe Golden Bachelor, some references to the Hawk Tuah Girl, and the return of long-running guest star David Hornsby (who also writes and produces the show) as Cricket. Cricket won’t be the only notable return this season, however, asa brief frame in the trailer shows the Lawyer, played by Brian Unger, who’s one of the Gang’s funniest adversaries.
The Lawyer Is Returning To It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia For The First Time Since Season 11
The Lawyer Hasn’t Been Around Since “McPoyle vs. Ponderosa”
The Lawyer first appeared inIt’s Always Sunny in Philadelphiaseason 3 during the episode “Dennis and Dee’s Mom Is Dead.” He then went on to appear twice in season 5, then three more times in seasons 6, 8, and 11. Despite such limited screen time in the grand scheme of the 170-episode series, he’s an unforgettable character whom most audiences will recognize. This makes it all the moreexciting to see him return for the first time since “McPoyle vs. Ponderosa: The Trial of the Century,” which aired in February 2016.
Though his appearance is brief in the trailer, a critical detail from his 2016 appearance gives him away: the eye patch. The season 11 episode saw him represent Liam McPoyle in a lawsuit against Bill Ponderosa, pitting two other legendary guest stars against each other in a legal battle. Of course, when the Gang is involved, even the sanctity of the courts is in jeopardy, and everything turned to madness whenRoyal McPoyle, Pappy McPoyle’s bird, swooped in to gouge the Lawyer’s eye out.
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphiafans have been waiting nine years for the Lawyer’s return, and theseason 17 trailer revealed that Royal did, in fact, cause him permanent damage. Though the Lawyer got the better of the Gang on multiple occasions, this incident places the unnamed man among the numerousIt’s Always SunnyGang victimswhose lives they’ve drastically altered for the worse. Under normal circumstances, this would be the bird’s fault, though it must be remembered that it was Charlie Kelly, the Lawyer’s rival in knowledge of the law, who set Royal free.
The Lawyer’s Hatred Of The Gang Is Only Going To Be Worse In Season 17
The Lawyer Suffered Permanent Damage At The Gang’s Hands
The Lawyer’s life has fallen apart during the time since he met the Gang, despite defeating them in court on multiple occasions. His first wife left him, and he had a second marriage that appeared to be going the same way at one point. Now, with his eye being lost due to the Gang’s involvement in the McPoyle/Ponderosa trial, he’s going to be more vindictive than ever. It’s been nine years, and this man is going to be out for blood. I couldn’t be more excited to see how this plays out.
This character works so well because he began the series as the total antithesis of the Gang; he was sharp, knowledgeable, and functional in society. While he still has many of those things,it’s evidently worn on him over time that this group that represents everything he hates has managed to claim victory over him. The Lawyer’s wrath inIt’s Always Sunny in Philadelphiais going to be hilarious.
