I Get It Now
Also known as: I Get It
"I Get It Now" is a reaction image and video meme based on Danny DeVito's portrayal of Frank Reynolds in *It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia*. The image, taken from the emotional Season 13 finale that aired in November 2018, shows Frank tearing up and whispering "I get it" after watching his friend Mac perform an interpretive dance about his sexuality1. The meme took off on Reddit in early 2019 and saw a second wave of virality in 2021-2022 when 4chan users altered the caption to "I get it now," turning it into a go-to reaction for moments of sudden, profound understanding3.
Overview
The meme uses a still frame or short clip of Frank Reynolds, eyes glistening with tears, quietly saying "I get it." In its original TV context, the line is a moment of genuine emotional breakthrough. As a meme, people pair the image with descriptions of experiences, media, or obsessions they initially dismissed but eventually came to understand. The altered version, "I get it now," adds emphasis to the delayed realization, making it perfect for those "oh, so *that's* what all the fuss is about" moments.
The format is simple: caption on top describes the thing being understood, Frank's tearful face on the bottom delivers the punchline. It works equally well as a still image macro or a short video clip.
The source material comes from "Mac Finds His Pride," the Season 13 finale of *It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia*, which aired on FXX on November 7, 20181. Throughout the episode, Frank Reynolds tries to help his friend Mac, a self-hating gay man, "find his pride." Frank admits he doesn't understand "the gay thing." The episode builds to Mac performing an elaborate interpretive dance about his inner conflict between his Catholic faith and his sexuality, performed in front of his incarcerated father and a crowd of prisoners. Mac's father walks out halfway through, but the scene closes on Frank, tears streaming down his face, whispering "I get it"3.
The finale was widely praised by critics. Rotten Tomatoes gave Season 13 a 94% approval rating, and reviewers singled out the unexpected emotional depth of the finale, particularly Rob McElhenney's dance performance1.
On January 4, 2019, Reddit user yamideath posted what appears to be the earliest viral image macro using the Frank Reynolds still on r/memes. The post pulled in over 18,400 upvotes3.
Origin & Background
How It Spread
How to Use This Meme
The format typically follows a simple structure:
Top caption: Describe something you (or a hypothetical person) used to not understand, dismiss, or judge. This usually involves a specific fandom, habit, obsession, or experience.
Bottom image: The Frank Reynolds "I get it" or "I get it now" still, showing his tearful, enlightened expression.
Cultural Impact
Fun Facts
The original scene features no dialogue other than Frank's whispered line. Mac's entire interpretive dance, choreographed with a female dancer, plays out without any words, making Frank's three-word reaction the emotional climax of the entire season.
The "now" in "I get it now" was added by an anonymous 4chan user in 2021, not present in the original show dialogue. This small addition shifted the meme's meaning from present-tense understanding to a delayed epiphany.
The tweet that triggered the biggest viral wave wasn't even the original post. @ShinMegamiJimi's screenshot of @YoungHungDad's tweet outperformed the original by roughly 50x in engagement.
Danny DeVito joined *It's Always Sunny* in Season 2 and has played Frank Reynolds for over 150 episodes.
Frequently Asked Questions
References (5)
- 1
- 2I Get It Now - Know Your Memeencyclopedia
- 36-7 memeencyclopedia
- 4I Get It Now - Urban Dictionarydictionary
- 5