Movies - TV
Why Rickety Cricket’s Burnt Face Disappeared From It’s Always Sunny
By DANIELLE RYAN
"It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" has an incredible cast of characters that make up the world around the central gang, including David Hornsby’s Matthew "Rickety Cricket" Mara.
Cricket, a young, handsome priest with unmet feelings for the show’s Dee Reynolds, attended high school with the gang, earning the nickname "Rickety Cricket" due to his leg braces.
Dee eventually persuades Cricket to abandon his priesthood and the church, triggering a downward spiral fueled by drug abuse, homelessness, and a complete personal breakdown.
The gang trapped him in a burning apartment during a botched beef-ending Thanksgiving dinner, leaving him terribly scarred. Fans of the show will notice his scars fade over time.
Cricket’s scars first appeared in season 10, with the entire side of Cricket’s face covered in thick, knotted scar tissue and half of his hair missing.
On "The Always Sunny Podcast," Hornsby, Glenn Howerton, and Charlie Day all discussed the intensity of the burns in detail, and Howerton described Cricket as "Like Freddy Krueger."
Hornsby was reportedly part of the team advocating for a more subdued appearance, with fans speculating it was influenced by the considerable time he spent in the makeup chair.
However, Hornsby shot this theory down by explaining that they "softened" the facial prosthetics on Cricket over time because "it probably healed over a little bit over time."
Cricket's physical alteration in "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" was meant to mirror his internal deterioration, showcasing the impact of the gang's actions on his character.