More than 8 for 18!?

 Most, if not all of us, have seen in by now (and it's all but confirmed by the WGA, which remains mysteriously blank), but Rob "revealed" in an Instagram comment that Season 18 will have more than the 8-episode standard we've come to accept these last few seasons:

Some are happy (more episodes gives us more of the Gang!), some are worried (could a change in the standard indicate the end?), but I'm...confused. By all accounts, Season 18 shouldn't be able to have more episodes, because 8 is all they have left. 

In a Podcast released in early 2022 (just after Season 15 aired), Charlie Day revealed that FX only wanted to order Sunny for 8 episodes, but if they wanted more, they could do 16 in a Season, and the network would split them up to air 8 at a time...and so RCG went for batches of 8. Three have passed by, leaving us with only 8 to go. 

Interestingly, there was quite a bit of emphasis from Charlie on the fact that the Network only wanted 8 episodes at a time (in one of the Ireland Live Shows in early 2023, they brought this up again, recalling how they tried to negotiate 10 episodes from FX, but FX wouldn't budge), so if there are more than 8 episodes this season, that means RCG must have gone back to FX to renegotiate (extend/renew) their deal with the Network. 

What does this all mean then? Well, we're not quite sure yet. We don't even know how many more we're getting. Is it back to 10? Back to 12? Or perhaps it's just one extra, for a double premiere (never before seen with Sunny) or a double finale (not seen since Season 11)? Or, perhaps, a secret 9th episode we (the general public, more like) won't be aware of until a week after the "fake" finale?

But I will say, even one more episode has me optimistic regarding the future beyond Season 18. Since we know historically FX (Disney) has been resistant to giving them more episodes, they must have some kind of leverage, or promise, to deliver that granted them a better deal than they were able to get six years ago... or the Network agreed a "secret" 9th episode would be funny.. either or. I'd accept the latter because it would be funny as shit.