American Dad! Season 14, Episode 2
Fight and Flight
Grade: A-

After the somewhat inexplicable lows of Season 13 (well, not entirely inexplicable, given the transition from Fox to TBS) it’s good to have American Dad back with the expectation of quality from week to week. But here it is, alive and kicking (creatively speaking) well past when nearly any other show would have given up the ghost.

The main plot of Fight and Flight (Stan micromanaging Steve’s life) is nothing special, and the ending involving the pilfering of the Spirit of St. Louis is derivative of ‘Sideshow Bob’s Last Gleaming,’ but most of all of the other notes the episode strikes- Rodger deployed as an irate union guy- Francine on the run from Candyman- were highly effective.

Yes, Francine, like Candyman

Klaus’s song, which comes out of nowhere, is another bit that could have easily fallen flat without the pitch-perfect Hailey interruption towards the end of it. And Francine gets the biggest laugh of the night from me by showing up inside Steve’s locket, stuck in the metatextual dimensional riff in which Candyman holds sway.

That American Dad! is such an effective humor delivery service this deep into its run depends on no small part on the genuine affection that the writers seem to have for their characters. Other MVPs include the random interludes (such as Klaus’s song) and, of course, Roger’s antics. As long as these are maintained, I don’t see why the show couldn’t run for another 14 seasons. Now, quick! Let’s all say @Dikachu’s name 20 times so that he comes back to take part in these reviews!

Random Observations:
I’m not proud of it, but I would legitimately see that movie. Feel free to volunteer to review this show in my place if you’d like to! I’ll keep doing them even if no one comments in remembrance and tribute to our founder.

“I’m ‘nervous’ about that time a Captain Crunch box turned me on. I know I aced the midterm.”

“Ok- MY greatest fear has come true.”