In which the Smiths all learn they have to listen to each other…

Body horror is not a new concept to American Dad! From gory deaths, to Jeff being skinned, to whatever Billy is, it is part of American Dad! humor to make these horrible things funny. Today we get a full on body horror with Stan and Roger…

Stan is preparing for his annual CIA review but keeps getting interrupted by Roger. He tells Francine that he can’t even remember why he and Roger are friends (there’s an aborted flashback but Stan knows all of this already). Roger overhears and agrees that they should just stop living in the same house. Stan decides to take Roger to a motel but after a stop off at Arby’s (the economics of television have changed), the two get into a car accident arguing over Spin Doctors. They’re hit by a train and although the were pronounced dead at the hospital Francine takes them to Dr. Calgary and he’s able to fuse them together.

Stuck together now, Stan and Roger have to learn to live with each other. They initially try to make it work but Roger keeps interfering with Stan’s work review. An argument in the bathroom allows Roger to assume full control and he goes to his audition. After a physical fight, Stan and Roger are eventually separated (because they didn’t have to be fused together in the first place). Stan takes Roger to the bus station and drives away. However, a flashback to a part we actually haven’t seen before makes Stan realize that he does enjoy Roger’s company. He rushes back to the bus station and Roger is still there (because he was kicked off the bus). The two make up and all is right in the AD! world again.

Over in the B-plot, Klaus discovers that the Steve made a paper-mâché version of him that he likes to talk to instead. Klaus is offended and tries to become the one that everyone listens to. He destroys the new version of him and wraps himself in paper-mâché hoping that the family will start telling him their problems. The issue becomes that no one goes to see him for hours and then when they do they decide they don’t need that version any more. The plot ends on a disturbing note when he’s thrown to Rogu and probably ends up violated. A sour note to leave on.

Stray Observations

• A non-traditional opening because Stan’s Good Morning USA is interrupted by Roger’s tap dancing
• The first scene with Dr. Calgary is a reference to Batman ’89 with Stan demanding the mirror
• Stan’s flashback has him sporting a different haircut. Not sure what that was about. None of the other flashbacks show it to be any different.

Final Thoughts: Solid episode here. The plot mirrored a little bit of Futurama’s Put Your Head on my Shoulders but I thought there was enough here to be distinct in an AD! way