Plot

 Roger wakes up bored with his life but accidentally destroys his television. Stan is frantically searching for his manual for a top-secret weapons system and the presentation goes badly when he can’t find it. While drowning his troubles at the Cloak & Stagger, Roger calls to nag about needing a new television and the Memari’s overhear, thinking Stan is having marital troubles with Francine. Stan orders Roger to make Hayley come pick him up but Roger shows up instead and takes Stan to get him his TV. Stan refuses and Roger wrecks the car attempting to leave. Roger ditches Stan leaving him to take the heat and he is arrested for drunk driving and sentenced to home arrest.

When Roger attempts to go out, he and Stan get into a face off and both wish they could trade lives. Taking up the challenge, they agree to switch places, Stan staying home drinking and Roger going to work. Stan starts to enjoy lounging around while Roger gives family advice and goes to work as a salesman at a car lot. Roger finds out about a competition to sell the most cars and runs afoul of Maria. At home, Stan and Roger’s role reversal is more complete than they realized, Stan is becoming annoying and Roger becomes the hit with the family. Stan becomes depressed because he isn’t needed, while Roger faces problems at work and teams up with Phillip to win the sales contest. At home, things start to fall apart for Roger as well and he accidentally hits Francine, blacking her eye. Linda shows up and finds a drunk Stan and injured Francine and assumes the worst. She calls the police and things look even worse for Stan when he finds out Roger hurt Francine and he is sent to prison.

Roger finds he was stabbed in the back by Phillip who put his name on all of Roger’s sales to win the contest. Roger meets Stan in prison and admits that he can’t handle Stan’s responsibilities although Stan refuses to admit he can’t deal with Roger’s life. Stan comes up with a plan to get him out of jail by framing Phillip and planting Nazi paraphernalia in his desk. Though Phillip is quick to deny the allegations, the police lieutenant has him arrested, given that he was a Holocaust survivor.

Meanwhile, Hayley rescues monkeys from a lab and things go bananas.

While the concept of character role reversal is far from novel, “American Dad” proves that even well-trodden paths can lead to delightful destinations, particularly when the characters involved are as dynamically opposed and captivating as Stan and Roger. Their diametrically different personalities create the foundation for what is arguably the show’s most engaging dynamic. “Rough Trade” not only capitalizes on their contrasting natures but also excels in plot development, meticulously laying the groundwork throughout the first act. The series is adept at escalating narratives from manageable to mayhem, culminating in scenes where chaos reigns supreme, exemplified by monkeys wreaking havoc in the living room and Stan’s multiple arrests.

This episode is a pivotal moment for Roger, marking the inception of his use of disguises, a trait that becomes a hallmark of his character and a source of endless entertainment throughout the series. The transition of Roger from a homebound alien to a master of disguises significantly enriches the show’s storytelling possibilities and character dynamics, making it a development I eagerly anticipate.

However, the episode’s resolution leaves something to be desired. While not disastrous by any means (and certainly not the worst offender in the realm of animated sitcoms), the conclusion feels somewhat contrived and hastily assembled. The revelation of Phillip as a Nazi without prior indication feels as abrupt as the unexpected introduction of a Jewish detective, reminiscent of the sudden reveal of the Memaris’ racism in a previous episode. Moreover, Roger’s absence from the final scene is noticeable, particularly given that the episode’s focus is on his relationship with Stan, not Stan’s with his family. The ending, though aiming for a heartwarming note, misses the mark by not addressing the central relationship that drives the episode, resulting in a somewhat clumsy wrap-up. Despite these criticisms, the episode’s strengths ensure that its appeal remains intact.