Plot
After receiving a hefty bonus from work, Stan buys extravagant gadgets while Francine pleads for her dream kiosk at the mall. Upset about his lack of support, Francine opens a muffin shop without his approval and gives Stan a taste of life without a housewife. In a desperate move, Stan puts Klaus’ brain back into a human body; that of the frontman of an Earth, Wind & Fire cover band who was abducted by the CIA in retaliation for ripping them off at the summer mixer, thinking that Klaus will cook breakfast for him only to discover it was a huge mistake as Klaus takes Stan hostage, steals Stan’s cash and then gets rid of his former goldfish body by flushing it down the toilet. Klaus then sets out to win over Francine.
Meanwhile, Steve is convinced he’s a teen werewolf after watching a horror film and being attacked randomly by a wolf. In actuality, Roger adopted a wolf from the woods, named it “Felicity” and, in the night, it killed another animal and covered Steve’s room with blood. Another night, Steve and his friends go into the woods for his friends to kill him with a silver bullet; the actual wolf shows up and, in a confusing situation, they wind up thinking a silver bullet restored Steve to his normal self and separated the wolf from his body.
Klaus, after some quick preparations, seduces Francine at the mall before Stan arrives, revealing the ruse; but an eco-terrorist friend of Hayley sets off a series of bombs, blowing up a statue of Chief Shop-a-holic in the mall. Klaus dives out of the way to protect his new body; Stan, however, pushes Francine out of the way, but the statue piece hits his clock necklace of Stan’s, ruining it but keeping Francine and Stan safe. Hayley’s eco-terrorist friend is then placed under arrest. Klaus’ body is half-crushed by a large piece of the statue, and near death he pleads with Stan to save his life. Francine also pleads with Stan to save Klaus’ life, thinking he has learned his lesson about attempting adultery. Stan says the CIA has no more abducted people, so he purchases a goldfish from the mall pet shop and places Klaus’ mind in it to save his life.
“Finances with Wolves” comes off as an atypical episode, seemingly embracing its lack of focus as part of an experimental approach. It can be likened to a less cohesive version of “22 Short Films About Springfield,” attempting to weave together narratives for each family member in a single episode. The ambition behind such an endeavor is commendable, even if it results in a pace that feels erratic, akin to the series having attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The episode is rich with memorable lines and moments, showcasing its dense and varied content.
The storyline involving Stan and Francine’s conflict over finances takes center stage, though it doesn’t particularly captivate me, feeling somewhat recycled from the themes of “Threat Levels” but with an added emphasis on financial negotiation. However, I find Klaus’s involvement in this episode worth mentioning. Until this point, Klaus has been somewhat underutilized, his character confined by the limitations of being a fish in a bowl, often reduced to background quips limited to the Smith household. The show’s reliance on fish and German-themed humor for Klaus is becoming noticeably stretched thin, and he lacks a distinct personality compared to the other characters. This early in the series, viewers might question Klaus’s purpose within the show, as his contributions seem minimal, and the writers appear uncertain about how to integrate him more effectively.
Despite these early shortcomings, I hold a fond appreciation for Klaus, particularly in the later seasons where he is more fully developed and utilized in a manner that enriches the show. In the beginning, however, his character feels lackluster and underdeveloped, craving more screen time to evolve. Klaus’s backstory—transformed into a goldfish by the CIA without any wrongdoing on his part—sets him up as a tragically overlooked figure within the Smith household, raising questions about his place in the family dynamic that the show doesn’t immediately address.
For what could be considered Klaus’s spotlight episode, it’s disappointing that we don’t gain any new insights into his character. Unlike “Roger Codger,” which effectively explores Roger’s backstory and relationship with the Smiths, this episode misses the opportunity to do the same for Klaus, leaving his character’s potential untapped.