Plot

Stan tries to help Steve become more popular with the Jocks by giving him steroids from the CIA, which gives Steve breasts. Stan tells him to hide his breasts. When the kids at school find out, Steve becomes popular. Stan is disappointed at him. Steve and his new pals hang out every day. When he wants to have a party, Stan forbids him, but he has one anyway. When Stan arrives, he finds everyone lining up to touch Steve’s breasts.

Stan tries to tell him that they only like him because of his boobs. He ignores him, so Stan swallows three steroids and develops larger breasts. He goes to a party whom Steve was invited and shows his breasts to everyone, who then ignore Steve and bask attention on Stan. Steve apologizes to Stan, and while they can, they play together by showing off their breasts while washing a car.

Meanwhile, after Hayley makes a video about how boring her life is, Francine hopes to become something else and is contacted by a scam organization, becoming a surgeon. But when she shows Hayley her “certificate”, the latter tells her that she has been scammed, but she refuses to believe it. After being rejected by the hospital, Francine works for the Handicapped Mafia, but things turn bad when she is told there is no way out. She tricks them into to robbing the First National Bank and the police kills the mafia, to Francine’s relief. When she and Hayley return home, they find that Roger, who was obsessed with cleaning the house, becomes frantic after Steve’s big party and proceeds to burn down the house.

“American Dad” is increasingly showcasing its penchant for delving into bizarre and unconventional storylines, moving beyond the typical sitcom narratives of its inaugural season. This trend presents a gamble, with episodes potentially hitting the mark of brilliance or missing it entirely. In this instance, we’re presented with Francine venturing into the world of medicine for the handicapped Mafia, alongside a subplot involving Steve developing breasts—a peculiar pairing of storylines that defy clear categorization into primary or secondary plots, despite the episode title hinting at a focus on Francine’s venture.

Francine’s past as a rebellious youth contrasts with her later portrayal as a more traditional domestic figure, setting the stage for potential conflict with Hayley, her Women’s Studies major daughter, in addition to the ongoing tensions with Stan. This narrative thread echoes previous episodes like ‘Threat Levels’ and ‘Finances with Wolves,’ revisiting the well-trodden theme of a housewife seeking fulfillment outside her domestic roles—a theme explored in depth with Marge Simpson. The inclusion of the handicapped Mafia introduces an element of randomness that seems aimed more at shock value and humor than coherent storytelling. While the attempt to explore Francine’s relationship with Hayley through this storyline adds a layer of interest, the limited interaction between them undercuts the potential depth of this dynamic, leaving one of the show’s more nuanced relationships underexplored.

The subplot involving Steve’s unexpected physical development offers a slightly more cohesive narrative, revisiting Stan’s struggle to reconcile his aspirations for Steve with the reality of his son’s nerdy inclinations. Stan’s motives are portrayed sympathetically, highlighting his desire for Steve to avoid the pitfalls of his own high school experience and perhaps fulfill some of Stan’s unachieved dreams. However, the execution of this theme gets somewhat buried beneath an avalanche of jokes centered around Steve’s condition. Despite these critiques, the episode retains a certain charm, though it ranks as one of the season’s less compelling entries. The show’s willingness to experiment with such unique plots is commendable, even if the results are mixed, contributing to the series’ identity as a space for wild and unpredictable storytelling.