Episode 22 | With Friends Like Steve’s

Plot

Having seen and heard the same things over and over, Steve loses interest in his activities with Stan, who quickly dumps him for Barry, a kid who appreciates him. But Barry’s very different when he’s not taking his “vitamins,” which are actually aggression-suppressive pills and he goes insane. Stan gets him to quit taking his pills, not realizing their importance. Being preferred, Barry frames Steve for the destruction of Stan’s Franklin Mint plate collection and has him sent to a youth penal oil rig in the Atlantic ocean. When Stan still puts Francine first before Barry, he buries her in the back yard and reveals his true nature to Stan, forcing him to play with him. Learning of the true importance of Barry’s pills when the kids at the oil rig are given them, Steve avoids the pills and uses his father’s CIA skills to escape. Challenging Barry to outsmart him, he claims to have placed a pill in a glass of water and instructs him to pick one, with Steve drinking the second. Steve wins by having fooled Barry by placing pills in both glasses but becomes temporarily retarded himself in the process as Stan decides they should dig up Francine to fix them breakfast.

Meanwhile, Hayley and her friends picket at Groff Community College after their Eskimo-studies funds are given to the fraternities and used for parties. Roger’s beer-swilling skills come in handy when he decides to join a fraternity at Hayley’s college. Inviting Hayley and her friends to study the frat at a party, Hayley’s friends abandon their cause and Hayley ends up sleeping with an Eskimo frat brother. Roger leaves the fraternity when they tell him newbies have to clean after the party while brothers sleep.

This episode stands out as a particularly iconic entry for “American Dad” fans, exemplifying the series’ willingness to foreground compelling storytelling over rapid-fire humor. While it didn’t provoke much laughter from me, the episode was thoroughly enjoyable, offering a deep dive into the dynamics of Stan and Steve’s relationship from Steve’s perspective—a refreshing shift. Up to this point, the narrative has predominantly explored their relationship through Stan’s eyes, but this shift highlights Steve’s journey from idolizing his father to a more typical teenage disinterest. Although the storyline of a child’s fading admiration for their parent is familiar, it’s executed in a way that feels both genuine and poignant for these characters. Steve’s jealousy over Stan’s newfound bond with Barry, especially given Stan’s previous disdain for Barry, adds a layer of complexity and emotional resonance to the narrative.

The twist of portraying Barry, the ostensibly slow and overweight sidekick, as a secret evil genius is both unexpected and brilliantly fitting. The scene where Barry consumes a fly is unforgettable, firmly cementing its place in the show’s lore. The narrative cleverly intertwines elements from the beginning of the episode to the climax, showcasing Steve’s cunning and resourcefulness, particularly in his escape from the work camp—a scenario cleverly set up in an earlier scene. This episode marks a significant moment of growth for Steve, showcasing his intelligence and maturity, qualities that sometimes seem overlooked by the writers. Steve’s character demonstrates enough depth and complexity that he could have been the show’s main protagonist.

The resolution to Barry’s evil genius plot, with Steve tricking Barry into taking his medication, cleverly acknowledges and plays with the conventions of the evil genius trope. Steve’s line about opting for a more elaborate and unnecessary plan is a nod to the often over-the-top strategies of movie villains, fitting perfectly with the episode’s self-aware humor. The solution to spike both drinks with vitamins illustrates Steve’s cleverness, wrapping up the plot in a manner that’s both intelligent and satisfying. ‘With Friends Like Steve’s’ may veer more towards a thriller than a comedy, but it’s precisely this blend of genres that makes the episode stand out. Its ability to engage with and subvert typical narrative tropes, all while deepening the character relationships at its core, showcases “American Dad’s” unique strengths as a series.

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