My wife often accuses me of getting movies on Blu-Ray/DVD, and watching them once and then leaving them on a shelf to collect dust. In an effort to prove her wrong and to also at the same time annoy her, I’ve decided to watch every episode of Family Guy I own. And I own all of them on DVD. All 16 seasons. Plus the Stewie movie and the Star Wars Parodies. I will also review watch episode and share my thoughts here. Each article will most likely be a different length due to not knowing how many I will watch at any given time. I will be watching them in order as well so this should be really fun for me, not my wife.
Season 2, Episode 5 “Love Thy Trophy”
The guys on Spooner Street are making a float for the Harvest Day Parade, the theme is the one Peter suggested, the episode of “Who’s The Boss?” where Tony walks in on Angela in the shower.
After they win the Golden Clam, the neighbors get into a fight about who gets the trophy. They decide to place it on the hands of the statues of Tony and Angela. The next morning the trophy is missing and everyone blames each other for the theft.
“Love Thy Trophy” was produced during season one and held over for season two. Right away it’s jarring that Meg is played by Lacy Chabert, who actually has a pretty meaty part in this episode as she takes a job as a waitress to pay for a Prada purse.
Stewie is pretty funny in this episode as he pretends he’s a crack addicted baby so Meg can get bigger tips.
The jokes are fast and the episode is really solid. I love watching these early episodes to see how characters are developed. In this episode there is a really quick shot of Peter looking in Quagmire’s closet reveals a bunch of photos of Lois setting up his long running infatuation with her.
Grade: B
Season 2, Episode 6 “Death is a Bitch”
Peter finds a lump on his chest and is concerned that he is going to die. After his results comeback negative, Peter is shocked at the price of his doctor’s visit, so he writes that he is dead on his exam form thinking he won’t have to pay.
By doing this Peter sets into motion a visit from Death. Death tells Peter that he has to come with him. As they leave the Griffin’s home Peter attempts to run away from Death. Death chases him and sprains his ankle. The Griffin’s agree to take care of Death if he doesn’t kill Peter. Death agrees, but warns Peter that no one can know that Death can’t kill anyone. Peter of course doesn’t listen and does whatever he wants knowing he can’t die.
This is a classic episode. Everything works. Norm MacDonald guest stars as Death and is a riot. Peter going to a bar drinking tons of beer and getting into a gun fight is laugh out loud awesome. I love this episode.
Grade: A+
Season 2, Episode 7 “The King is Dead”
Lois is named the new theater director of the Quahog Players Theatre and chooses The King and I as her first production. After a horrible audition, Peter is heartbroken. Lois decides to give Peter the job of producer. Peter soon uses his position as producer to cast newswoman Diane Simmons in the lead, and after Peter continuously makes changes, Lois quits. Lois is shocked to learn that not only do the cast members like all the changes Peter made but the show also sells out.
Another really great episode. Lois is establishing herself as quite the comedienne, hats off to Alex Borstein for always bringing the goods. Also this is the first episode that really explores Brian as a pretentious character.
Grade: A-
Season 2, Episode 8 “I Am Peter, Hear Me Roar”
Everyone on Spooner Street receives a letter for a free boat, the only catch is they have to sit through a time share seminar. After the seminar, Peter is offered the boat and a mystery box. Peter seduced by the mystery box chooses it. Which turns out to be tickets to a comedy club. Everyone else picked the boat and they let Peter know about it at the comedy show. Peter drunk gets up on stage after he heckles the comedian. He turns out to be a hit, only because he puts a beer bottle is his pants that makes him look like he peed his pants.
Peter with new found confidence as a comedian starts telling more and more jokes. One joke lands Peter in hot water at his job. Peter is forced to complete sensitivity training. When the standard class doesn’t work, Peter is sent to a retreat.
Peter not only embraces the camp but when he returns home he also now embraces his feminine side, much to the chagrin of Lois and the family.
This episode has everything. Awesome cut away gags. Funny inappropriate humor. Jokes on the side of a bus for the “Woman on Woman Retreat”. Also some truly brilliant writing like this exchange from Lois and Peter:
Peter: Oh God! Oh God! I’m Late!
Lois: Well, if you spent less time fixing your hair…
Peter: No, I mean I am “late” late! Do we still have that pregnancy test?
Lois: Are you insane? You can’t have a baby!
Peter: Well, I don’t have a lot of options, I’m Catholic! God, I thought you’d be happy for me!
Grade A+
Season 2, Episode 9 “If I’m Dyin’, I’m Lyin’”
After not doing well in school, Lois forbids Chris from watching TV until his grades improve. Peter lies to Lois about Chris watching TV so they can watch their favorite show together, Gumbel 2 Gumbel: Beach Justice.
When Peter learns Gumbel 2 Gumbel is being cancelled, he has Chris lie about a disease he has to make NBC stop the show from being cancelled. When Peter is about to be outed for defrauding a charity, he claims Chris is suddenly cured. This leads to people worshiping Peter, not happy with his the Griffin’s are soon bombarded with biblical plagues.
This is a huge step back after three solid episodes. I think I chuckled once. All in all a forgettable episode.
Grade: D