Note the disclaimer.
When you think "Family Guy"...
Most of us tend to think "cutaway gags, random stellar song sequences"...
Crowd: Shipoopi!
Strider... "and Increasingly shock-based humor."
Stewie: Where's my money man? Where's my money!? (Brian grunting in pain can be heard)
Strider: While I'm not a huge fan of the later seasons, there have been some real gems...
Particularly in the early to mid seasons.
But I do have the same complaints as anyone else.
It can be pointlessly cruel and mean-spirited, and can drag out a joke FAR too long!
But at the same time...
There's this scope, and *gradeur* to it(!)...
That you just can't find in any other animated sitcom.
There's nothing out there quite like "Family Guy."
It really has its own unique place in animation that isn't quite "Simpsons" and isn't quite "South Park."
So today...
We're gonna look at the "Top 10 Best 'Family Guy' Episodes" of all time.
Number 10...
"Road to the Multiverse" [Season 8, Episode 1]
Briand and Stewie travel across dimensions, and through it, we get a TON of fascinating different settings!
The duo travel to the future...
To the Bedrock Universe...
The Disney Universe...
Disney Peter: It's a won-der-ful day.. for pie~♫
Strider: Japanese Universe...
Double.. Headed Universe?
Robot Chicken Universe!
Real Life Universe!
Stewie: Uh.. Brian... This feels weird.
Brian: Hit the button!
Strider: It's basically one running joke through the whole episode of making the silliest universe [that they could]!
And it's really funny to watch them try and top themselves!
Refreshingly, there is absolutely no cutaway gags in this episode!
All the absurdity happens in the different universes they travel to.
This episode feels like 5 minutes, even though it goes for 20 minutes!
That's a sign of a really good episode!
Strider: I'd reccomend giving this one a watch, if only to see the different art styles and settings they employ!
Disney Herbert: You want a nice shiny red apple to put in that pie?
Everyone: No!
Strider: Number nine...
"Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story" [2005 Direct-to-DVD movie]
Both: I can't go on! I can't go on no more now!♪
Strider: I'm stretching for this one, as it's technically a movie...
But this episode was a really intriguing watch all the way through!
It focuses on Stewie as he tries to fix up the life of his future 35 year-old self.
Who has made his share of mistakes.
Baby Stewie: So forget about sending me back because I'm not leaving until we to a complete overhaul on this sad thing you call our life!
Adult Stewie: Can I still read Parade?
Baby Stewie: NO YOU CANNOT STILL READ PARADE!
Strider: We get to see so many interesting scenarios in this one!
Chris has married a very controlling, unpleasant woman...
Brian died after eating some chocolate...
Meg has become a transsexual...
And of course. Peter's still Peter.
For the most part, all the jokes are still funny in this one.
Peter: Well, I kinda figured the coffee mug that says "Jesus".. I mean..
Knight: Oh! Right, right.
Peter: Pre-pretty obvious.
Strider: Jokes like Quagmire's method of calling 911, or..
Stewie and Brian getting drunk...
Are clever and they make you smile.
The cutaway gags don't drag on...
Peter: Katie!
Katie: WHAT!?
Peter: Oh, well, nevermind.
Strider: And the characters are still likeable at this point.
To top it all off, we get an adventure with Brian and Stewie!
Which are often the highlight of the seasons.
I think this movie marks the best era of "Family Guy."
It's an interesting episode/movie, that I walked away from chuckling.
I reccomend it.
Stewie: Oh! Oh! I just thought of another one for the Glad Game!
The first scissor cut into a fresh piece of construction paper.
Adult Stewie: Oooohhh yeah...!
Strider: Number 8...
"Airport '07" [Season 5, Episode 12]
This one tends to fly under the radar a lot, and I'm not quite sure why.
I think the jokes in this episode are really well done!
We've got Peter imitating the redneck lifestyle...
Carl Sagan's universe editted for rednecks...
Carl Sagan: Scientists have determined that the universe was created by a s--
Voice not Sagan's: Go-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-od!
Sagan: Big Bang!
Strider: And Peter siphoning off jet fuel in order to fly a pick-up truck.
Quagmire is actually one of my favorite characters.
I like that he's a crazy sexual deviant, yet he's still a kind, socially pleasant friend at the same time.
If you've ever been a hormonally supercharged teen...
Which, most of us have, or are right now...
You can relate a little bit with Quagmire.
Quagmire: Oh oh god! Dead kittens! Dead kittens!
Uh uh.. Old nuns!
Uh.. Really old nuns!
Strider: And he's passionare about his job!
And frankly, in a society where more people are blase, and cursing of their jobs...
It's very refreshing to see this.
It's a hilarious set-up as well, with Quagmire living with the Griffins.
This episode has...
An unusually good-spirited feel to it.
Unfortunately, as seasons went on...
These sort of positive episodes would become rarer and rarer.
Quagmire: That was too close.
Strider: Number 7...
"Brian Sings and Swings" [Season 4, Episode 19]
The premise for this episode is surprisingly simple!
Brian gets backed over by Peter, which in turn, gets him depressed about morality & its uncertainty.
But he starts singing with Frank Sinatra Jr., and that begins to cheer him up!
I just love the connection and chemistry between Brian and Frank Sinatra Jr.
Their duets feel very natural.
All the jokes in this one are good!
Meg joins a lesbian club to try and fit in!
That is awesome!
It has a really nice ending message, too, which is, again, unusually good-spirited for Seth Macfarlane.
But it's nice to see!
Definitely worth at least one watch.
Mia Farrow: There you are!
Brian: Mia Farrow?
Mia Farrow: What's this I hear you up all night with a baby and a dog!?
Frank: Oh, leave me alone!
Mia Farrow: Get over here young man!
Frank: Ah, dammit all!
Strider: Number 6...
"North by North Quahog" [Season 4, Episode 1
This episode marks [the return of "Family Guy"] to air after being cancelled!
And it really is a roller coaster ride from beginning to end!
They start with a premise that happens to any married couple after a good few years.
Peter and Lois' sex life is..
Getting a little stale!
So they decide to go on a vacation and spine things up!
Where they.. Break into Mel Gibson's private hotel room, & steal his alternative version of ["The Passion of Christ"]
Voiceover: "Passion of the Christ 2: Crucify This!"
Strider: Which is... So much better than the original version!
(Christ is heard screaming on the movie screen, causing Kyle to exclaim in great disturbance)
Strider: This leads to massive epic chases...
Kidnappings...
Airplane chases...
And a showdown with Mel Gibson!
All in 22 minutes too!
There's just so many god cutaway jokes in this one!
Jesus-Peter: Stop it!
Stop it!
Soldier: Okay...
Jesus-Peter: Okay?
Soldier: Okay...
Strider: There's very few episodes that make me chuckle as much as this one.
It just felt like the writer's hearts were still in the right places.
And the jokes still felt fresh.
Give it a watch if you haven't checked it out!
Greased up deaf guy: See ya next week!
Good to be back America!
Strider: Number 5...
"From Method to Madness" [Season 3, Episode 18]
I just find something so harmonious and beautiful about duets!
And this episode just makes me all fuzzy, and warm inside!
Peter: Watch where my hands are, Lois! Look, look! See? See where they are? See? No touching!
Strider: Which is quite rare for "Family Guy".
Given its usual "no holds barred" comedy style.
We watch Stewie team up with Olivia, a fellow acting girl, whom he is originally hostile to.
But, once they discover how good they are as a duet...
Their acting careers take off!
But, it falls apart very quickly, as many acting duos have.
And then we sadly watch Stewie's acting career burn.
It's almost like a slice of life ending, as Stewie does try incredibly hard to keep his acting career going.
But he just doesn't have what the audience wants.
Strangely enough...
This feels much more like a legitimate romance...
Than any of Brian's half-hearted one night stands or girlfriends.
For some reason, I reflect and laugh at this ending, even 10 years after seeing it.
Brian: I brought what you wanted but, uh, they wouldn't let me leave it. So, uh...
Stewie: Hit it once.
Please?
Just once.
Stewie: (Vocalizes to the tuning fork) Oh my god, I was flat!
Alright then, help me up. Let's go home.
Strider: Number 4...
"Blue Harvest" [Season 6, Episode 1]
While I don't know about the other two, I think "Blue Harvest" is among the best "Star Wars" spoofs [ever]!
This is one of those episodes you can quote even years later, because most of the lines are so classic!
The character choices for each "Star Wars" character are perfect.
Darth Stewie: My god, look at this mess!
"Hey, Darth Vader's gonna be here, should we maybe clean the place up?"
"Nah, it's okay, he won't mind!"
Strider: Peter Griffin as Han Solo...
There can be no one else!
Peter-Han Solo: I'm Han Solo.
Captain of the Millennium Falcon, and the only actor whose career isn't destroyed by this movie.
Strider: I crack myself up every time I watch this parody.
Basically, every line of the original "Star Wars" is given a spoof joke.
And 95% of them are brilliant!
This is one of those parodies you have to see at least once.
If only to know what everyone is quoting all the time!
Peter-Han Solo: You know what?
(Stammering at first) I don't have a dangerous job to do here, but...
I'm takin this.
I'm takin this couch!
Strider: Number 3...
("Bird is the Word" by the Trashmen begins playing.)
Strider: "I Dream of Jesus" [Season 7, Episode 2]
You will definitely walk out of this episode with something you didn't have before.
They call it an earworm.
In this case, it's about a bird.
Stewie: Brian, DON'T!
Peter: A-well-a Bird! Bird Bird! Ba-Bird--
Strider: A song you can't get out of your head no matter how hard you try!
It's hard not to get caught up in Peter's absolutely *mad* love of this song!
He's just enjoying the song so much!
You almost feel bad when Brian and Stewie destroy envery known copy in the city!
And on top of that...
We have a great second plot where Peter stumbles on Jesus in a record store!
And encourages him to make a second coming.
And it's really interesting to watch unfold.
I don't tend to laugh at Peter when he's being cruel or hurting loved ones...
But I do tend to laugh right along with him when he's just caught up in a passion and loving every minute of it.
This song makes me want to get up and dance as well!
And any episode that encourages me to smile, and start dancing, is right up there in my books!
Peter: ...is the word.~♪
A-ba bird! Bird Bird!~♪
The bird is the word!~♪
A-da-ba Bird! Bird Bird!~♪
The bird is the word! Ba-ba-bird--
Lois: Peter, I have a mammogram in the morning.
Strider: Number 2...
"PTV" [Season 4, Episode 14]
This episode probably has the best intro in the whole series.
Stewie: And now prepare to die!
Strider: To me...
This intro is what "Family Guy" is all about!
Light-hearted, but still epic, and of massive proportions!
In this episode, we get a fun look at Peter starting his own TV network.
Only to be censored by the FCC, to the point where they physically place black lines over his private parts...
When he's showering.
FCC Guy 1: His chin looks like balls. You want me to cover that too?
Strider: They even censor out their attempts to swear in frustration. [Loud audio warning]
Peter: You know, you're lucky you're good at (HORN) my (HORN) or I'd (HORN).
Lois: Oooh! (HORN) me!
Strider: This episode even received an Emmy award for Outstanding Animated Programs.
I really enjoy the censorship jokes in this one.
They're all really clever, and instantly get the message Seth is trying to get across.
The pointlessness of censorship.
Peter: 'Cuz that's *my* side-boob.
Good night, everybody!
There's just too many good laughs in this one!
Episodes like these are why I'm glad "Family Guy" is still on the air.
These episodes show brief moments of brilliance from the writers.
That are the reason when I still see a "Family Guy" episode, I don't change the channel.
The FCC song is *brilliant*!
And 95% of the jokes are fantastic.
This is one of those "Family Guy" episodes you should watch at least once.
Trio: They may just be neurotic!~♪
Or poss-ib-ly psychotic!~♫
They're the fel-las at the freakin' FCC~~~~~~~~!~♫
And the number 1, best "Family Guy" episode of all time is...
Peter: Hey, Stewie.
Who the hell is that?
"Road to Rhode Island" [Season 2, Episode 13]
The best adventure Brian and Stewie did was their first adventure.
It's incredible how even Brian and Stewie sharing a cheap motel...
Allows them to pull out some of the funniest sketches "Family Guy" has ever done!
Brian and Stewie work off each other perfectly in this episode!
It's the episode that started the continual trend of sending Brian and Stewie on adventures.
And in this case, the original is the best.
We jump between a *season's* worth of skits on this one.
Brian and Stewie in an airport...
Crashing a plane...
On the back of a truck full of Mexicans...
In a motel...
Stealing a car...
At a gas station...
The list just goes on!
This episode is incredibly clever.
We even get a nice side plot about Brian trying to reconcile with his mother.
There's not a single joke in this episode that I didn't think was fantastic!
We even get jokes about Peter and Lois trying to fix up their sex life.
And strangely enough...
None of them lean back on shocks to get a laugh.
It's by far my most rewatched episode of all.
It even finishes with a beautiful emotional moment of Stewie and Brian crossing through the landscape...
On a train, through the night.
Only for them to burst into a song of comraderie, and just simple joy.
A lot of the popular culture "Family Guy" lines stem from this episode.
We see this episode once, and it cements itself as "Family Guy"!
To me anyway, this episode is what "Family Guy" is all about.
Brian and Stewie: We're Rho~ode Isla~~an... Bo~~~~~ound!~~~~♫
But also, I think there's a reason "Family Guy" is 13 seasons in now.
Despite many claiming they hate it.
Many of fans are still waiting for those brief moments of brilliance...
That stood out from even the "Simpsons" or "South Park" moments.
We're all waiting for Seth to bring back a kind & relateable Brian.
Not a pretentious jerk.
A devious, but still loveable Stewie. [Gore imagery warning]
And a loveable Peter Griffin who isn't a violent jerk.
We all know he can give us something brilliant if he sets his mind to it.
And that's what we're all waiting for in "Family Guy" now.
And despite not seeing a good episode in years...
Many of us will keep supporting him because we're waiting for that brief moment...
Of unforgettable brilliance again.
Got a favorite episode yourself?
What do you think of "Family Guy" nowadays?
Do you still like the show?
Let me know in the comments.
As always, thanks for watching! And I'll see you next time.
[Subtitled by Jadrek Myers. Commissioned by Phantom Strider]
[Fun fact: The dog Brian becomes in "Road to the Multiverse" in the live action world is a Labrador Retriever, and is believed by many to answer what breed he is.]