'American Dad!' Review: 'Now and Gwen'

The latest episode of American Dad! focuses on a character that is too often sidelined, Francine. Regular viewers of the show will remember that the Smith family matriarch has a sister, Gwen, who is best known for being hot (“a fooox!” as Stan puts it) and for generally leading a life of criminal disarray.

“Now and Gwen” begins with a seemingly ordinary visit from Aunt Gwen (voiced by Uma Thurman), though it is quickly revealed that she just needs the Smiths to vouch for her in front of her probation officer. While the charade works, Gwen starts abusing her sister’s hospitality by crashing at the house and running her various illegal businesses out of it.

This setup begins promising enough, but it was only the start of an overall forgettable episode. Things do take an interesting twist when it is discovered that Francine inadvertently launched her sister’s criminal career by accidentally burning their high school down with Gwen’s cigarettes. The two make up and determine that they really do love each other, but the general predictability of it does leave one wondering where is the promised “edginess” of this season. So far, it just isn’t living up to expectations.

Stan and Steve don’t have too much excitement in this episode, unfortunately. After revealing to Steve that he uses elaborately thought-out hugs as a means of getting physical contact with women he has no chance with (i.e. Gwen), Stan starts teaching him his technique. This B-plot has its amusing moments, but not as many as it should. Likewise, Roger and Klaus are pretty much wasted in the episode. They have their moments, but neither are given enough screen time to help keep things afloat.

Best parts (most of them in the first half of the episode):

• Francine and Stan’s obsession with Scott Baio.
• Hayley revealing that the real reason she’s in community college is because Aunt Gwen stole their car, forcing the family to take the bus to look at schools. Unfortunately, the bus went to Groff Community College.
• “He lives in the attic. He’s human.” — Francine’s poorly constructed explanation to Gwen about who Roger is.
• “Probably because she was lab monitor” — Francine’s reason for Gwen being the most popular girl in their high school.
• Francine being ordered by the police to “surrender further away” and “act like a person who wants to live” from the burning school.

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