Season Review: American Dad! Season 13

Further enhancing the reason why American Dad! deserves the Emmy.

Season 13 of American Dad! on TBS was the second season of the show on TBS, and I feel like it’s improved even since last season. There are always a couple duds in every season of a show, especially once you pass season 5 or 6– and yet somehow, American Dad! seems to continue to shine.

The season’s opener, “Roots” was a blast right off the bat, with a really touching yet funny story– and great incorporation of the whole family in the plot. The next two episodes were a little duller, and after first viewing, I wondered if it was just because I was so blown away by “Roots”. However, now, looking back again at all the episodes, I do still feel the next two lacked– the season didn’t REALLY pick up its full swing again til “N.S.A. (No Snoops Allowed)” and “Stanny Utah“– hell, even “Kiss Kiss Cam Cam” was pretty amazing– another in-depth and hilarious look at Stan and Francine’s marriage.

The next two or three episodes after this are okay, but kinda just okay, in retrospect. Don’t get me wrong– EVERY American Dad! episode has at least a laugh or two in there. But I’m always looking for episodes consistently funny throughout, or that have exceptional plots.

I’m going to skip ahead to episode 200, rightfully called “The Two Hundred”. Great episode. Horror and laughs and post-apocalyptic wastelands. The next two episodes, “The Unincludeds” and “The Dentist’s Wife“– are also very good. And very funny. Roger losing it is always a great plot point.

The two episodes after that are alright, but I want to skip to my two favorite episodes of the season– “Daesong Heavy Industries”– parts I and II. I wish everyone who enjoys animation would give these two episodes a chance. Just once. Despite their strange and deceiving episode names. They literally encapsulate everything that is brilliant about American Dad!— the hilarity, the stellar writing, the absurdity– these two episodes are absolutely some of American Dad’s best so far, even as an entire series. Stan’s religious crisis, existential quest and journey with the whole family is really something to see.

After these two, again, I found the episodes until the end of the season having a hard time living up to the high bar that was set. However, another gem was definitely “Mine Struggle“. Amazing stuff. Solid writing, great total flow to the whole story and episode. Salt. Mines. Betrayal. Redemption.

All in all, a great season of American Dad!— and luckily it’s renewed for a couple more. I am PSYCHED to see what TBS brings us in a few months!!