Review: American Dad “First, Do No Farm”

 

Overview (Spoilers Below):

American Dad is a series that centers itself around the idea that it features what’s for all intents and purposes the “typical” American family. The Smiths enjoy the many modern luxuries of the world and they’re a family that embraces their status and the perks that their country affords them. It’s for these reasons that Stan believes that America is great, but it’s also led to Hayley becoming soft in ways that he never anticipated. Desperate to keep his daughter from plummeting even further into uselessness, Stan takes the luxuries out of his families life and forces them all to adopt a life of farming. This new lifestyle is a lot for the Smiths to acclimate towards, but when Hayley actually starts to toughen up and change, Stan worries that his daughter might have been better off how she was before.

Oh, and Roger dresses up as a rabbit and a cockroach in this one, so it’s a busy week.

Our Take:

“First, Do No Farm” is an entertaining episode, but not because of its premise. In fact, the plot of this episode isn’t that great by any stretch and it’s honestly the kind of scenario that many animated series like The Simpsons or Family Guy have turned to at some point. So while it’s impressive that it took American Dad nearly 300 episodes to ring this bell, it’s still pretty much what one would imagine when someone says, “American Dad, but on a farm.” So while the rustic change of pace isn’t anything groundbreaking for American Dad, what makes this episode so enjoyable—and something that constantly made me cackle due to its ridiculous nature—is that Stan removes a farmer’s callus against his will and then treats it like it’s some soothsaying artifact. It’s a very special level of nonsense that gets Stan to sacrifice his entire family’s happiness because of the “wisdom” found in some dead skin cells. This is the kind of insane character work that’s so specific to American Dad.

This is clearly madness that’s masquerading as ingenuity, but what makes this episode work is how earnestly it explores this stupidity. Stan’s actions are insane, but the episode treats them with care as if he’s on the right path. When he’s worried about his daughter’s life and can’t picture a future for her, it’s a dead piece of skin that’s able to present Hayley’s life as if it’s a thriving Van Gogh painting. Stan recites incantations to the callus and sees vivid visions of the future when he stares into it. The episode operates like there’s a rich history and lore to “callus analysis,” as if it’s an art akin to tea leaf reading. This gag could have just been a passing aside, but the exaggerated way that Stan relies on the dead skin cells is the kind of absurd brilliance that I look for in American Dad. Overall, “First, Do No Farm” is a mixed harvest where the crop doesn’t fully bloom, but even if the farm material doesn’t connect there’s still a lot of weirdness that helps this episode stand out.

Stan has grown as a character in many ways throughout American Dad, but he’s always going to be a stubborn and opinionated character who’s concerned that his children will tarnish the Smith family name. Granted, these worries and parental doubts usually fall on Steve, but “First, Do No Farm” turns things around and makes Hayley the subject of Stan’s concerns. Hayley’s behavior isn’t any more disaffected than usual, but Stan decides that she’s officially too soft. Rather than accept that he’s failed as a parent, Stan becomes determined to toughen up his eldest offspring.

Stan encounters trouble and is saved by a family of farmers that he begins to display a deep degree of reverence towards. It’s amusing to see just how much Stan marvels at the abilities of this rugged family and how they seem to embody everything that Hayley lacks. Stan buys into the logic that farm life will make someone “farm tough” and before Hayley has time to shed any more tears over possibly-dead comedians from the early 2000s, the entire Smith family finds themselves deep in a rural life that lacks modern luxuries.

“First, Do No Farm” ricochets between extremes and it’s a very big episode in some ways, not all of which work. For instance, Stan demolishes the family’s entire home in favor of turning it into farmland. He also quits his job and nearly puts his family in financial ruins. American Dad, and Stan in particular, are no strangers to impulsivity, but this episode just feels reckless with some of its decisions. Stan attempts to hobble his family at a moment’s notice when he thinks it might possibly help make his family more “farm tough.” It’s a level of exaggeration that’s especially broad for the series (and that’s to say nothing of the owl that loads a shotgun while riding a wolf later on). Even Roger’s whole Amish shtick doesn’t bear much fruit. At the same time, there are also some very good jokes that come from the Smiths’ new lifestyle, like an extended visual gag that revolves around the family’s new sleeping arrangements. This installment connects in unexpected ways and even though its execution is messy and flawed, it remains humorous.

Stan forces his family to spend months in this new life and they’re turned into pariahs in the neighborhood due to their strange ways. Stan commits to his decision, but Hayley doesn’t appear to be any tougher and everyone seems to be worse for wear, except Francine, whose hormones are out of control. Even when Hayley does show gradual signs of growth, it’s Stan’s belligerent actions that set her back and turn into obstacles. She slowly goes through hell and becomes dedicated to becoming farm tough, which warps her and jeopardizes the whole family.

The episode’s final act tries to cram in a whole lot and “First, Do No Farm” would benefit from letting these big moments have more time to breathe. Hayley finally “matures” in a way that impresses Stan, only for her to learn that he’s been sneaking away this whole time to live a comfortable life whenever he needs to unwind. This new self-actualized Hayley banishes Stan from the family and throws the family into greater disarray. Stan is left in the tough position where he’s strangely proud of his daughter, but has to actively undo the changes he’s instilled in her because they’re destroying his family. Stan’s solution to this and his attempt to regain the status quo is what’s easily the best joke in the episode. Stan and Roger, with the help of the vocal stylings of Weird Al, engage in an extended parody of the Beastie Boys’ “Sabotage,” entitled “Rabbotage,” to wipe out the farm.

There’s an interesting idea that’s hidden away in this episode that Hayley doesn’t need Stan’s help to become farm tough and that she’s actually resilient in her own ways. Additionally, Stan’s stupidity over his continued investment in the farm is actually much more detrimental to the family than Hayley’s supposed inadequacies. The episode’s final act addresses some of this with how Stan has to actively try to reverse the changes that he’s made in Hayley, but it could have been a stronger theme that’s dealt with the entire episode. Instead the message becomes that Hayley’s original self is good enough, even if she’s not tough, which is a much more generic note to go out on.

There’s some disconnect that goes on in the storytelling of this installment, but it’s also present in some of the smaller moments, too. There are lots of disparate threads that don’t exactly go anywhere, like Klaus’ indoctrination into Scientology, even if it does lead to a couple of good puns. There are also some interesting meta jokes that play around with the aesthetics of television, whether it’s studio applause or an insightful voice over that both turn out to be deigetically involved in the episode rather than artistic flairs. They’re cute, confident jokes, but the humor in this episode really throws a lot at the audience as if it’s unsure of what will stick. Thankfully at least some of it does.

“First, Do No Farm” isn’t the best that American Dad has to offer, but it still features some highlights and it’s an episode that contains one of the larger transformations for Hayley. It’s a fun change of pace to see the Smith family all get pushed out of their comfort zone. However, the episode fails to go beyond the premise’s limited scope and there are many ideas that don’t get developed enough or are just abandoned. “First, Do No Farm” is a messy and flawed installment, but the idea of the Smiths on a farm could have also been handled in a much more ineffective manner. This is an episode that may go on to be remembered for the wrong reasons, but at least it has given the world a bitchin’ new Weird Al track.