Review: American Dad “Viced Principal”

Overview:

Steve and Principal Lewis find themselves united through a deadly situation when their school becomes ground zero for what has the potential to be a devastating act of terrorism. Set on very different paths, Steve must swallow his pride and vitriol for his principal in order to protect the school that he cherishes so much.

Meanwhile, a giraffe escapes from the zoo and becomes the Smith family’s latest obsession that trumps everything else in their lives–including common sense.

Our Take:

American Dad has no shortage of short-fused forces of nature and Principal Lewis has always been towards the top of the list when it comes to Langley’s most unstable individuals. A lot of Lewis’ chaotic behavior works simply because he is the community’s principal. However, this repeated gag can only go so far and Lewis’ larger presence in later seasons of American Dad can be a mixed bag. Some fans have wondered if this character has been pushed past his prime, but “Viced Principal” speaks towards the opposite and highlights what else can be done with this loose cannon. 

“Viced Principal” is an important American Dad episode that tackles the true recklessness of Principal Lewis and if he might actually be the school’s greatest obstacle rather than the one who’s supposed to lead these students and educators to greater futures. Lewis’ irresponsible behavior used to be a distraction, but now it’s actively disenfranchising Pearl Bailey’s student body as apathy reigns supreme. Much of “Viced Principal” is designed to demonize Lewis and his actions, but by the end of this cathartic installment it becomes clearer than ever how much Lewis actually cares about his school and his job.

Steve takes the bureaucratic route by making a formal complaint and going through the proper channels to get Lewis fired rather than indulge in some heightened sitcom scheme to take him out of the picture. Of course, “Viced Principal” does eventually reach quite a broad place, but Steve’s tender respect for his school turns all of this into a successful change of pace. This is a very funny episode of American Dad, but there’s a tragic idea at the core of “Viced Principal” where a sad student just wants his school to realize its proper potential. It’s the sort of crisis that should be experienced by a principal, not a ninth-grader. 

All of this sets a compelling emotional backdrop for the episode that puts Steve, Principal Lewis, and Pearl Bailey as a whole all under different degrees of stress that adds a surprising degree of stakes to what’s ultimately a very silly episode of the series. After all, “Viced Principal” begins in Chimdale Prison with an elaborate Rube Goldbergian jail break that goes out on a sublime Shawshank Redemption joke. American Dad quickly dismisses this spectacle, but savvy viewers know that these three convicts will inevitably intersect with Steve and Lewis’ stressful Die Hard-like scenario…

Steve and Principal Lewis have been put together in a handful of episodes, but “Viced Principal” quickly becomes one of their most successful tag-team efforts because of the dramatic irony that exists between them in this unique situation. Steve and Lewis are forced to work together during the moment when they dislike each other the most, even if Lewis isn’t aware of the fact that Steve’s the reason that he’s in trouble with the school administration. This episode would work without this extra touch, but it helps elevate “Viced Principal” into a more substantial installment. It works hard to get to the bottom of  both characters by bringing out their extremes while they’re forced to be together in a situation where escape is impossible.

Some of American Dad’s strongest storylines are the ones where the entire Smith family collectively double-down on nonsense and reinforce each other’s worst habits through an egotistical echo chamber. “Missing giraffe” is the perfect loose idea for the Smith family to obsess over, especially when there’s actual danger out in the world that puts one of their own at risk. In fact, these giraffe shenanigans are juxtaposed against Langley’s criminals with a smart structure that’s not unlike how an episode of nightly local news is paced. The Smith family’s big breakthrough is that they aim to give this escaped giraffe “the best night of its life” before it’s forced to return to captivity at the zoo. It’s an oddly endearing idea from the Smith family, even if there’s immediately a morose energy that makes it feel like all of their good intentions might actually endanger the giraffe’s life. 

“Viced Principal” is an excellent American Dad episode that continues this season’s sterling track record. It comes along at a point where it feels like most permutations on the Steve and Lewis dynamic have been done to death, only to reveal a fresh angle that has some real depth behind it. “Viced Principal” gets rid of many of its standard comforts and it’s an episode that doesn’t do much with its supporting characters beyond Lewis and Steve. This gambit pays off and Steve’s sincerity combined with Lewis’ wild card sensibilities provides something for all American Dad fans to enjoy. Whether the next Principal Lewis-centric installment is imminent or far away, there’s already a greater degree of excitement to return to the character.