Review: American Dad “Dumbston Checks In”

Overview:

American Dad recently returned from hiatus just in time for Father’s Day with “Dumbston Checks In.” which sees Steve try to save his school.

Our Take:

Things aren’t looking good for Pearl Bailey High, especially when a new administrator threatens to take down the school if the students don’t do well on their next standardized test. And, to make matters worse, we doesn’t take bribes like his predecessors.

Steve takes it upon himself to save the school. Unfortunately, Principal Lewis’ obsession with inspiring students, instead of actually convincing the kids to study, doesn’t do much. Making matters worse, all the “inspiration” goes to his head, meaning that he doesn’t even think to do anything unscrupulous.

The students don’t have much potential, especially the titular “Dumbston,” who Barry has to tutor about shapes. And not hypercubes; we’re talking triangles. The only solution is to hack into the system and give the kids better scores than they earned. Unfortunately, Dumston, while trying to help, gives Steve and his friends scores over 100.

This ends up working too well, as the school gets labelled geniuses, just as some geniuses are needed to save mankind from a massive meteor. With a volcano. It’s up to Steve and his friends to save the world. Considering this was part of a two-parter, viewers know the world is probably going to be safe. And, if it isn’t, it will be by the next episode.

Considering this episode came out on Father’s Day, it’s surprising that the story had nothing to do with the show’s namesake dad, especially since this was Fox’s only regular animated feature of the night. Stan does get a few scenes, mostly limited to him complaining about lunch at the CIA. That said, it’s admittedly more than to be expected from a Steve-centric episode. Either way, it’s probably not going to be an issue in syndication.