Review: American Dad “A League Of His Own”

Overview:

An innocent homework assignment where Steve profiles his father inadvertently becomes a sobering life lesson that the man that he idolizes isn’t everything that he’s perceived him to be. Hayley takes her naïve brother under her wing as she attempts to open his eyes to their father’s faults before the whole family receives a lifetime of embarrassment.

Our Take:

Stan Smith’s inflated ego is frequently at the center of American Dad episodes. Stan’s judgmental attitude towards his family frequently fuels conflict, but it’s always entertaining when this dynamic is flipped and it’s Stan’s faults that cause others to view him in a radical, more grounded light. Stan’s relationship with Steve is one of the most crucial relationships in the series and it’s been a topic of fascination since the very first episode. “A League of His Own” is an episode that humbles Stan in the eyes of his son, but in a way that understands that this is a necessary fact of life. There’s a lot to say and explore in “A League of His Own,” but it’s an episode that throws a few too many foul balls.

Curiously, the most interesting dynamic in “A League of His Own” is one that the episode almost immediately drops. “A League of His Own” focuses on Steve’s unhealthy praise of his father, but there’s just as rich characterization to explore with Hayley’s need to take Stan down a peg. She’s as committed as Steve is deluded and “A League of His Own” could have become a more compelling entry if it were as much about Hayley’s daddy issues as it is about Steve’s. Granted, Hayley is frequently by Steve’s side throughout this episode and her actions are the result of what she’s experienced in the past. “A League of His Own” treats this as the leading force of action in this broader conspiracy theory as opposed to her taking a second to look inward and consider why she’s so convinced that Stan isn’t a hero.

There’s a satisfying sense of closure that’s reached by the end of Stan’s struggles, but Francine’s eccentric B-story never fully comes together. American Dad understands how less is frequently more with its odd side plots, but there’s never much to grasp onto with Francine’s portajohn predicament. There’s a brief stretch where Francine is hunted by a rogue portajohn wrangler that could have become some effective riffs on the slasher genre. Instead, all of this just kind of ends and feels inconsequential. It’s not without its charm, but it’s easy to completely forget about Francine’s situation whenever the episode has shifted its focus away from her. 

“A League of His Own” tackles some interesting subject matter that’s been present in American Dad right from its start. However, this serviceable episode ultimately feels like it doesn’t realize its full potential when it comes to what it explores regarding the myth of “Stan Smith, Hero.” There’s still a lot to like in this episode, particularly the earnestness that’s present between Hayley and Steve, and it still concludes on a strong note. “A League of His Own” is an episode that communicates its message, but it’s only a triple when it could be a grand slam.

Also, it’s pretty deplorable that Stan prefers his sandwiches from Subs Galore rather than showing some allegiance to his daughter with Sub Hub. In an episode that’s all about examining Stan’s status as a hero, this is by far his most villainous act of them all.