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American Dad!: Volume 9
R1 - America - Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment Review written by and copyright: Noor Razzak (14th August 2014). |
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The Show
 I have to admit that when "American Dad!" premiered in 2005, I wasn't a fan. It seemed like a rehashing of Seth MacFarlane's other series "Family Guy" (1999-Present) with a patriotic patriarch instead of a boneheaded one. Swap out the kids, wife and thrown in another talking animal and "American Dad!" initially fell into the same formulaic mold. What stood out, however was the foul mouthed-egotistical-narcissistic-sadistic alien Roger (Seth MacFarlane). Roger was the main point of difference and in the first few seasons was the saving grace of this show. Over the years "American Dad!" found its footing and in many ways is head and shoulders above "Family Guy", it's smarter, funnier and darker and this volume shows off a season that's not only progressed from previous seasons but manages to stay fresh and interesting episode to episode. This season tries and for the most part breaks the mold, expanding on the supporting characters and giving them episodes that highlight their backgrounds and make them the feature of the episodes. This gives the supporting characters in the series a whole lot more depth. The series still features a majority focus on the family and their crazy adventures, after all it's a show about an America dad and his dysfunctional family and much more of everyone's favorite alien, Roger. In fact Roger's hi-jinx get much darker and much more sinister as season progresses. Roger definitely pushes the envelope. In this season Roger marries Stan's (Seth MacFarlane) mom and becomes his stepdad all part of a sick plot, one of his alter ego's attacks Hayley's (Rachael MacFarlane) boyfriend Jeff (Jeff Fischer), he tries to start a male stripper shoe company, we're introduced to another alter ego Max Jets - a recently released from prison millionaire sociopath among other mainly over-the-top sequences. Two particular highlights however feature two key family members, we learn about Francine's (Wendy Schaal) childhood trauma of being trapped in a well when she was a baby and the man whom saved her life. It was one of the funniest episodes of the season especially when you see what becomes of her saviour. The season finale is also one of the best episodes in this collection as Klaus' (Dee Bradley Baker) human body is found, but before Klaus can be returned to his human form, his body is accidentally ruined, in an act of revenge Klaus switches bodies with Stan and culminates in a ski jump attempt that ends horrifically. There are still some clichés and the occasional "easy" joke but the show has manifested into its own thing, it becomes quickly apparent that this is now just a lazy carbon copy of "Family Guy" - the funniest side splitting moments tend to come when the writers take random tangents, get creative and go off the rails. Last year it was announced that Fox cancelled this show only to be picked up by a new network, TBS. Too bad for Fox, because they gave up one of the better animated shows they had on the roster. If the writers continue to be adventurous and take risks with the show, then it'll continue to be worth watching. All 19 episodes are includes on 3 discs, they are: - "Love, American Dad Style" - "Killer Vacation" - "Can I Be Frank (With You)" - "American Stepdad" - "Why Can't We Be Friends?" - "Adventures in Hayleysitting" - "National Treasure 4: Baby Franny: She's Doing Well: The Hole Story" - "Finger Lenting Good" - "The Adventures of Twill Ongenbone and his Boy Jabari" - "Blood Crieth Unto Heaven" - "Max Jets" - "Naked to the Limit, One More Time" - "For Black Eyes Only" - "Spelling Bee My Baby" - "The Missing Kink" - "The Boring Identity" - "The Full Cognitive Redaction of Avery Bullock by the Coward Stan Smith" - "Lost in Space" - "Da Flippity Flop"
Video
Presented in the show's broadcast ratio of 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen. The episode transfers are fairly decent, if altogether unimpressive. This is an animated show, so the important thing is that the colors are solid and bright (which they are), line work holds up and that the episodes are clean. This is certainly the case but its mostly flat, the standard definition transfers are about as good as they can get.
Audio
A single audio track is featured in English Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo, the show features some over-the-top moments and sequences that could have benefitted with a 5.1 surround track, sadly we only get a 2.0 stereo track. For the most part it's ok, dialogue is clean and clear, activity seems decent, although lacking in depth and range. No subtitles are included.
Extras
Nothing, not a single extra...
Packaging
Packaged in a keep case that houses all three discs.
Overall
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