Family Guy is now 23 seasons into its run, so now it’s time to look back and see just how Season 23 of the animated series had faired when it comes to its episodes. Family Guy was one of the major adult animated franchises with Fox that have been picked up for four more seasons alongside hits like The Simpsons and Bob’s Burgers. Fox is committing more to its long running hits, and that’s good news for Family Guy as the show has unfortunately been bumped around the schedule for the past couple of years. Fans even had to wait an additional year for this season specifically.
Family Guy Season 23 is much like many of the other recent seasons of the series. There are a fair share of very strong episodes, and there are some with strong concepts for their stories. But on the other hand, there are many that are spinning their wheels and run out of gas with their gags sooner than you would hope. So it’s time to go through Family Guy Season 13 and figure out which of the episodes is the weakest compared to the others. Read on below for our ranking of the season’s episodes.
18.) Drunk With Power
Family Guy is not shy from spending an entire episode around a political figure, but these have never been entertaining outside of a few jokes that might come out from the idea. That’s the case for “Drunk With Power” which brings in Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh and swaps him for Peter. It does lead to some funny Peter shenanigans as he becomes a member of the Supreme Court, but there’s so much focus on such an unfunny Brett parody that it just ruins the entire thing (especially when that commentary isn’t that funny either). It ends up feeling like more of a slog than likely was intended.
17.) Twain’s World
“Twain’s World” has the same issue as “Drunk With Power” as it really hinges it all on one idea. Bringing Mark Twain to help Brian write his novel has a very creative concept as it’s just another way the show is going to knock Brian down a peg, and it is funny to eventually see what happens to Twain when he’s fully thrown into the present day world, but it’s all just one joke at its core. It’s a single concept that gets beaten into the dirt. What nearly saves it is the final few minutes with the “man and a boy” montage and the final reveal for Twain himself, but it’s so late in the episode that it doesn’t really help the overall entertainment value.
16.) A Real Who’s Hulu
Family Guy usually does very well with its anthology episodes as the characters are so pliable that they can be put into any real situation, but “A Real Who’s Hulu” can’t help but feel so corporate. Rather than the team taking the time to make fun of Hulu’s shows, it almost feels like it was a mandate as Peter openly talks about how he didn’t even watch shows like The Bear. There are some good jokes to be had when it makes fun of each of the offerings, but then there are just as many where characters directly look at the screen and talk about how uninteresting the show they’re parodying is. There’s just not enough effort when compared to the anthologies we’ve gotten to see before.
15.) Lois C.K.
There have been quite a few episodes over the years where Lois gets far in a surprising career that Peter’s not a fan of, but this one makes use of that insecurity to really hammer in the jokes at Peter’s expense. While it ultimately backfires on Lois as she runs out of material because Peter stops being goofy, it does lead to a surprisingly well done resolution between the two as Lois realizes she needs to let Peter be himself or they’d both be bored. But it’s just not that entertaining of an episode. If she’s not being extreme, then Lois as a focal point can unfortunately be a boring character to center an episode on.
14.) Karenheit 451
There are a lot of core issues of “Karenheit 451” that the previous episodes also shared as this is another politically charged episode where Brian steers into a certain demographic only for it to blow up in his face, but it’s saved by Peter’s side story. It’s a very intriguing idea that the guys stop drinking and realize they wouldn’t be friends without beer at the core of their relationship, but unfortunately there’s just not enough of a focus on this very fun idea. Each of the guys gets a makeover, and becomes an insufferable person without alcohol, but there’s just so much attention paid instead to Brian’s very tired out story on the other end. Wish they were flipped around.
13.) Live, Laugh, Love
Principal Shepard has been one of the side characters that has been especially fun to see devolve into his current place in the series. So much has been revealed about his personal life that he’s become hilariously pathetic, yet he’s got such an unwavering slime ball kind of confidence that he’s just so fun to watch. That’s the case here where we not only get to learn more about his past (and dream of opening a Taco Bell), but he even gets a much needed victory by the end of it all. A victory that’s also hilariously taken away with his blowing up the bus’ toilet to head off into the ending credits. Principal Shepard episodes are always fun.
12.) Dog Is My Co-Pilot
Family Guy’s long running rivalry between Brian and Quagmire has been a focal point for the last few seasons, and the varying severity of their rivalry can lead to some fun moments. On the other hand, it can also swing the other way to being outright un-entertaining. This episode makes good on that rivalry by not only blowing up Brian’s sense of self-satisfaction, but making him be the one that ultimately saves Quagmire when Quagmire’s diarrhea forces Brian into the pilot’s seat. Then Brian tries to repay the favor by sabotaging a ferry, and it’s an even better set piece to end it. Then there’s Stewie and Chris’ pop-up pizza place side plot, and a really dark joke with Herbert. It’s just got a lot of fun stuff here.
11.) Row v. Wade
Speaking of dark jokes, that’s ultimately what “Row v. Wade” dances around the entire time. One of Family Guy’s most infamous banned episodes tackled abortion, so this is really the first aired episode to revisit the idea. It finds a rather unique way of getting to that idea as after Brian wins a boat on The Price is Right, Brian and Stewie decide to help women who can’t access abortions in their regions. But rather than make any grand statement about the situation, the episode steers into some very dark comedy with the full scope of how Brian and Stewie would turn those same women in for their bounties. It’s a very good rug pull that falls right in line with what you would expect from the two.
10.) The Chicken or the Meg
There are a couple of very strong Meg moments this season, and Family Guy has started to use her as a tie to other elements of the series. By having her date the Giant Chicken’s son in this episode, it not only fuels Peter’s long rivalry, but also sheds new light on the idea. It once again highlights how terrible of a father Peter is towards Meg (to the point where even his friends take notice), but then also makes sure to highlight what makes Meg such a different person from her father. She likely ended that long rivalry with the Giant Chicken here, and that might make for a huge step forward. After getting beaten down so much, it’s good to see her getting a win here.
9.) The Elle Word
Elle Hitler (yes, that’s her full name) is one of the best late generation Family Guy characters ever thrown into the rotation. Originally introduced as just a librarian who laughed at her own corny jokes, she ended up developing a bond with many other members of the cast. Her jokes appealed to Peter and Stewie, and she was eventually brought into Lois’ core friend group because of her fun energy. Here she’s used as a brief romantic interest for Quagmire, and is revealed to be much more experienced than even he is. It not only takes Quagmire down a peg (as he needs a good humbling), but also further cements Elle as a character that Family Guy respects. She’s likely going to be popping up way more.
8.) Cool Hand Lois
As previously hinted at before, a Lois focused episode is usually best when it steers into the more extreme side of her personality. Her she gets addicted to self-pleasure to such an extent that she plans to start a whole new relationship with Bonnie, and it leaves Peter and Joe to figure things out for themselves. There are just some very funny jokes in this one as Lois discovers more about herself, and the reveal that she’s dating Bonnie also leads to a fun cartoony visual that Family Guy can still surprise with. It’s definitely the best Lois episode of the season overall.
Of the episodes that focus on more of Brian and Quagmire, this side plot has the better energy of the two. While the main focus is on how Lois gets jealous of Chris getting closer with her friends (after finding out how good he is at race walking), the Brian and Quagmire story is the more fun fight between the two. Eventually leading to the both of them wearing shock collars and Brian saving Quagmire, it’s a good ending for the two. Their back and forth is not over by any means, but this is one of the better episodes where the two of them have struggled because of that final set piece filled with so much actual tension.
6.) China Doll
Family Guy has unfortunately distanced itself from the classic “Road to…” episodes seen in the early seasons, but “China Doll” does have some of that same spirit. Unfortunately the episode isn’t too much about the journey to China itself, but is about Stewie wanting to hunt down Rupert’s place of origin. There are some jokes here that only Family Guy can get away with, and then it’s all put into perspective with a final chalkboard gag highlighting just how many of those wild jokes the show put in the episode. It’s a wild tightrope act, but this episode really pulls it off.
5.) The Fat Lotus
Family Guy Season 23 has a fair share of event episodes that change up the usual format of the series, and “The Fat Lotus” is definitely the most successful of the ones that still exist within the main timeline. Family Guy is not strictly adhering to any kind of timeline or canon, but this episode is dedicating to killing off one of the long running side characters. It’s a reveal that comes in late in the episode, and with a ridiculous way of killing them in particular, but it’s all strongly built getting there. Whether or not you’ve seen The White Lotus, this episode is still likely going to hit high marks with you. It’s just well done.
4.) Martian Meg
You likely wouldn’t expect to see a Meg episode so high on this list going into the season, but it’s a surprise in many different ways. Meg gets so depressed about her life that she decides to try out for a one-way mission to Mars, and the episode deals with the fallout of what that means. Lois ends up realizing she loves Meg so much that she tries to jump on the rocket ship to somehow bring her back. It’s not only a huge set piece in scope, but it also ends with a hilarious joke about how much Lois is lying about her weight (emphasized further with an awesome guest spot from Keith David). Lois and Meg’s dynamic can be toxic, but here it leads to a rather sweet ending.
3.) Pitch Imperfect
“Pitch Imperfect” is the best Peter episode of the season, hands down. The episode retcons Peter’s ability to play baseball, and not only references many episodes in the past to do so, but also uses those connections to bring Peter closer with Meg as she comes in to help. It’s an episode that sheds new light on Peter’s past, and once again gives Meg a much needed win as she’s incredible at sports in general (and gets the space to brag about it). Peter also gets a much needed win at the end (with a brutal twist to do so), and it’s honestly just a fun resolution that only a show like Family Guy can do.
2.) Hard Times at Adam West High
But if you’re talking about the kinds of episodes only Family Guy can get away with, there’s no better example than this one. Stewie’s time machine and other inventions have become the source of fun stories over the years, and that’s taken to a new level whenever Chris’ chaotic energy is thrown into the mix. Steering further into just how gross Chris can also be leads into a wild time travel story where saving Chris from himself leads to a lot more destruction than expected. The resolution it all gets to is a funny reveal as well, and this just seems like the most “original” idea for an episode Family Guy has had in a while.
1.) Fat Gun
Even with all of that originality, however, Family Guy Season 23 ended up starting out with its best episode overall. “Fat Gun” is a straight forward parody of Top Gun and Top Gun Maverick, but the entire episode is dedicated to it rather than just a single ten minutes like seen in other anthology parodies. This allows the episode to fully commit to the Top Gun world, and shows off the new takes on each of the Family Guy characters in these roles (even with two Bonnies in place). There are jokes here that surprisingly haven’t been made about the Top Gun franchise before, and it really teases a kind of parody that Family Guy can do from now on. Fully dedicating an entire episode to one movie franchise really paid off here, so let’s hope it’s an idea that comes back in future seasons.
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