Earlier this season, I had the chance to give my first proper review for a milestone episode of Family Guy, and now, within the same season, it’s time for my first in-depth look at a “Road to…” episode. These episodes are a series often considered the pinnacle of the entire show. It’s a bit daunting, to be honest.
I’m a huge fan of the “Road to…” episodes. The dynamic between Brian and Stewie is fantastic, and these episodes consistently deliver great moments and engaging stories. My personal favorite is the original, Road to Rhode Island, and honestly, I consider every single one a classic, easily 5 out of 5 on my rating scale. Even Road to Germany, my least favorite of the bunch, is still an episode I thoroughly enjoy. So, when a new “Road to…” episode is released, my excitement is off the charts. I’m always eager to see what comedic gold and Brian and Stewie interactions await. I’ve never been let down by a “Road to…” episode – never. And despite some initial reservations about this particular installment, after careful consideration, I’ve concluded that this episode is, for the most part, a worthy addition to this exceptional series of buddy adventures focused on Brian and Stewie. It stands out as one of the best of the season, a fitting choice for the hour-long, two-episode season finale event.
So, with that lengthy introduction out of the way, it’s time to dive deep and analyze this episode. No Brian and Stewie-centric episode can escape my thorough inspection. I’m obsessed, sue me.
Let’s start with the opening credits. As is tradition with “Road to…” episodes, this one opens with a charming credit sequence featuring a unique theme song and visuals of Brian and Stewie that align with the episode’s theme – in this case, Las Vegas. These sequences are always a treat, and this episode is no exception, offering some genuinely funny and memorable visuals set to a fantastic musical theme.
The episode kicks off with Brian and Stewie dressed as Elvis impersonators. It’s fitting for Vegas, but the unexpected visual caught me off guard and made me laugh immediately. Next, we see the title card, appropriately designed as a neon sign against the Las Vegas skyline. Following that, Brian and Stewie are depicted as Vegas showgirls, another amusing image. The subsequent image shows them driving down Interstate 15. Then, we see a Family Guy slot machine and coins featuring Brian and Stewie’s faces. I’m not a gambler, but I have to admit, a Family Guy slot machine would definitely get my attention. After that, there’s a great image of Brian and Stewie relaxing in a hot tub, with Brian eyeing a woman and Stewie checking out a muscular man. The next image was particularly funny: Brian and Stewie playing cards, with Brian as a Joker and Stewie as a Queen. Symbolism! Then, we see Brian and Stewie performing on a trapeze, likely a Cirque du Soleil performance judging by their outfits. The following image shows them playing cards again, with Stewie trying to peek at Brian’s hand – not very subtly. Next, Brian takes on the role of a magician, performing the sawing-in-half trick, having seemingly sawed Stewie in two. This image immediately reminded me of Brian’s past attempts at magic to impress women. I also couldn’t help but recall Stewie’s slip-up when mentioning to Brian that he could saw him in half. Needless to say, I smirked at this one. The following image is quite bizarre: Brian, wearing sunglasses, stands on a stage watching dancing women while wearing a baby carrier with Stewie inside, who is sipping a martini held by Brian. It’s… interesting. Next, there’s a nod to the Blue Man Group, which reminded me of the Stew Man Group cutaway from earlier in the season. Finally, the last image features Brian as the Sphinx from the Luxor Hotel and Stewie as Vegas Vic, the giant neon cowboy – a cute and funny image to conclude the credits. Okay, that wasn’t as brief as intended.
Moving on to the actual episode, it opens with the family at a gay pride event. This segment is full of excellent gags, such as Chris’s description of a parade, the shocking gay float, and the airshow. The original premise mentioned Brian getting tickets to a Bette Midler concert, which seemed odd. The Celine Dion concert, especially since he wins the tickets at a gay pride event, is much more believable. (Listen to the universe, Brian!). I suspect the Bette Midler detail was a last-minute change, as it would have been easy to switch by re-recording lines and changing the name on a sign. It was fun to see Weenie and The Butt again, and they even delivered a terrible radio stinger that made me chuckle despite their brief appearance. The Franklin and Bash bit was a humorous jab at the countless duo cop shows where the characters are almost interchangeable. I appreciate that Brian initiates this outing, directly inviting Stewie to Vegas with him. (Again, he invites Stewie to Vegas after winning tickets to a Celine Dion show at a gay pride event. Brian, you’re making this way too easy.) Stewie’s reaction is exactly as expected – pure excitement, responding instantly with an overjoyed tone. It’s a sweet scene. Did anyone else notice Stewie packed Rupert, but Rupert is never seen on the trip? Interesting detail, though I’m not sure what to make of it.
Brian’s reaction to the teleportation device is great. It’s been interesting to see his evolving attitude toward Stewie’s inventions. Now, he openly calls Stewie’s creations incredible, no longer hiding his admiration. His willingness, even eagerness, to try another of Stewie’s inventions (despite past mishaps, he probably should be more cautious) shows his respect for Stewie’s abilities. The scene with Peter and the scissors is hilarious, as “Peter-acting-like-a-child” jokes often are, and it works even better with Brian’s stern, parental demeanor. It’s funny that in this situation, the father figure walks in on something suspicious involving Stewie’s invention and ends up being reprimanded for simply having scissors. Funny stuff. Stewie tricking Brian into dancing to make the device work was comedic gold. Brian is initially hesitant, but it doesn’t take much convincing for him to commit. It’s a great visual gag that made me laugh, followed by Stewie’s own laughter. A small but cool detail is seeing the progress bar on the teleportation device moving in the background even before the dramatic zoom confirms it worked.
At this point, my theory about the episode’s plot was confirmed. When the premise was announced, I wondered how they’d create two Brian and Stewie pairs. My mind immediately went to The Prestige, a movie by one of my favorite directors, and its machine that creates copies through teleportation. That’s essentially what happened here. I mention this only to brag about calling it almost a year ago.
Back to the review, from here on, I’ll refer to the two Brian and Stewie pairs as “lucky” and “unlucky” to avoid confusion. The lucky pair arrives in Vegas, and there’s a quick gag about teleportation cancer. Then, the unlucky pair is stuck taking their original, planned plane ride. This is where the episode starts using split-screen, which I found very creative and well-executed, enhancing some comedic moments. I loved the contrast of the lucky Brian and Stewie arriving at the Bellagio as the fountains started, while the unlucky pair was clearly miserable on their cramped, delayed flight. Unlucky Stewie’s rant to the woman in sweatpants was fantastic. Lucky Stewie’s comment about the Bellagio fountains was even better. It’s obvious Stewie was intentionally planting that visual in Brian’s mind, part of his ongoing attempt to seduce Brian throughout the trip. Stewie likely saw this trip as the perfect opportunity to “trap” Brian and make his move. This is relevant to both pairs, and I’ll elaborate on this later. It’s worth noting that much of the lucky pair’s good fortune stems simply from arriving in Vegas first. It’s not the only reason, but it’s a major factor in their positive experience and a big reason for the unlucky pair’s misfortune. This made the “lucky” and “unlucky” contrast narratively logical, even with some elements of pure luck and bad luck involved.
The Bellagio lobby scene included more praise from Brian for the teleportation device. The check-in bit had funny dialogue, like the mention of the requested bed (singular) for bouncing and jumping, and Stewie’s delight at being able to keep the pen, which I loved the delivery of. Then, the lucky pair experiences genuine luck when Brian plays a slot machine and immediately wins the jackpot. The unlucky pair’s arrival at the Bellagio was staged and shot almost identically to the lucky pair’s arrival, another detail I appreciated. The animation difference between the pairs throughout the episode is also notable. The lucky pair is fresh and vibrant, eventually getting nice outfits, while the unlucky pair looks worn down and tired, with bags under their eyes and increasingly disheveled hair. Even the color palettes of their scenes emphasize this contrast, with lucky scenes being vibrant and unlucky ones dull and drab. The contrast is conveyed superbly. Unlucky Brian trying the slot machine was hilarious because not only did he not win, the machine didn’t even work! It’s the perfect opposite of the other pair winning the jackpot, possibly because the machine needed restocking after their win.
The montage of the lucky pair winning big in Vegas was wonderful – funny and thrilling to watch them enjoy the nightlife. The choice of Frank Sinatra’s Luck Be a Lady for the montage was perfect. The abrupt cut when lucky Brian and Stewie drove their car into an Ed Hardy store, killing everyone and laughing joyously, was especially funny. Has Brian ever let Stewie drive when they weren’t drunk?
Cutting to the unlucky pair arriving in their dingy hotel room after that montage was perfect comedic timing. I laughed at the bits about the continental breakfast and the porn in the lobby. Why mention the porn at all? It’s another instance of Stewie dropping hints for Brian, a counterpoint to the lucky Stewie’s fountain comment. The unlucky pair’s casino trip was funny. Brian’s brief interaction with Denise got some laughs, and I loved Stewie betting all their money at roulette because of a Taylor Swift song, misremembering the title and betting on the wrong number, missing a win if he’d gotten it right. There’s an interesting detail in this scene: Brian admits he considered bringing Peter, but chose Stewie. The reason isn’t stated, but anyone familiar with the show knows why. He chose Stewie over Peter. Stewie has been Brian’s best friend for a while, and this reinforces that bond over Brian’s friendship with Peter, who can be seen as a bit of an old dude in his immature antics.
Finally, we reach the reason for the trip – the Celine Dion concert. Again, the unlucky pair’s plans are ruined by the lucky pair being there first. This is easily the last straw, as the concert was the supposed main purpose of the trip. As Stewie says, the whole trip has been a disaster. Then, it’s revealed unlucky Stewie gambled away their plane tickets, trapping them in this hellish trip. Wait, why would Stewie do that? It’s unclear when this wager happened, but the only reason I can see for Stewie risking the tickets is that he wanted to lose them, prolonging the trip with Brian, not yet realizing how bad it would become. There’s not much to support this, but it’s a reasonable theory, considering the romantic intentions hinted at by both Stewies. Of course, Stewie could just have a gambling problem, which is also believable.
So, they’re stuck in Vegas with no money, leading to a loan shark plot, an interesting addition. Their task in exchange for basketball game information – acting like a couple at an open house and praising a condo – was incredibly amusing. Seeing them role-play as husband and wife is inherently funny, but then Stewie’s tirade about “her husband” being noncommittal in their relationship is clearly Stewie not really acting. Describing Brian as a noncommittal partner perfectly voices Stewie’s long-standing frustration with Brian’s attitude toward their real relationship. It feels too intentional to be accidental, and Brian’s reaction suggests some truth might have landed, even briefly. This also ties into Stewie seeing this trip as a chance to win Brian over. The trip’s disaster has ruined his chances, causing understandable sadness and frustration.
The unlucky pair at the Bellagio, waiting to see if their bet won, was a fun sequence. The two pairs being so close to discovering each other, booths apart, was exciting, and the quick pan between them was a nice cinematic touch. The backpack switch was a good twist, leaving me wondering where the story would go. The split-screen with Peter was funny, and the next split-screen at the start of the final act, showing the pairs walking and flipping from horizontal to vertical as they crossed paths, was very stylish. The joke about lucky Brian using their money to order a hit on Quagmire’s cat was one of the funniest of the night, hilarious because of how straight it was played. The loan shark’s lackey talking to his boss was also great.
The scene with lucky Stewie and Brian in their hotel room started perfectly. The two, dressed nicely, in their luxurious room, sipping champagne, was a wonderful sight for a Brewie fan like myself. It was actually intimate until Stewie mentioned his invited guest. This is another instance of Stewie trying to demonstrate his sexuality to Brian, possibly leading to an invitation for Brian to join him and Apollo. If the henchman hadn’t interrupted, I can imagine Stewie steering the conversation to see if Brian was interested in joining in. Unfortunately, we don’t see where it would lead because the henchman interrupts, and the episode takes a dark turn that didn’t quite work for me initially. I’ve since come to terms with it, but it took thought about character motivation. Even then, the writing feels flawed, but as canon, I must accept it and integrate it into their established personalities.
Things were funny for a while. The banter with the henchman was amusing. Stewie’s initial reaction to thinking the henchman was Apollo and his response to his suit being called tacky were great. His offer to the henchman after realizing the money was gone also made me laugh. Okay, the henchman tells Brian to choose who dies, him or Stewie. Brian initially can’t choose and tries to reason with the thug, angering him, who then threatens to kill Brian first. Brian then offers Stewie’s life for his own, which really bothered me! But, considering Brian’s fear and self-preservation instincts, it’s somewhat understandable. Maybe he didn’t think the thug would actually shoot, and he clearly looks disturbed by his decision. The issue is, we’ve seen Brian take a bullet for Peter, another family guy old dude in the show, and I’m supposed to believe he wouldn’t do the same for Stewie? No, I don’t buy it. My only explanation is Brian was buying time by appearing to comply, hoping Stewie would intervene or the thug wouldn’t actually shoot. He might have jumped in front of the bullet if he’d had more time to react. I’m glad Brian is appropriately distraught over Stewie’s death, cradling his body and sobbing, which made the scene slightly more palatable. The Apollo bit was an attempt at comedic relief after the death, but it didn’t fully land for me. Apollo’s determination to do his job, leaving Brian’s fate uncertain, was amusing. Also, Stewie apparently has a thing for black guys, a detail not often mentioned.
The next scene was even harder to accept. The writer said it was the hardest scene to write, unsurprising as it makes little sense. After much thought, I have an interpretation that works somewhat. I’ve noted the hints of Stewie trying to seduce Brian. Now, consider unlucky Stewie’s feelings when facing the loan shark and imminent death. The trip is a disaster, and his romantic hopes are dashed. Given his frustration with their platonic relationship, this might feel like the final blow. Experiencing such bad luck would cause depression, especially when it means losing a chance with the person you love. Stewie must be broken, seeing only the dire situation, especially as Brian dismisses every solution. Basically, the only way this scene works is if we assume Stewie has snapped and lost his mind. To him, it’s pointless and hopeless, as Brian says, but he sees a tragically romantic escape: if he can’t have Brian in life, he’ll have him in death. It’s selfish and contradicts Stewie’s care for Brian, but Stewie has been selfish before, and perhaps he was in a dark enough place for this reasoning. It’s the only way to rationalize his stupid idea of suicide, starkly contrasting his reprimand of Brian for being suicidal in Brian and Stewie. No matter how I twist it, this scenario is distasteful. But while Stewie has progressed, he still has demented tendencies, maybe seeing this as tragically romantic. And Brian, already struggling with suicidal thoughts and equally despondent about the trip, is easily convinced. I dislike Brian being okay with Stewie killing himself, but perhaps he sees Stewie as having the right to make that choice, just as he does for himself. So, while asinine, I can find character motivation. It’s a stretch, but makes a twisted sense. If this is the intent, it needed to be conveyed better. Both death scenes are bogged down in dark humor when these characters deserve more consideration in such situations.
But then, it gets worse. Brian and Stewie decide to commit suicide together. They’re about to jump, counting down, but at the last second… Stewie backs out, letting Brian fall to his death. It’s possible Stewie intended to go through with it. He claims he didn’t think they actually would, but that could be denial, excusing his terrible action. We’re assuming he’s insane at this point, so more craziness fits. Like Brian, Stewie is initially distraught over the death… but then, comedic relief is attempted. The symmetry of the “Archibald Meatpants” jokes is clever, but these deaths shouldn’t be glossed over. Stewie acts like he immediately forgets Brian and uses the money to hire prostitutes and “have a fun night.” Maybe it’s grief-consolation, or complete denial, refusing to acknowledge the tragic loss. From this scene on, we’re watching “Crazy Stewie,” mentally scarred from the experience, perhaps healing in time, but for now, completely cuckoo. This is the only way I can remotely accept what happened in that hotel room, and I’m clinging to this interpretation.
The basic idea of resolving the two pairs by killing one from each, with their partners causing the deaths and tying it to the loan shark plot, is good. The execution is lacking. I have fewer issues with Stewie’s death, but it could have been better. The thug could have given Brian an order, Brian could have defied him, and the thug could have shot Stewie to show he meant business. Brian would still have inadvertently caused Stewie’s death without throwing him under the bus. For the other death, suicide was unnecessary. If it had to happen, Brian should have suggested it. Stewie could have tried to talk Brian out of it, then succumbed to despair and joined Brian, only to back out last minute, realizing he couldn’t do it. That would have played better, especially without the “Archibald Meatpants” joke. I’m harping on this, but I was upset by these scenes and determined not to let them ruin my enjoyment of an episode that, until then, I felt was among the best, if not the best, of the season. I won’t let a writer’s mistake overshadow the episode’s greatness. Rewatching with my interpretations, I hope to become less bothered by them. That’s my wish.
Luckily, the ending was strong. Brian and Stewie meet at the bus station, shocked to see each other. I’d have liked to see more joy, maybe a hug, but I understand why not. Brian is confused, trying to understand how Stewie is alive, while Stewie quickly grasps what happened and explains it to Brian. By the time Brian understands, the moment for an embrace has passed. Plus, they’re both awkward, probably feeling guilty about what they let happen to each other. They even lie to save face. It’s an awkward, not touching, reunion, which is appropriate. Their explanations for what happened to the other Brian and Stewie were funny. Their banter from then on was amusing, and Stewie was still a bit peeved about the trip not going as planned, which I liked. The final gag with the other Brian and Stewie meeting in heaven was hilarious, and I’m happy assuming that confrontation ended with angry makeup sex in heaven. There’s no other option.
The cutaways were solid, some excellent. My favorites were: Stewie hosting the Oscars, Peter’s tell, Brian’s plastic surgery, the loan shark’s contract, Peter’s note, and Lois milking Stewie’s death.
After much debate, I can’t give this episode less than a top rating. I loved it so much, and despite issues with the deaths, I can’t let that overshadow everything else. It’s another classic, undoubtedly, among the best of the season, like Yug Ylimaf and Brian’s Play, an episode I’ll revisit. It’s not my least favorite “Road to…”, still Road to Germany. But ranking them, it’d be near the bottom, maybe next to last, close to Road to Europe. The episode was near perfect, and I was going to place it with the best “Road to…” episodes (maybe replacing Road to Rupert as my fourth favorite), so I can forgive one major mistake.
5/5
Moment of WIN:
Brian gets a clear invitation from Stewie in “Roads to Vegas”.
No Country Club for Old Men was a solid, good regular episode. Some jokes landed, some didn’t, and some were hilarious. Overall, enjoyable. It started strong. Any episode opening with just Brian and Stewie immediately has my attention (or more attention than other episodes, as every episode gets my attention anyway). The tornado joke in the Midwest was funny, though in hindsight, I almost regret laughing given recent disasters. Family Guy can’t catch a break with disaster jokes, it’s almost like the writers are psychic (or cursed), I swear. I wouldn’t be surprised if that joke was edited out if it aired a week later. Stewie calling his harmonica “old” is funny considering his age, but it’s a shame we didn’t see him play it. Him playing with it in the tub was cute, and I enjoyed his delight over brownie day. Brian telling Stewie about digging under the fence was funny and sweet that Brian shared his secret, however ridiculous, with Stewie. Peter sitting on the harmonica was cringeworthy, but both his and Stewie’s horrified reactions were amusing. I also laughed hard (partially disturbed) when Peter requested Stewie’s aid. Peter’s musical farts were hysterical. The running gag wasn’t long, but well-utilized. I laughed at his discovery of his talent and chuckled through his musical accompaniment to Lois’s story. The Meg joke fell flat. Peter saying the family would be flown to America’s Got Talent got a chuckle, but Chris’s response was funnier. Peter performing on America’s Got Talent was incredibly funny. I’ll never hear the Sanford and Son theme the same way. That bit was an excellent conclusion to the gag, and I enjoyed the brief Brian and Stewie bit too. Seeing Brian and Stewie sectioned off from the family makes me slightly disappointed when they don’t interact. Seeing them together on the plane made me want to see them interact on the flight.
Chris talking with Amanda was amusing, though the plot point felt lazily incorporated. The episode does nothing with Chris’s girlfriend. She’s just there to get the family into the club for Peter to become a member. That’s it. There were many ways to achieve this without shoehorning a “Chris-gets-a-girlfriend” tease. I’m not terribly bothered, but it’s worth noting as it felt lazy. That’s all on that. The vaguely Hanna Barbara character was fun, and the Gossip Girl punchline got a good laugh. The country club scenes were funny. Carter and the members trying to wet Peter and failing earned laughs, and I loved the joke about Stewie’s facial cream and the website. I wonder if Brian caught that slip-up. I also loved Brian laughing at Stewie’s joke to the point of annoying Stewie. Carter playing kiss-ass was funny, though his antics were grating, which is the point as he’s annoying. Once Peter became a member, the episode became a typical Peter and Carter episode, which I enjoyed as their interactions are amusing. Peter’s pranks on Carter earned chuckles, especially the joke about people he paid to run over Carter just taking his money. I’m unsure about the horse scene, but I laughed hard. Peter’s line delivery was perfect and made the joke work. The Game of Thrones joke was lame, but I loved Stewie casually commenting on Carter’s hair when Carter asked Peter to get him back in the club. The Hershey Kiss nipples thing was hysterical, though it created a weird visual and reminded me of a similar gag in Season 1 during Stewie’s first birthday. Maybe that’s why I enjoyed it. Peter talking to the angry kid by the river was another funny bit.
The third act started slow, but once it got to Peter and Carter in disguise, the episode fired on all cylinders until the end. Their entrance was amazing, ludicrous, and over the top, as were their disguises, which made me laugh hard. They even had sparklers! Peter in the thong earned another laugh, and I chuckled at the chair and “shoe drink.” Carter bragging to get back in the club was funny, and Peter trying to get a grilled cheese out of it made me laugh. Peter getting them discovered was predictable, but it was believable that he’d drop the act once Carter’s membership was reinstated. Carter forcing Peter to skip rope was amusing, and I laughed when the Europeans tried to enter, finding they’d already arrived. The episode ended strongly. The final joke with Peter cutting Lois’s hair was great. Cutaways were hit and miss, with standouts being the Armenian neighbors (I liked Stewie admitting to liking the cologne), the painting and statue, zipper and buckle hats, and Peter acting like a cat.
This was just a good episode. It provided humor, and while I’m unsure why we keep getting standard episodes as season finales, this episode wasn’t a bad note to end on. Just typical, funny but typical nonetheless. It shows that even the old dude characters like Peter and Carter can still deliver laughs in classic Family Guy style.
3/5
Moment of WIN:
Stewie’s website, stewiegriffinfacial.com, is now canon, opening up hilarious possibilities for Brian’s internet searches.
