Family
Guy: Season 13
(2014 - 2015/Fox DVD Set)
Picture:
B Sound: B Extras: C Episodes: B
Highly
praised for its creative take on pop culture and the American family,
Family
Guy is
now ranked amongst the ''greatest animated TV series of all time.''
Now approaching its 14th
Season, Family
Guy shows
no signs of slowing down. The series has no true continuity, nor are
there many ''2 part'' episodes; but does have a plethora of call
backs to previous events, gags, and characters.
As
a special and almost shocking treat, Season
13
here on DVD kicks off with ''The
Simpsons Guy''
Parts 1 and 2. This was a special cross over episode where the
Griffin's end up in Springfield only to cross paths with the
Simpsons. The families essentially pair up as Peter joins Homer,
Stewie and Brian with Bart, Lois with Marge, Chris with Maggie, and
Meg with Lisa. There are also a plethora of guest stars (voices)
that appear throughout to only heighten this already landmark event.
The episode was a true blend of both worlds, allowing both to shine.
From its beginnings Family
Guy was
criticized for being a knock-off of The
Simpsons,
but here the creators of Family
Guy (who
wrote this episode) show their true admiration and respect for the
now classic series.
Other
events throughout Season
13 included
but weren't limited to Meg being a foot fetish model, Joe writing a
children's book, Peter and Lois opening a cookie shop, a time travel
episode, the return of Jesus, and even Stewie carrying Brian's
babies.
The
series remains fresh, full of life, and pushes the boundaries of what
is appropriate for TV. Consistently offensive, yet inspiring Family
Guy is
amongst the best series on television that allows us to laugh at and
question the ridiculousness of modern culture.
Disc
1:
**The
Simpsons Guy, Part 1 & 2
**Book
of Joe
**Baking
Bad
**Brian
the Closer
**Turkey
Guys
-Extras-
**On
the Road to Springfield: The Making of "The Simpsons Guy"
(Featurette)
**Deleted
Scenes
**Audio
Commentary on "The Simpsons Guy"
**Audio
Commentary on "Turkey Guys"
Disc
2:
**The
2000-Year-Old Virgin
**Stewie,
Chris, & Brian's Excellent Adventure
**Our
Idiot Brian
**This
Little Piggy
**Quagmire's
Mom
**Encyclopedia
Griffin
-Extras-
**Deleted
Scenes
**Audio
Commentary on "The 2000-Year-Old Virgin"
**Audio
Commentary on "Stewie, Chris, & Brian's Excellent
Adventure"
**Full
Episode Animatic on "Stewie, Chris, & Brian's Excellent
Adventure"
Disc
3:
**Stewie
is Enceinte
**Dr.
C & The Women
**#JOLO
**Once
Bitten
**Roasted
Guy
**Fighting
Irish
**Take
My Wife
-Extras-
**Deleted
Scenes
**Audio
Commentary on "Once Bitten"
**Audio
Commentary on "Roasted Guy"
The
DVD sets have FINALLY switched from the ''Volume System'' to the
''Season Set System,'' a mistake that was made early with the DVD
releases and finally managed to catch up. The technical features
this season are again similar (if not exactly the same) as the
previous several seasons/volumes on DVD. The picture is again
presented in a clean, clear, crisp 1.78 X 1 Widescreen that
demonstrates vibrant colors and a near pristine image. The sound is
a lossy Dolby Digital 5.1 surround track that is lively, getting the
job done without too many issues. A future upgrade to Blu-ray would
truly amp up all technical features; so here's to hoping for that and
perhaps a retroactive release of all previous seasons in one huge
set. The host of musical numbers remains full of lively action and a
packed orchestral back track that make Family Guy a rather
impressive series.
-
Michael P. Dougherty II
