Review: American Dad “Season’s Beatings”

Episode Synopsis: Father Donovan (voice of Martin Mull) stages a Christmas play at the mall and casts Stan as Santa and Roger as Jesus. But they get into a fight and Stan is kicked out of church. Meanwhile, Hayley and Jeff adopt a child who turns out to be possessed. Original Air Date: Dec 11, 2011

Spoilers Below

It’s Christmas in Langley Falls, and Roger ‘s drunk as fuck. But, its cool because the mall is doing a Passion Play, and Stan wants BAD to be Jesus. Instead, he’s stuck as the mall Santa, only to find out the Jesus part when to Roger. BLASPHEMY says Stan, who claimed to defend Christmas, by beating the unholy shit out of Roger. As a result of local TV coverage of the savage beating, Father Donovan decides to kick him out of Christianity.

Meanwhile, Jeff wants to have a baby with Hayley who thinks its a terrible idea. So, Jeff does the sensible thing and adopts a son, and Hayley can’ get enough of the kid as he’s just simply adorable. One of the only ways Stan is allowed to get back into Christianity is if he kills the antichrist, of which he finds out is his newly adopted grandson. He’s right too, this kid is all sorts of possessed, so much so he even kills the priest! Stan and Roger have to go find special daggers in order to kill Nemo, once accomplished a big fight ensues on the front lawn between Heaven and Hell, and Hayley picks the side of Hell!

Man oh man, this AniDom had me worried. The Simpsons and Cleveland Show were a let down, but Seth picked up the ball and delivers! Family Guy was hysterical and American Dad defied the odds, to close the night out on a high-note! Notable highlights include Stan smashing the Holy Cross,  with the lady saying”Now what am i supposed to burn on my ethnic neighbor’s lawn?” and all of the Exorcist jokes were great. I am a HUGE Martin Mull fan, so having him as a special guest was just icing on the cake.