American Dad! (TV Series) American Fung (2015) User Reviews

Not a great episode, but not for the reasons you think it is

[lukeroddis · 5/10 · 8 May 2017]

Just watched this tonight and after reading some of the comments I think many people have missed the intent of the episode.

It was effectively a meta-episode, and was intentionally bad to highlight top executives meddling with the creativity of a show.

The A-plot was intentionally the most cliché plot ever (husband forgets wedding anniversary) and eventually ends up with Stan forced a lobotomy that dumbs him down, which many comedies end up doing with their characters. The B-plot has the 'top executive' arrive and propose a ridiculous solution to a complex problem, with the creative team nodding approvingly.

Unfortunately, the episode was way too meta for the vast majority of viewers to get what was happening, and so it fell on deaf ears, and that's why the episode failed, though it gets some score for effort in trying to highlight a common problem in the animated industry.

No real plot.

[ipoweri · 4/10 · 26 May 2015]

The problem with this episode to be honest was that the plot with putting Francine in a mental institution just to give Stan time to plan their wedding anniversary was a pretty bad plot from the start. We were not even explained how it was suppose to work out, it felt rushed. At the same time Roger, Hayley and Steve doesn't really develop a side plot at all. So there is to little to go from there...

The focus of Fung Wah only makes an already below average episode even worse. I suspect they made the episode with a very narrow plot so they would have time to put in all those Fung references, but it just didn't work.

The idea of an entire "Chinese American Dad" episode like we see at the end were all characters are Chinese versions, could have worked but now it just became to much at the same time with no time at evolving the plot in a nice way.

The episode would probably had been better if they completely skipped the plot about the mental institution all together and instead gone all in on the more crazy concept.

There are very few animated shows that succeeds at including a person into an episode without disrupting the plot of the episode. This was in my opinion one of the worst examples of this in recent time along with South Park S18E09/S18E10 #REHASH/#HappyHolograms and Simpson S26E12 The Musk Who Fell to Earth, which was arguably even worse.

It's weird that they don't learn that it's tricky to get it to work, especially if it's not really implemented to the actual plot of the episode which neither of these four episodes managed to do...

Probably one of the worst American Dad episodes ever.

In a universe of potential episode ideas they ran with this?

[ahealy-56-55306 · 3/10 · 5 June 2015]

I do not know if this episode (brought to you by Fung Wah apparently) was an attempt at being clever or original, because I find it hard to believe it was an attempt to be funny.

The episode begins with Chinese billionaire 'Fung Wah' introducing himself. I Googled him, I thought maybe he actually WAS a Chinese billionaire and the episode would delve into something interesting. It would have been kind of cool but no.

I also thought the whole episode might feature Chinese variants of all the characters with Chinese theme and style but no.

Instead I was treated to a mundane episode when Stan screws over Francine (again) with annoying Fung Wah references to his fictional products and a cartoon Fung Wah popping up half way through.

I did not get it. I did not get 1 laugh or smile. It was tedious and un-inspired.

Worst. Episode. Ever. (few minimal spoilers)

[epjps · 1/10 · 26 May 2015]

This beat "Blood Crieth Unto Heaven" as the worst AD episode ever. I don't want to give too many specifics because I don't want to spoil it (if that's possible, as this is a terrible, horrendous, pointless, stupid episode). I couldn't figure out if the endless "Fung Wah" references were a joke I was supposed to be in on, or if they were building up to a great punchline (the answer: no). Half way through I started thinking MacFarlane finally lost it and the series was now doomed. To state my total hatred for this without spoiling: 1. There was no plot, seriously. Fung Wah "buys" AD. Huh? So now the characters are in on being cartoons? Is that it? 2. Francine uncharacteristically reacts to Stan's typical stupidity, something she deals with in nearly every episode, but somehow this repeated stupidity makes her react in the manner which she does? 3. Roger's side story was NO story, but rather time filler about his closet. That's it. The whole thing meandered aimlessly. I kept imagining the table read where the actors were likely scratching their heads trying to figure out what the point was to all of this, then their reaction when they realized there was no point. I'm fearful this is a glimpse into the end.

could of been good but wasn't....

[haines403 · 1/10 · 27 May 2015]

I thought when the guy said that he was the new owner of American dad,it was going to be an episode where all the American stuff was changed out for Chinese like the flag at the c.i.a and the theme tune would be dubbed with the word Chinese when American way was said,it would of been fun to have an episode where everything was altered to be set in china rather than America but sadly not the whole thing was tedious and the constant adverts and interruption by the Chinese guy was really annoying to the point where i was thinking of turning off.I thought the Cleveland show was getting much stronger and ad was starting to run out of good ideas abit like family guy had a long time ago...hopefully they will step up and start being funny again...

Mission Accomplished

[jacksolm-38496 · 15 May 2021]

What happens when new management that's only concerned about making money gets too involved in a proven creative process? An output that's confused, hackneyed, and hated. For all of the bad ratings, a part of me wonders if the producers actually prefer the vitriol for this episode to use as a warning to any suit that insists on making the show "more profitable."

Not a waste of time for thinking AD fans but don't expect the usual entertainment satisfaction from it, either.

Worst American dad episode yet

[chicnstu012 · 1/10 · 26 May 2015]

There was nothing even remotely funny about this episode. At it's best it is a complete waste of time. No story, terrible humor and... Just Ughhh..I don't think I even smiled once.

As soon as I saw it was yet another anniversary episode when it aired live I changed the channel. I went back today and watched it on demand hoping it would be somewhat decent.. I was more than wrong.

Do yourself a favor and burn this episode along with a bag of crap you'd leave on someone's door step.

I have a feeling the fact that TBS's corny 'humor' had a play in this one.

Stay away!

No spoiler,, nothing to spoil

[yorkshirepudding-46199 · 1/10 · 26 May 2015]

I've watched every single episode of American Dad and this was the absolute worse one ever. I feel rather cheated out of an episode now. Come Seth,, strut your stuff man,!! I just didn't understand any of the plot? Was there one even? From beginning to end I was just sat staring at the TV with a look of total confusion. We expect that from time to time that a duff episode will happen, that's life for you but seriously! Duff was way too high praise for this episode. This is the first review I've ever written on here so that tells you just how bad the episode was that I felt I had no choice but to join up and speak my mind. I just can't wait for the next episode now because compared to what I've just watched it so has to be better. I'm going to go to bed now feeling proper cheated.

Completely Terrible! *spoiler*

[joshrocks-64486 · 1/10 · 26 May 2015]

I love American Dad. I enjoy it more than Family Guy. It always seems to bring that random card to the table that makes the show so enjoyable.

*spoilers*

This was not the case with "American Fung". This episode was complete crap starting off with some live action Asian business man talking about how he bought American Dad. I was bored by him, but was willing to hold on as I thought the show would get better. It did not.

The show keeps bringing this Asian business man back who the characters in the show are enticed by(ruining all connection to the characters we know and love). The show goes on to make fun of product placement by advertising products made by this Asian business man's company, which gets over excessive on a joke that wasn't that amusing to begin with.

Then towards the end of the show, the only plot that has developed with Stan and Francine gets thrown to the curb without any say. The show goes back to the Asian business man who talks about how he sold American Dad to make more money, and now its American Chinese Dad. They show a quick clip of the family working in the field and its over.

Just complete bullcrap. I enjoy American Dad for its fantastical, comical random story and characters and this episode seemed like a cheap way of saying screw you audience.

So bad, its good, but the subtlety lost on a lot of viewers

[mgcwilton · 6/10 · 25 August 2021]

A lot of people have rated this awful or brilliant. I can't actually tell if those who gave it 10/10 are being ironic.

But one thing this episode did that no other AD episode has done is get me to write a review!

It is such a bad episode, on so many levels, but, I think, that is the point. It's supposed to be bad, the same way that when companies buy-out others and change things that don't need changing, after promising they won't change things!

This subtlety was lost on a lot of people, so I guess that they didn't do a particularly good job of getting this point across.

But 6/10 for effort!

If this is a joke, I don't get it

[brettmcv · 1/10 · 24 October 2015]

I kept waiting for some redeeming quality, a joke that worked, something, but it never came. I honestly don't understand how this episode made it to air.

In my opinion, American Dad! is the funniest show on the air and has been since it premiered, but this was a waste of 23 minutes. Nothing worked at all.

I thought each line was a setup, and the next line, and the next, until the very end of the episode. The punch line was never delivered.

I apologize for the negative tone of this review - I have nothing but praise for the series overall.

A cautionary tale

[very-jaded · 8/10 · 12 August 2022]

This episode was a total slam on the trend of selling various entertainment properties to Chinese interests, and the how the shows are then tampered with to blatantly sell crap products, to promote Chinese industries, to twist the story into a crap plot that promotes Chinese morality ideals, and to meet strict censorship rules, all yielding a show that well and truly sucks.

So the show gets high marks for being a political statement. The next time you see a movie or show with Chinese production companies, you'll be aware of just how awful it is.

But yeah, if you don't catch how awful the show is because of the tampering, it's just an awful episode.

Probably the worst American Dad episode

[lexxtoronto · 2/10 · 4 June 2016]

This is probably the worst American Dad episode ever. I adore American Dad and I think it's funnier than Family Guy but this episode is terrible.

I understand the idea behind it i.e. an Asian billionaire buys American Dad show and turns it into a wacky show but wacky doesn't necessarily mean stupid and horribly implemented, it can be so well done it would've been hilarious but somewhere something went wrong.

Doesn't mean I'll stop watching the show, there always a bad apple in the bunch, one episode is better than the other and when they contrast each other it makes watching other episodes more enjoyable. So bad episodes are OK but only once in a while.

Not an episode but something else.

[narrama · 29 May 2015]

I was negatively amazed by the blunt way this "Chinese billionaire" and how repetitive was his part in the show, expecting a big punchline as many other faithful viewers of this show...

After nothing funny happens in all the chapter and I noticed the only remarkable difference with other chapters is the Chinese CEO wrecking the show in half, then I realized...

What if this chapter of the series isn't a chapter itself but a weapon, to make audiences realize what could have happened to the show if they didn't take that drastic producer change after 11x6?

What if Stan getting his head drilled by force its a metaphor of something much deeper and dark going on in real life?

In my opinion this was a scream in the shape of metaphors from the creators trying to spread concern to the audiences.

Unnecessary episode

[ilmo_buddie · 1/10 · 4 February 2020]

This episode was all over the place. Like others have stated, I feel like this was a joke that I simply wasn't in one. I might realize what they're trying to say, but it took a lot of work to figure out what this is supposed to be. When I'm watching American Dad I'm used to finding everything funny without having to be in on anyting.

What happened?

[ncholson-45254 · 2/10 · 27 May 2015]

No spoilers and a short review....

Im a big fan of Seth... American Dad and Family Guy.... however this episode was really a waste of 22 minutes. I don't quite know what to make of it.... the whole concept just doesn't work.... and its like the episode is cut short because they ran out of ideas.

If your a die hard American Dad fan.... I would skip this episode and just hope this is a one off.

sort it out Seth.... stop focusing more on your movies and get back to what you do best.

Without spoiling anything the whole Asian guy in this is a waste of time and it really doesn't fit in with the format of Anerican dad. Also cross between live action and animation also doesn't work.

Such an unnecessary episode

[jacob-wagner1 · 1/10 · 21 May 2019]

The whole episode felt weird. It wasn't good. The jokes were terrible and the whole episode was uncomfortable. As someone who's watched every episode of American Dad this is probably the worst episode they've made.

30 minutes I'll never get back

[baleighhaas · 1/10 · 25 April 2020]

The plot sucks, the jokes suck, and the characters suck. Basically, this is the worst episode of any tv series ever made and if I could give it negative stars, I would in a heartbeat. Just wasted 30 minutes of my life that I'll never get back to watch this train wreck. The seasons are slowly going downhill and have very few laughing moments, but I never thought it could get THIS bad.

Sucks

[jamalsistas · 2/10 · 11 January 2021]

Plot sucks Humor sucks Stan sucks Subplot sucks Fung Wah sucks Just Sucks

American Fung weird

[michaelvirgin · 5/10 · 20 October 2016]

I am a big fan of American dad and most episodes but this one kind of confused me and was not as funny as other episodes. Why you ask? Because I feel like I am watching a inside joke between two people who expect me to know what that joke is. This episode fell short and was a disappointment.

Why should I care about this fung person? Is he real or are they making fun of a imaginary person. Are they making fun of how china is buying everything of ours or ? Again Confused.

I like Seth Macfarlane a lot and his sense of humor is dead on for mine but I am not even sure if Seth helped write this episode.

I LOVE FUNG WAH ! ! !

[potatopirate-69039 · 10/10 · 10 May 2021]

I don't care what any one else says, I loved fung wah! I think he's charming and endearing 💚

I would have preferred the mediocre plot

[evoapollo · 1/10 · 12 August 2022]

Why did was the fung wah propaganda necessary? I would've enjoyed a cliche mediocre story of stan forgetting his anniversary again because I know at least it would be funny to watch. This? I'd rather watch the news with popcorn than this boring episode.

Awful

[louisapaige · 1/10 · 7 October 2018]

Worst episode ever. Constant chinese man with stupid adverts was really annoying. No point to the whole episode.

Is it a plane? Is it a social experiment? How cares

[peterkowalski · 1/10 · 25 November 2015]

One could find elaborate words to describe how awful that episode was, but since the makes didn't put any effort in it, one shouldn't either. The episode was undeniably, painfully and idiotically unfunny, boring and uninspiring - and racist on top of everything. If there was any grander meaning behind it all -apart from China buying out USA, yes, I think we all got that- I missed it. I understand how sorrow and bitter it was supposed to be, but it wasn't enough to be a political commentary and nothing else was there to make it a comedy. It didn't make me think, it didn't make me laugh, it didn't make me feel anything. Which is about the worst thing someone else's creation can do to you.

Racist and Stigmatic to Mental Health - Minus the Comedy

[jarkuven · 1/10 · 14 August 2020]

There were honestly no redeeming qualities with this episode. It was simply derogatory to be derogatory, and didn't even attempt to be humorous. I couldn't help but think 'This is what sets apart American Dad and Southpark comedy'. Whereas Southpark can use obsurd or lewd situations to point out irony, this was purely insensitive and falls on lame, overmilked tropes of the 'looney bin' and 'capitalism corrupting media'. I know its 2020 now, but even in 2015, this would have been unremarkable. I honestly have no idea what the team and writers were thinking producing this episode - it must have been such a disappointment.