Think about "Petarded" (Episode 6). Peter discovers he is mentally disabled, wins a game of Trivial Pursuit, and then nearly boils Meg in a hot dog water bath. The cutaways come so fast and so weird that they become a rhythm of their own. This is the season that gave us the "Cleveland Brown's Passover" song, the "You have the right to remain silent" fart joke, and the introduction of the vile, hilarious "Greased-up Deaf Guy." If you are skipping around the "Complete Season 4" DVD or Hulu playlist, you cannot miss these three pillars:
In Season 4, Stewie doesn't lose his edge (he still has the death ray), but he gains something crucial: ambiguity . We get the first hints that he might actually love Lois. The episode "Stu and Stewie's Excellent Adventure" (a spoiler-heavy time travel gem) adds layers to his character that turn him from a gag into a protagonist. Plus, his dynamic with Brian solidifies from "annoying pet" to "alcoholic best friend." Without Season 4, you don't get the Stewie we know today. Seasons 1-3 had cutaways, but they were slow burns. Season 4 injects them with pure uncut chaos. Family Guy - Season 4 -Complete-
Have a favorite Season 4 memory? Did you cry laughing during the "Kool-Aid Man" cameo in "Petarded"? Let me know in the comments below! "Family Guy - Season 4 - Complete" is available on DVD, Hulu, and Disney+ (Star). Think about "Petarded" (Episode 6)