'Family Guy' Season 10, Episode 20 Recap - 'Leggo My Meg-O'

It's a Meg episode, but don't worry: she isn't in it much.

Meg decides to go take a semester abroad in Paris (apparently high school students can do that?), but ends up getting taken by some sex traffickers. You know, like that movie. Where the girl is taken. Can't remember the name of it...

Anyway, when the FBI fails the Griffins, it's up to Brian and Stewie to go rescue her. What plays out is a fairly accurate spoof of "Taken" (oh, right), only with less Liam Neeson and more dog & baby.

Don't ask me, because I couldn't tell you what possessed these guys to do a "Taken" parody. "Star Wars" I can understand, because it's a classic. Same with "North by Northwest." I guess the writers must have found "Taken" to be as hilarious as I found it to be, and thought a little commentary was in order.

All of the major set pieces are there: the parkour at the airport, taking down the Eastern Europeans at the hideout, the auction, and the lavish yacht. Only there's a twist: Meg is sold to a very young and handsome prince, who is actually quite nice and wants to make all her dreams come true. Then Stewie shoots him in the head and wipes Meg's memory. Oops.

The jokes were a bit sharper this week than usual. The bit about Brian's "Captain Stabbin'" membership was classic "Family Guy" drawn-out material (by the way, yes, that's a real website... I'll spare you having to look it up), and the "car chase GPS" was a pretty good gag as well. Brian's newfound love of killing was a funny moment as well, especially with the culmination of "later, dink!"

Was a "Taken" spoof necessary? No. Did it happen anyway? You betcha, and you can bet that the "Family Guy" writers will do whatever the hell else they want, until the show finally meets a merciful end (I still love you, "Family Guy").

Cut-Aways of the Week:

- Sitting next to a baby on an airplane: B, an unexpected mix of two worn-out jokes makes for one pretty decent one.

- Ethiopian Hoarders: C+, too easy.

- Peter's violin gig: B, if only for the quick cut that made it funnier.

- Army commercials targeting minorities: C, if you're going to make the joke, make it

- Stuffing turkeys: B, you're pretty much guaranteed a laugh with the phrase "butthole bread."