Ep 17. The Long March

Stan Smith is an over-enthusiastic and patriotic CIA agent who is also a father and husband. He is always trying to balance his duties with his family obligations, but sometimes this results in some hilarious mishaps. In season 14 episode 17, titled "The Long March," the audience gets to see more of Stan's struggles to be both a good agent and a good father.

In the episode, Stan is tasked with taking out an important target in China, but he is hesitant to leave his family behind for a long period of time. He decides to bring his wife Francine and their two children, Steve and Hayley, with him on the mission. However, things quickly take a turn for the worse when they find out that they need to march through the mountains for several days to reach their target.

As they begin their hike, Stan becomes increasingly annoyed with his family's lack of wilderness survival skills. This is especially true for Steve and Hayley, who are more focused on their gadgets and social media than taking the mission seriously. Francine, on the other hand, is determined to prove to Stan that she is just as capable as he is. She even takes charge of the group when Stan becomes sick from eating some bad mushrooms.

Along the way, they encounter various challenges such as a dangerous river crossing and a run-in with Chinese soldiers. They also meet a group of American millennials who are hiking to China to find their "spiritual selves." Stan is disgusted with their lack of patriotism and tries to convince them to join him on his mission.

Despite these obstacles, the Smith family manages to make it to their destination. However, things do not go as planned when they finally confront their target. Stan realizes that he has been set up by a rival agency and is forced to improvise in order to save his family and complete his mission.

"The Long March" is a comedic take on the classic spy mission trope. It showcases the dysfunctional yet endearing relationship between the Smith family members, as they bicker and banter their way through the wilderness. The episode also features plenty of hilarious pop culture references and satirical commentary on modern society. Overall, it is a must-watch for fans of the show and anyone in need of a good laugh.