Ep 3. Buck, Wild

In American Dad season 9 episode 3 - Buck, Wild, the Smith family goes on a trip to a rodeo in Montana after Steve wins a contest to be a rodeo announcer. Along the way, they meet a cowboy named Buckle and his son, who become fast friends with the family. However, it is soon revealed that Buckle is actually an escaped convict who has been on the run for years, and the Smiths find themselves in danger as they try to protect Buckle and his son from the police.

The episode opens with Steve and his friends watching a rodeo on TV and dreaming of becoming rodeo announcers. Their dreams become a reality when they enter a contest and Steve wins. The family decides to make a road trip out of it, with Hayley driving the car and Francine in the passenger seat, reminiscing about her own wild past.

As they reach Montana, they come across a cowboy named Buckle and his son, who are going to the same rodeo they are. The Smith family becomes fast friends with Buckle and his son, who teach them the ways of the cowboy life. They ride rodeo bulls, shoot guns, lasso cows, and have campfire dinners under the stars. However, as they grow closer, Buckle reveals his past as an escaped convict who had skipped bail.

Despite his past, the Smith family continues to befriend Buckle and his son, even as they become entangled with the police who are on the hunt for Buckle. The family tries to help Buckle avoid getting caught, all while trying to enjoy their vacation and not get into any trouble of their own.

The episode is full of slapstick humor, with the family getting into all sorts of ridiculous situations as they try to protect Buckle and his son. Steve has a hilarious running gag of constantly misidentifying wild animals, mistaking a bear for a dog and a mountain lion for a large house cat.

As the episode progresses, tension mounts as the police close in on Buckle, and the family realizes that their vacation may not end up as relaxing as they had hoped. They are forced to make a difficult decision when Buckle suggests they help him cross the border into Canada, but they ultimately decide to stay loyal to their friendship and help Buckle turn himself in.

Overall, the episode is a heartwarming but hilarious lesson about loyalty and friendship. Despite the many setbacks they face, the Smith family sticks together and learns important lessons about trust, honesty, and bravery. Buck, Wild is a fantastic episode of American Dad that will leave viewers laughing and cheering for the Smiths.