Ep 18. E. Peterbus Unum

Peter Griffin is at it again with his shenanigans in the season 2 episode 18 of Family Guy titled "E. Peterbus Unum". The episode opens with Peter arriving home with a tax rebate check of $1500 and decides to build a replica of the American Civil War in his backyard. With his newfound wealth, Peter is feeling quite patriotic and even goes as far as creating his own country, "Petoria", in his backyard.

Things spiral out of control as Petoria's expansionism becomes a concern for the United States government and the neighboring towns. The episode is a satirical take on imperialism and foreign policy. Petoria takes a route of isolationism, denying access to other nations, and this attracts the attention of the United States government. Eventually, Lois realizes how Peter's little endeavor is causing more harm than good and tries to put a stop to it.

Meanwhile, Stewie has taken an interest in Brian's girlfriend Jillian. Stewie tries to sabotage Jillian's relationship with Brian, believing that she's not right for Brian. With his usual machiavellian ways, Stewie tries to make Jillian feel unwelcome in the house, even going as far as pretending to be gay in a bid to make her uncomfortable. The showdown between Stewie and Jillian culminates in a hilarious and unexpected confrontation.

In "E. Peterbus Unum", we get to see the usual Family Guy antics while also offering biting political commentary. Throughout the episode, Peter's stubbornness and hubris are on display as he tries to avoid taking responsibility for his actions. Despite the episode being tongue-in-cheek with its portrayal of imperialism, there's an underlying message on how individualism can have a detrimental impact on the community and how one's actions can have far-reaching consequences.

Despite the heavy themes in the episode, there is still a good amount of humor to be found. The Family Guy's absurd humor, satirical jabs, and poignant gags keep the audience entertained. One of the standout scenes includes a presidential press conference featuring Peter. The gag is executed to perfection and quite frankly, it's hilarious.

In "E. Peterbus Unum", we also see some character development on the part of Brian and Jillian's relationship. The episode gives us an insight into their relationship, which up until this point had not been well explored. The episode also shows us a more vulnerable side of Stewie where he is trying to find his place in the household and come to terms with his sexuality.

Overall, "E. Peterbus Unum" stands out as one of the best episodes of season 2. It highlights some of the show's greatest strengths such as its political commentary, social commentary, and risque humor. It also showcases the writers' knack for creating complex characters and entertaining storylines. The episode's depiction of Petoria's political system is amusingly scathing and makes for a hilarious satire on individualism and imperialism.

In sum, "E. Peterbus Unum" is a perfect example of Family Guy's uncanny ability to mix social commentary with absurdist humor in a way that is simultaneously thoughtful and entertaining. The episode offers an insightful commentary on political and social issues while still delivering the laughs. If you're a fan of Family Guy or if you're looking for a good laugh, this episode is definitely worth a watch.