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Recap / American Dad S 2 E 15 With Friends Like Steves

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Stan takes a liking to Steve's friend Barry, who turns out to actually be a psychopath.


Tropes:

  • Bait-and-Switch: Stan says that his fingerprint analysis has identified the person who destroyed his plates. Then it shows that the computer monitor he was looking at was only saying that the test was complete, and he has to look at a second monitor to see it's Steve who apparently destroyed them.
  • Chekhov's Skill: Steve uses the skills that Stan taught him — speaking to dolphins and instantly stealing people's clothes — in order to escape the prison. For bonus points, Steve had earlier described these skills as useless.
  • Evil Brit: Without his "vitamins", Barry starts speaking in a British accent.
  • "Flowers for Algernon" Syndrome: Inverted. Barry is only stupid as a side effect of a medication he regularly takes. This medication intentionally keeps him stupid because he's secretly a brilliant psychopath.
  • Frame-Up: Barry frames Steve for destroying Stan's commemorative plate collection so that no one will be between them.
  • Lazy Bum: After partying with the fraternity, Roger tries to go to bed but they tell him as a Pledge, he needs to clean. He immediately spits in the face of the Brother who told him so and leaves.
  • No Medication for Me: Barry becomes a crazed diabolical mastermind with a menacing British accent when off his meds.
  • Shout-Out:
    • Stan and Barry recreate one of the guerrilla scenes from Red Dawn (1984) by attacking a girls' tea party.
    • Steve tries to get Barry to take his "vitamins" by using the same poisoned cup trick from The Princess Bride. Barry even mentions the film, noting that Steve has seen it.

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