Ep 22. With Friends like Steve's

With Friends Like Steve's is the 22nd episode of the first season of American Dad. The episode's plot focuses on Stan's teenage son, Steve, who, after being humiliated by a group of popular kids at school, decides to become friends with the school's resident cool kid, Barry. However, things quickly take a turn for the worse when Steve starts to become a bad influence on Barry, leading to a string of bad decisions and trouble with the law.

The episode begins with Steve, who is desperate to be accepted by the popular kids at school, trying to impress them with his skateboard tricks. Despite his best efforts, Steve is mocked and humiliated by the group, leaving him feeling more isolated than ever before. Meanwhile, Stan is concerned that his son is spending too much time alone and decides to take matters into his own hands.

After some detective work, Stan discovers that Barry is the most popular kid in Steve's school and decides to encourage his son to make friends with him in the hope that it will improve his social standing. At first, Steve is hesitant, but when Barry invites him to a party, he jumps at the chance.

The party is wild and chaotic, and Steve quickly realizes that he has absolutely nothing in common with Barry or his friends. However, he is too desperate to fit in to care and decides to stick around, even as the situation becomes increasingly dangerous.

The next day, Steve tries to impress the popular kids with his new-found knowledge of drugs and alcohol, but his attempts to fit in only end up making him look foolish. However, despite his embarrassing behavior, Barry seems to take a liking to Steve and invites him to hang out with him and his friends after school.

As the days pass, Steve becomes increasingly wrapped up in Barry's world - a world of drugs, alcohol, and petty crime. He starts skipping school, stealing, and getting into fights, all under the influence of his new "friend." Meanwhile, Stan begins to suspect that something is wrong, but is unable to get through to his son.

The situation comes to a head when Steve is caught stealing from a convenience store and is arrested by the police. As he is being led away in handcuffs, Steve realizes that he has made a terrible mistake and that his obsession with fitting in has led him down a dark path.

In the end, Steve is released from jail and is greeted by his family, who are relieved to see him safe and sound. Stan apologizes for not being there for his son and says that he loves him no matter what. The episode ends with Steve realizing that true friendship is not about fitting in or being cool, but about being true to oneself.

Overall, With Friends Like Steve's is a cautionary tale about the dangers of peer pressure and the importance of being true to oneself. It is a powerful episode that explores the complex dynamics of teenage friendships and the impact they can have on a young person's life. With its mix of humor, drama, and heart, this episode is a standout in the first season of American Dad.