Ep 1. Death Has a Shadow

Peter Griffin, an overweight, bumbling, and unpopular man, struggles to make ends meet while supporting his wife Lois and their three equally oddball children, Meg, Chris, and Stewie. In the pilot episode, "Death Has a Shadow," Peter gets fired from his job at the Happy Go Lucky Toy Factory for drinking on the job. Desperate to support his family, Peter comes up with a scheme to get welfare by claiming that he has a household full of children. However, when he realizes that he accidentally agreed to undergo a vasectomy, Peter panics and tries to hide the truth from his family.

Meanwhile, Stewie, the family's youngest member, proves to be far more than just a typical baby. Stewie is a highly intelligent and diabolical genius, with a British accent to boot. In "Death Has a Shadow," Stewie unveils his latest invention – a time machine that he plans to use to find his future adult self, who can then give him the tools he needs to take over the world. Stewie's time machine is a highlight of the episode, featuring a retro-futuristic design reminiscent of the time-traveling DeLorean from "Back to the Future."

As the episode goes on, Peter's lies begin to unravel. He is caught by his boss at the toy factory, who offers him his old job back, but only if he agrees to do something unspeakable. Meanwhile, the welfare office calls to inform Peter that an inspector will be coming to verify his claims about having children. Chaos ensues as Peter tries to keep up his charade, with hilarious consequences.

Amidst the wacky shenanigans, "Death Has a Shadow" also tackles some heavier themes, such as the struggles of blue-collar workers and the complicated bureaucracy of government welfare programs. However, the show's irreverent sense of humor and willingness to push boundaries makes even these serious topics feel absurd and comedic.

Overall, Family Guy's first episode sets the tone for the show's signature mix of satire, pop culture references, and zany antics. The dysfunctional but lovable Griffin family is a perfect vehicle for the show's social commentary and humor, and "Death Has a Shadow" introduces each member with distinct personalities that will be developed over the course of the series. With a solid pilot episode under its belt, Family Guy quickly became a cultural phenomenon and one of the most beloved animated comedies of all time.