The 24th season of Family Guy premieres with its milestone 450th episode on February 15, featuring a long-awaited moment where Lois understands Stewie after they get stoned. Executive producers highlight the episode's focus on their complex relationship history. The plot involves mishaps with cannabis gummies leading to unexpected interactions.
Family Guy reaches a significant milestone with its 450th episode, airing as the season 24 premiere on Fox at 9:30 p.m. on Sunday, February 15. In this installment, Lois Griffin suddenly comprehends her infant son Stewie's speech, enabled by herbal assistance that leaves them with bloodshot eyes.
The episode delves into the intricacies of their relationship, which has spanned 23 seasons without direct communication. Executive producer Richard Appel described the third act as "a two-character play," where they discuss "the history of their relationship, Stewie's desire to kill her, his opinion of her, hers of him, their approach to life, and similarities they might have."
Alec Sulkin, another executive producer, called it "one of my favorite episodes," noting that "the audience went crazy for it" during a live table read at Los Angeles' Kodak Theatre. Appel explained the timing: "It's so much more satisfying that we didn't do this in Season 3 or 4. We've had 449 episodes to establish all the intricacies and realities of Lois and Stewie's relationship, resentments, and past experiences."
The story begins with Brian visiting a dispensary and bringing home gummies. Stewie mistakes them for candy and consumes them, leading to Lois being deemed an unfit parent. Consequently, Stewie enters temporary foster care with the Swansons, opening opportunities for fresh character pairings in the show's expansive cast of around 50 characters.
Sulkin emphasized the appeal of such unexpected dynamics: "There's always these interesting pairings that you hadn't thought of before, to see how they play out." This episode promises a satisfying payoff for fans after years of buildup.