Plot: What’s it about?
Peter Griffin has been through it all, he found he was black, he became beautiful, he lost all the bones in his body, his show was canceled, the guy has had it rough. But he never gives up and even if it means fighting a chicken up and down the street, this is one guy who refuses to not make a scene. His wife Lois has a past of sexual freedom, his son Chris has a bigger penis than he does, his dog Brian is smarter than he is, and his son Stewey despises him. Oh and his daughter Meg, well the less said the better. Peter and his family have gotten into all kinds of new adventures, as Peter discovers his biological father, Stewey discovers the joys of being tan, and Brian discovers military service isn’t that all its cracked up to be. But these are some just some of the tales that await in this new collection of episodes, Family Guy: Volume Five.
I love this show. I know the stories are thin and the constant pop culture references mask the show’s lack of depth, I just don’t care because the series is hilarious. No other show is as unpredictable, random, or off the wall, Family Guy might not have depth, but it has plenty of laughs. In this tenth volume of episodes, the show continues to push the limits of good taste and skewer any sacred cows within reach. The later seasons of Family Guy have also housed some epic episodes that feature enhanced animation and surreal moments, a trend that also continues here. I wouldn’t call this tenth volume my favorite collection of episodes, but it has a lot of laughs and memorable dialogue. In other words, these episodes aren’t going to win over holdouts, but fans will find a lot to enjoy with these tales. As usual, the episodes are presented uncensored and some episodes are extended versions, so fans will have a lot of fun with those elements. So if you’re a Family Guy devotee, then of course you will want to add Volume Ten to your collection, as this is more of the same Griffin goodness.
Video: How does it look?
The episodes are presented in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen. The show looks great here, very clear and with no problems to mention. The colors are vivid and bold, with no bleeds, while contrast is deep and stark. These episodes look excellent.
Audio: How does it sound?
I didn’t expect much in this department, but the Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtracks come through with some unexpected presence. Not presence as in raw power, but for an animated series like this, the soundtrack is more dynamic than I anticipated. There is frequent directional presence and very creative use of the surrounds, so the audio design wasn’t an afterthought for this series. The music has good life and sound effects are well handled, while dialogue is crisp and clean with no problems. This release also includes subtitles in English, French, and Spanish.
Supplements: What are the extras?
In addition to audio comments on select episodes, the extras include deleted scenes, two featurettes, the Adam West star ceremony, and some animatics.
