Road to the Multiverse

"Road to the Multiverse"

"Road to the Multiverse" (Episode #7ACX06) is the season premiere of the eighth season of the American animated series Family Guy. The episode aired on September 27, 2009 on Fox. It is Brian and Stewie's fifth road adventure, following "Road to Rhode Island", "Road to Europe", "Road to Rupert" and "Road to Germany". The episode is inspired by the TV show Sliders, which focused on alternate realities. The original title for the episode was "Sliders".

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Cultural references

The Flintstones universe shows Peter and Lois bearing a distinct resemblance to Fred and Wilma Flintstone, respectively. The sequence is complete with laugh track and sound effects. The two characters hold a brief conversation, pertaining to them having sex the previous night, replacing various foul phrases with the word rock. Peter makes a joke referencing prophylactics, and produces a frog that says, "I'm 'ribbited' for your pleasure," breaking the fourth wall and referencing the one liners the Flintstones' animal technology would state when being used. This is a reference to a running gag within the Flintstones, where various household utilities are animals. Brian and Stewie agree to "get the rock out of there."

The Robot Chicken universe is a reference to Seth Green, who is the creator of Robot Chicken and voices Chris Griffin. Stewie even asks RC Chris "How does it feel to be on a major network for 30 seconds?", to his frustration, before he and Brian escape the universe, a reference to it being part of the Adult Swim lineup on Cartoon Network, a cable channel. There are also cameos by Duke, He-Man, Lion-O, and Optimus Prime.

In the Disney universe many Disney cliches are employed. The characters break into the song "It's a Wonderful Day for Pie." Family Guy characters are designed to resemble famous characters from Disney movies: Lois as Snow White, Peter as Doc from Snow White (or perhaps Smee from Peter Pan), Meg as Ursula from The Little Mermaid, Chris is eating honey from a beehive like Winnie the Pooh, Joe as a coffee pot similar to the Mrs. Potts from Beauty and the Beast, Cleveland as Flower the Skunk from Bambi, news anchor Tom Tucker as Brer Rabbit from Song of the South, Glenn Quagmire as a bird, Mayor Adam West as a mouse, the barbershop quartet as bees, Bruce as Tinker Bell and as a surprise, Herbert as the witch from Snow White makes an appearance. Brian comments on how perfect this universe is, as Mort enters wearing a Star of David. All the occupants (except Brian and Stewie) turn angrily and snarl "Jeeeeeeew!" then beat Mort to death. That was a reference to Walt Disney's alleged anti-Semitism.

In the universe where humans are subservient to dogs, a dog-policeman tells Brian to put Stewie on a leash. When Brian is about to do so, Stewie says, "Take your stinking paws off me you damn dirty dog!", which is a reference to a scene in Planet of the Apes.

When Stewie hopes that their "next leap will be the leap home", it is a reference to the opening sequence in the series Quantum Leap.

When Stewie shows Brian the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in the world without Christianity, it is revealed the ceiling was plastered in pictures of Jodie Foster as a child star by John Hinckley Jr.

In an alternate history universe, it is revealed that World War III occurred due to Frank Sinatra not being born and his influence not being able to help elect John F. Kennedy (referring to the singer's friendship with Kennedy before and during the 1960 Presidential Election) causing Richard M. Nixon to win and botch the Cuban Missile Crisis. On a related note with this reality, Lee Harvey Oswald had assassinated Mayor McCheese.

In another alternate history universe, it is revealed that Japan won World War II due to the fact that the U.S. never dropped the atomic bomb and the fact that Japan would never surrender.

Reception

On the night it aired, the episode was watched in 10.2 million homes, and had a Nielsen rating of 5.7/9.

Ahsan Haque of IGN gave the episode 9.6/10 saying that "With plenty of memorable lines, some truly stunning animation (even a great live action sequence with Stewie and Brian as a real baby and dog), and a relentless non-stop barrage of witty jokes, "Road to the Multiverse" not only manages to stand up to every other great "Road to…" episode, but is right up there with the best of the early episodes we've seen on the series. This episode absolutely sets the bar extremely high for the coming season."

Music

The song that plays as Brian is checking out Meg from the Universe with no Christianity is "Drop Dead Legs" from Van Halen's 1984 album 1984.