Oedipal Panties

Infobox American Dad! episode
Title =Oedipal Panties
Series =American Dad!


Caption =Stan supports his mother
Season =3
Episode =11
Airdate =January 27, 2008
Production =3AJN09
Writer =David Hemingson
Director =Rodney Clouden
Guests =Swoosie Kurtz
newspaper_headline = "Big Headline; Smaller Print To Follow"
Episode list =List of American Dad! episodes
Season list = Infobox_American_Dad!_Season_3
Prev =Tearjerker
Next =Widowmaker

Oedipal Panties is an episode of the television program "American Dad!". It originally aired on January 27, 2008 as the eleventh episode in the third season of the show.

Plot

Francine is excited to spend some time with Stan after he comes home from a mission, but is dismayed to learn that his mother, Betty, is coming over as well after being apparently stood up by her boyfriend; this is not the first time that this has happened, for her boyfriends disappear on average three times a years at the third date, and she always turns to Stan for support in these situations. Francine feels threatened by Betty’s presence, as Stan gives her all the attention. She complains to Roger, who doesn't understand what the big deal is until he sees Stan wash Betty, in the bathtub. There is no sense in talking to Stan about this since he never admits it, so Francine and Roger decide to get Betty hooked up once and for all. Roger decides to research what went wrong with Betty's other relationships so that no mistakes will be made this time, while Francine finds a suitor: a Greek deli owner named Hercules, who is moving on from a personal tragedy of his own, and a good friend of Francine's.

Francine introduces Betty to Hercules, and they are so charmed with each other that they start dating. After two dates, Roger informs Francine that he has concluded that Betty is in fact a black widow who kills her boyfriends on their third dates. Francine tries to tell Stan, but he won't believe her. Seeing as how they are about to go on their third date, Francine and Roger go undercover to protect Hercules. At a restaurant, Hercules goes to the bathroom and Betty follows, after which Hercules is assaulted and drugged by a dark assailant. Francine manages to save Hercules and track down the assailant who, as it turns out, is actually Stan.

Stan reveals that he abducted every man that Betty has ever gone out with (he says it is the "only rational thing to do") so that they do not break her heart like his father did when he left her, and so that he can be close to her. He does not kill them, however; rather, he leaves them stranded on an uncharted island. At this time, Hercules has come to and invites Betty on a plane trip to Greece. Francine and Stan give chase, though Stan is slowed down by traffic, giving Francine the lead and allowing her to board the plane in time.

Stan manages to stow aboard the plane through the toilet (traumatizing a boy who was using an airplane bathroom for the first time) and learns that Hercules has just proposed to Betty. Stan tries to kill Hercules, but is stopped by Betty, who explains that Hercules makes her happy. She also explains that she does not need all of his loving attention, and that he should focus it more on his wife. As Stan would put it, he "reconciles emotionally" with Francine, though he is briefly hindered and beaten by an air marshal. The two couples later enjoy a pleasant cruise in Greece, where Stan steers them clear of the island where all of Betty's previous boyfriends still reside.

Meanwhile, Klaus becomes depressed and complains about how lonely he is, and that he has not come into contact with another human in six years. Steve, out of pity, takes Klaus out of his bowl and pets him. Later, Klaus reveals to Steve that he has Ich, and that Steve is infected. As a result, his friends keep away from him in fear that they will be infected as well, so Steve starts spending time with Klaus instead. Eventually Steve discovers that there is a cure for Ich at the pet store, though he also discovers that Klaus knew there was a cure all along; it turns out that Klaus faked his depression and had Steve infected in an insane attempt to spend more time with him alone. As Steve leaves, Klaus tries the same thing on Hayley. Hayley pets him, though she openly wonders if fish can get herpes.

Cultural references

* When Stan's mother comes home, she says she had to watch the whole movie alone after her boyfriend left. She says it was "Adam Sandler and a remote control, I didn't know what was happening." She was referring to Click.

*Roger's disguise while Betty visits is Cousin Oliver from the Brady Bunch, although he calls himself "Phil" instead of "Oliver".

*Stan's actions of abducting his mother's dates may be a reference to "Psycho", where Norman Bates killed his mother and her new boyfriend out of jealousy after she started dating.

*After Roger sees Stan bathing with his mother, Francine tells him "I told you it was complicated", referring to Stan and Betty's relationship. Roger then replies "No, no, changing planes at O'Hare is complicated."

*If you look closely, you can see that a Yautja suit in Roger's closet. He previously wore it in "Joint Custody".

Notes

* In the DVD commentary for the season one episode A Smith in the Hand, there was a mention of having an "American Dad" episode where Stan is attached to his mother in an almost sexual way (with Francine being jealous).
* Hayley appeared twice in this episode (once when Steve is asking Stan and Francine if Betty is still crying and again after Klaus yells at Steve) and only had one speaking part (when she's comforting Klaus and wonders if fish are susceptible to catching herpes).
*It is mentioned in this episode that Roger is going to be sober this month and that it is his "white month", however Roger goes back to drinking after seeing Stan wash his mother in the tub.