2024 Family Guy
holiday special, ‘The Gift of the White Guy,’ features the same irreverent comedy the show has become known for, without anything too special. That’s not to say the episode is bad, it has plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, but in a series with well over 400 episodes, it becomes a challenge just to improve. And with many holiday specials over the last 25 years, this episode is no exception.
In “The White Guy’s Gift,” Peter chooses a gift for the white elephant in his office, a Christmas brooch that has deep sentimental value for his wife, Lois. Of course, when Lois discovers her brooch is missing, Peter is forced to try to get it back. Meanwhile, Stewie discovers he is still on Santa’s naughty list and sets out to make things right.
Family Guy’s 2024 Holiday Special Isn’t That Special
Family Guy became famous for his brand of offbeat adult comedy. The Griffin family is prone to disaster and there is always something strange happening in Quahog. However, this means the show has to put in a lot of effort to make an episode stand out. In typical weekly releases, this isn’t a big deal because the sitcom format is forgiving when episodes vary in quality, but holiday specials are intended to reach a wider audience than usual.
It’s funny, the animation is solid, and the narrative is complete, but it just doesn’t stand out.
Knowing that more people can watch the episode, it’s a chance to win back old viewers and gain new fans, but “The Gift of the White Guy” doesn’t stand out from the rest of the season. Yes, the episode revolves around an office Christmas party and Stewie’s attempts to get on Santa’s good list, but the shenanigans don’t seem notable in any way. However, none of this is to say that the episode isn’t fun. It’s funny, the animation is solid, and the narrative is complete, but it’s just not memorable.
Additionally, this episode is the show’s 25th anniversary, but the episode has a standard length of 22 minutes. Unlike previous episodes that lengthened the runtime, came in two parts, or parodied popular Christmas stories, “The Gift of the White Guy” feels a little lacking. It’s a little disappointing for a show that thrives on creativity and innovation that this episode feels simple and ordinary.
Family Guy is capable of more
In the animated format, the flexibility is enormous and with a talented cast that includes the show’s creator, Seth MacFarlane, the possibilities are endless. This led to incredibly clever and hilarious flashbacks to pivotal story moments and characters in absurd situations. “The White Guy’s Gift” uses this tactic well, as well as cutting to the North Pole and Santa’s Workshop. These brief scenes add texture to the episode and provide clever sketches.
Unlike some holiday specials, audiences are unlikely to get into the Christmas spirit because it seems superficially connected to the holiday.
Furthermore, the story shows Stewie experiencing real growth in a way that feels satisfying. The episode also pushes the comedy at every opportunity, ensuring there’s some joke every minute. But even with all that, the episode feels lacking. There are sparks that fly when one Family Guy episode is very strong, but it’s entirely absent here. Instead, it feels like one of the least solid episodes of season 22.
However, over 400 episodes in, Family Guy continues to deliver strong episodes that are outrageously funny, topical, and willing to push boundaries. It seems like “The Gift of the White Guy” is somewhere in the middle of the pack. It’s not a great episode and it’s not a bad episode. And unlike some holiday specials, audiences are unlikely to get into the Christmas spirit because it seems superficially connected to the holiday. Perhaps Family Guy will perform better in 2025 or avoid the special holiday altogether if the idea isn’t strong enough.
Family GuyThe Gift of the White Guy,” will be available to stream exclusively on Hulu starting November 25th.
- The 2024 Christmas Special features many of the same beloved comedy beats.
- There is almost nothing that stands out or makes this episode special and different from the other 400+ episodes.