Joe's Revenge

"Joe's Revenge" is the fifth episode of the eleventh season of the animated comedy series Family Guy. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on November 18, 2012.

Plot

While watching Quahog 5 News at The Drunken Clam, Peter, Joe, and Quagmire hear that notorious heroin mogul Bobby "The Shirt" Briggs--an apparent reference to the Twin Peaks character of the same name, who began a minor drug-running operation in high school--has finally been caught after fifteen years on the run. Admitting to lying about being crippled in a fight with The Grinch on the roof of an orphanage (as seen in "A Hero Sits Next Door"), Joe reveals the truth: after being outed in an undercover infiltration of the heroin operation, Joe was shot by Briggs point-blank in the legs several times.

A party is held at Joe's home to celebrate the justice and closure he now feels. Joe notes that the previous night was the first night in the past fifteen years he hadn't strangled Bonnie in his sleep. However, breaking news seen at the party reveals that Bobby Briggs has escaped police custody during a prison open house. Joe is irate and goes to the Chief of Police demanding to be placed on the case. He is turned down as the Chief of Police states that Joe is "too close to the case" and assigns the job to two police officers that aren't close to the case. Back at The Drunken Clam, Joe expresses his lament. Seeing his friend's anguish, Peter volunteers himself and Quagmire as backup on a mission to catch Briggs. Despite misgivings about police protocol, Joe agrees to the plan and reveals that he has an entire room in his house full of information on Bobby Briggs. They decide to head first to Atlantic City, where works a stripper who is known to have had a relationship with Bobby Briggs.

Before the trio departs, Quagmire leaves with Lois his newest cat Principessa (a full-blooded Persian cat), and very exacting instructions about caring for it.

In Atlantic City, the trio find Bobby Briggs's old girlfriend at a strip club. When Joe's direct questioning fails, Quagmire cites his ability to communicate with strippers and extracts Bobby Briggs's exact address through a sexual osmosis he calls the "Vulcan V meld".

Back in Quahog, Brian becomes jealous of the attention Quagmire's cat gets and gives. When Chris proclaims cats to be better than dogs, Brian is injured trying to prove that dogs also always land on their feet.

In Atlantic City, the three easily locate Bobby Briggs's apartment. Joe is able to confront Briggs who nonetheless escapes after throwing a quilt into Joe's face. A rooftop chase ensues which results in Joe's being able to survive being dropped several stories by landing directly on his legs. Nonetheless, Bobby Briggs is able to escape by hiding behind the bus on a suddenly appearing Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Joe, Quagmire, and Peter are then arrested by two police officers for interfering with the case. Joe realizes that the arresting police officers are corrupt and have been involved with hiding Bobby Briggs. Quagmire manages to free them from handcuffs using a combination of his Swiss Army Penis and acetylene torch penis, and the three steal the police cruiser. Peter reveals that he has been saving (for a trip scrapbook) a phone number he picked up at Bobby Briggs's apartment. Joe recognizes the area code as being for Juárez, Mexico, and the three jet off for El Paso in an attempt to head off Bobby Briggs.

Back in Quahog, Principessa is seen pawing at a sleeping Lois's breasts. Brian attempts to subtly substitute his own paws for the cat's, but Lois awakens. Brian knocks her out with a lamp and drives off in jealousy of the cat.

Having reached the border, Joe, Peter, and Quagmire wait in the scorching heat until they realize it may be days until Bobby Briggs arrives, as he is presumably traveling by car. After passing some time at El Paso's Pershing House, the trio check traffic until Bobby Briggs arrives. Joe gives chase as Bobby Briggs jumps into the Rio Grande and he is eventually able to get Bobby Briggs at gunpoint. He shoots Bobby Briggs in the legs after a speech about the consequences of being crippled. He only intends to cripple Bobby Briggs as revenge, but Bobby Briggs bleeds to death through his femoral artery. Quagmire then nonchalantly kicks Bobby Briggs's corpse into the river to carry it away to Mexico.

Joe, Peter, and Quagmire return to Quahog and Joe thanks the others for risking their lives for him. Peter and Quagmire then notice blood dripping out of Joe's pant leg and Joe replies that he "had a ball blown in the river" as the episode ends.

Reception

"Joe's Revenge" was watched by 5.14 million viewers on its premiere night, acquiring a 2.6/6 share. ^[1] The A.V. Club gave the episode a B, calling it "significantly funnier than last week’s 'Yug Ylimaf,' which never found its rhythm." ^[2]

References