American Dad! - 10 Most Uncomfortable Episodes

As it's well known by now, Seth MacFarlane's universe of adult animation is pretty darn blasé when it comes to sensitive and off-colour topics. Fans are very much aware of this going in, especially with MacFarlane's flagship show, Family Guy, having run for over 20 years now.

American Dad! goes for a somewhat more nuanced kind of humour than Family Guy, but in terms of irreverence is basically the same. Even then, though, the occasional episode may still prove a little too much for even the most callous of viewers.

The subject matter is often designed to offend - or, at least, to explore themes other shows would consider too controversial - so a risqué joke or two here and there isn't going to unsettle American Dad! fans.

It's the sheer skin-crawling awkwardness injected into these select few episodes that really get to us, and no matter how much of an avid Dadder you claim to be, sitting through such discomforting scenes can sometimes feel like the longest 20 minutes of your life.

Stan Smith is a famously proud person, and, as the archetypal all-American everyman, is very conscious of his outward reputation, which he believes is reflected in his family.

So when his son, Steve, doesn't seem to be growing up into the go-getting jock that Stan wants him to be, the man reflects on his own childhood, realising that it took being bullied to toughen him up.

From this, Stan concludes that Steve needs a bully of his own, and who better to star in his utterly fool proof plan? Why, himself... of course.

While the concept itself is nothing but humorous, the nature of bullying plays out weirdly accurately here. Steve is afraid to go to school, walk around town, or even tell his teachers who is bullying him for fear of harsher treatment by said bully.

If you've ever experienced bullying first-hand, these scenes will certainly hit home, despite them being used for comedic purposes.