[s12e16] Herpe The Love Sore ✦ Legit & Simple

: This analysis ranks the episode among the show's most controversial due to its "mean-spirited" A-plot involving Brian intentionally spreading an STD and the B-plot involving military veterans bullying the main cast. Thematic Elements for Potential Research

: The B-plot, in which soldiers bully Peter and his friends and are hailed as heroes despite their behavior, serves as a dark satire on the "unquestioned reverence" given to the U.S. military. [S12E16] Herpe the Love Sore

: Eric Thurm of the AV Club provides a detailed critique, arguing that while the episode relies on a strong "Brian and Stewie" relationship dynamic, it ultimately falls into "unnecessarily shocking" territory with its graphic depiction of herpes. : This analysis ranks the episode among the