The episode kicks off when Peter takes Stewie to a golf course, accidentally leaving him in the sun. Stewie returns with a tan that would make a South Beach influencer jealous and quickly becomes obsessed with maintaining his "bronze".
Getting Your Bronze On: A Look Back at "The Tan Aquatic with Steve Zissou" [S5E11] The Tan Aquatic with Steve Zissou
Naturally, things go south when Brian—supposed to be the responsible one—falls asleep while Stewie is in a tanning bed. After six and a half hours under the UV rays, Stewie is left severely sunburnt and convinced a new mole on his stomach is terminal cancer. Stewie's Bucket List The episode kicks off when Peter takes Stewie
Convinced he is dying, Stewie drags Brian through a series of "final wishes" that highlight the show's love for pop culture deep cuts: After six and a half hours under the
: After much drama, Dr. Hartman confirms it isn't cancer—it's just a mole—prompting Stewie to immediately give up the tanning life. The Bully Subplot
: In a shot-for-shot homage to Ferris Bueller’s Day Off , Stewie stares into Georges Seurat’s "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte".
: He forces Brian to listen to his "dying" poetry, a direct nod to the non-fiction novel.