Family Guy chose to surprise its fans, which isn’t what usually happens on animated sitcoms where people laugh a lot and find things funny. In Season 12, a popular character, Brian Griffin, the eloquent and seemingly smart dog of the Griffin family, dies shockingly and dramatically.
It’s shocking, right? The fandom did go crazy, and they were filled with a lot of different feelings. That being said, why did the writers choose to shake up Quahog by killing Brian?
Brian Shocking Demise
It all unfolded in Season 12, Episode 6, ominously titled “Life of Brian.” Brian and Stewie, the odd yet endearing pair, were playing street hockey when tragedy struck. A drunk driver careened around the corner, changing the course of Brian’s fictional existence forever.
The aftermath was heart-wrenching, as Brian succumbed to his injuries at the vet’s office. The Griffin family mourned their talking pet, holding a funeral that left fans mourning the loss of a character they had grown to love.
Why Kill Brian?
While dramas like Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead are no strangers to character deaths, sitcoms rarely venture into such emotional territory. So, why did the Family Guy writers decide to take this unexpected plunge?
Executive producer Steve Callaghan shed light on the decision, explaining that the idea emerged in the writers’ room and gained momentum as a way to “shake things up.” It wasn’t about shock value; it was about exploring how the Griffin family dynamics would evolve post-Brian.
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Enter Vinny – The New Dog in Town
Brian’s demise paved the way for Vinny, the new family dog voiced by Tony Sirico of The Sopranos fame. The switch wasn’t just a replacement; it was a transformation. Vinny’s arrival marked a departure from Brian’s intellectual demeanor, introducing a parody of Italian-American stereotypes. The show’s dynamics shifted, and fans were left wondering how this new character would fit into the Griffin family tapestry.
Brian Resurrection
Just when fans thought Brian was gone for good, the unexpected happened. In “Christmas Guy,” just one episode after Brian’s heartbreaking exit, Stewie stumbled upon his time-traveling self in a toy store. Seizing the opportunity, Stewie brought Brian back to life, and the emotional rollercoaster reached its peak. The reunion was not just a relief for fans; it added a layer of appreciation for Brian’s character that had been sorely missed.
So, did Brian from Family Guy really die? Yes, he did, at least for a brief moment in the show’s tumultuous history. The decision to kill off Brian wasn’t a mere whim but a calculated move to explore uncharted territories in the animated sitcom realm. The shock, the mourning, and the eventual resurrection – it all played out like a scripted drama within the confines of an animated world, leaving fans with an unforgettable chapter in the Family Guy saga.
