Family Guy’s Shocking Twist: Brian’s Death and Resurrection!

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The popular animated series, Family Guy, is gearing up for Season 23’s premiere later this month. One daring move they might not repeat is the death of the Griffin family pet, Brian. Unlike most shows, Family Guy doesn’t stick to a strict storyline as Peter can do anything he pleases in any given episode, with everything returning to normal by the end. However, one event that stands out for fans even after all these years is when the show took such a risk.

In the twelfth season episode titled “Life of Brian,” the creators of Family Guy chose to end the life of character Brian Griffin. This dramatic event resonated deeply with viewers and generated significant discussion, marking one of the most talked-about moments for the show at that time. The impact of this death lingered for a while, shaping the subsequent episodes as a new character, Vinny, was introduced to fill Brian’s role. So, what prompted the creative team to kill off Brian temporarily and then revive him later? They did so merely because they had the freedom to do so.

Why Did Family Guy Kill Off Brian?

In the comedy “Life of Brian,” the characters Brian and Stewie prepare to play street hockey. However, when Stewie runs back inside for his protective knee pads, Brian is hit by a car and eventually passes away at the hospital. Just prior to this incident, Stewie confesses that he destroyed his time machine due to recurring mishaps whenever they utilized it. Consequently, he couldn’t reverse Brian’s death, marking one of the most enduring changes in the main cast of “Family Guy.” Although other characters like Mr. Weed had been killed earlier in the series, this was the first time a key character was truly imperiled.

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Regarding the reason behind their action, Seth MacFarlane, the creator of the “Family Guy” series, mentioned in an interview (as reported by Rolling Stone) that the primary objective was to increase ratings and make viewers aware that anything can occur on the show, even after many seasons. Interestingly, those involved didn’t anticipate such a strong negative reaction following Brian’s death, as they hadn’t expected fans to be so upset about it.

Why Did Family Guy Bring Brian Back?

Eventually, the death of Brian in “Family Guy” caused quite a commotion, yet he only remained deceased for approximately three episodes before resurfacing in “Christmas Guy” during Season 12. This particular event sparked intense reactions among fans, as MacFarlane himself admitted that the team was taken aback by the level of anger. He commented, “We were all surprised, in a positive way, that people still felt so strongly about Brian’s character to be this angry.” They hadn’t anticipated such fervor in response to his demise.

The contentious choice of replacing Brian after his demise may not have been beneficial in these situations. Following Brian’s passing, Peter and the family welcomed Vinny (voiced by Tony Sirico) into their fold, who appeared for a few episodes before being erased from the timeline when Stewie reversed Brian’s death. Despite this temporal setback, Vinny eventually had a happy resolution in the Season 15 episode “The Boys in the Band,” where he took over as Brian’s replacement in Olivia’s children’s band. It’s quite a complex storyline!

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Looking back on things, I can’t help but reflect on how “Family Guy” took Brian off the scene, demonstrating their audacity to push boundaries. This daring move, a significant milestone in the series’ extensive run, has become a cherished moment among fans. Initially, it sparked a wave of fury, but with time, it seems like an integral part of the show’s identity. It’s been a while since they’ve taken such a bold step, but with Season 23 on the horizon, we might be witnessing a change in that pattern sooner than anticipated.

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2025-02-06 05:12