'Family Guy' Brings Back Brian Griffin - Video
Credit: FOX
A little over a month ago, Family Guy killed off one of its most popular characters. After Brian Griffin was struck and killed by a car and replaced by a new dog named Vinny (voiced by Tony Sirico), outraged fans lashed out by organizing an online petition calling for Brian's resurrection. But, as it turns out, the fans didn't need to bother.
Brian was brought back on last night's Christmas episode in a storyline that featured Stewie taking possession of a time travel device from an alternate Stewie and rescuing Brian moments before the car struck him. "Thank you for saving my life," Brian says. "A lot of other families would have just gotten another dog and moved on." Of course, with Brian saved, the timeline in which he is killed -- and replaced with Vinny -- no longer exists. As future Stewie fades away, he wishes Brian a Merry Christmas, and it's all strangely touching for a show that often traffics in crassness. But I suppose this was a long time coming (an entire month, you guys). You can watch the full video of Brian's rescue below:
'Family Guy' Brings Back Brian Griffin
Given that Family Guy episodes are written and animated months in advance, Brian's resurrection was not only not motivated by online backlash, but was apparently the plan all along. According to the tweets of creator Seth MacFarlane, the entire death and resurrection of Brian Griffin was meant as a lesson of sorts for the audience:
And thus endeth our warm, fuzzy holiday lesson: Never take those you love for granted, for they can be gone in a flash.
— Seth MacFarlane (@SethMacFarlane) December 16, 2013I mean, you didn't really think we'd kill off Brian, did you? Jesus, we'd have to be fucking high.
— Seth MacFarlane (@SethMacFarlane) December 16, 2013Oh and hey... thanks for caring so much about the canine Griffin. He is overcome with gratitude.
— Seth MacFarlane (@SethMacFarlane) December 16, 2013So while the move to kill Brian was still a bit of a stunt, the end result is a return to the status quo. Now let's see if fans can forgive and forget.