In 2013, “Household Man” launched maybe its most controversial episode but — no, not “Partial Phrases of Endearment,” it was “Lifetime of Brian.” After a seemingly typical opening act, the episode switched gears when Brian was hit by a automobile. There have been no jokes — the Griffins’ grief was handled with virtually complete seriousness in a manner that was fairly jarring to most long-term followers of the collection. The remainder of the episode facilities across the Griffins dealing with their loss by getting a brand new canine, this one named Vinny (Tony Sirico). Stewie initially does not like this new foul-mouthed Italian canine, however he comes round to him by the tip.
Followers weren’t thrilled. Not solely does this episode kill off Brian, however it strikes previous him with virtually offensive velocity. By the next week’s episode, “Into Concord’s Manner,” the present had already embraced this new establishment, having Vinny casually hang around with the household as if he is been there your entire time. Even worse was how “Lifetime of Brian” went out of its solution to make clear that point journey, a typical plot machine within the collection, was now not an possibility; Stewie destroys his time machine proper earlier than Brian’s dying, and makes no try to rebuild it. The episode is usually ranked among the many worst within the present, though I actually selected to not embody it in my record of worst “Household Man” episodes.
To “Household Man” creator Seth MacFarlane, the outrage over Brian’s dying was stunning, however not essentially a foul factor. “We had been all very shocked — in a great way — that folks nonetheless cared about that character to be that offended,” he stated on the time. “It did not happen to us. We thought it could possibly create just a little little bit of a stir, however the rage was not one thing we counted on.”
Brian’s resurrection wasn’t acquired nicely both
Though “Lifetime of Brian” seemingly removed Brian for good, “Household Man” introduced him again two episodes later within the season’s Christmas episode. Stewie goes again in time to push Brian out of the automobile’s path, erasing your entire timeline of the previous two episodes and bringing every little thing again to regular. From that time ahead, it was like Brian’s dying had by no means occurred; Vinny solely confirmed up a couple of times afterward for minor cutaways, however was largely forgotten.
After the episode aired, MacFarlane tweeted, “Thanks for caring a lot in regards to the canine Griffin, he’s overcome with gratitude,” including, “I imply, you did not actually suppose we might kill off Brian, did you? Jesus, we might should be f***ing excessive.” Loads of followers discovered the joke humorous, though loads of others discovered your entire chain of occasions irritating and even insulting. The entire thing appeared like an affordable publicity stunt; why toy with our feelings a lot if none of it truly meant something in the long run?
Nonetheless, MacFarlane thought-about the stunt to be worthwhile. He instructed reporters, “Based mostly on the numbers, it helped as a result of it did what it was designed to do: It reminded folks that that is nonetheless a present the place something can occur even though it has been on for some time.”
The perfect factor to come back out of this stunt was Vinny
My ideas on this complete ordeal are difficult. I haven’t got an issue with the present’s creatives quickly killing off Brian, however I do want that they had waited at the least a couple of extra episodes earlier than bringing him again. That is as a result of new canine Vinny, together with his very Catholic and really Italian methods, was pleasant as the brand new member of the Griffin household. He did not get a ton of focus within the one regular episode earlier than “Christmas Man,” however he and Stewie nonetheless made for a captivating duo.
Perhaps it is simply because Tony Sirico’s obtained the funniest voice on this planet, or as a result of I like how Vinny’s eyebrows are drawn above his head, however I might’ve most well-liked if “Household Man” had killed off Brian within the season 12 premiere, allow us to get pleasure from your entire fall season with Vinny by Stewie’s facet, and solely then introduced Brian again. This might’ve turned season 12 into probably the most fascinating seasons of the present, even when it nonetheless most likely would not have received the /Movie season rankings.
Do not get me fallacious, I really like Brian — even the pretentious loser model of him we obtained all through the later seasons — however it could’ve been good if the present had made essentially the most of Vinny earlier than bringing him again. He introduced one thing recent and new to the collection; for the primary time in years, it felt like “Household Man” was being considerably daring and ingenious. To reverse this new establishment so shortly certain appeared like a waste, however hey, at the least us Vinny followers will at all times have that very, very transient interval in 2013 to fondly look again on.
