The Family Guy creators have brought Brian back from the dead in the newest episode of the show on Sunday night. After dying by getting hit by a car in last month’s episode, the Griffin family replaced him with Vinnie. However, when Stewie sees himself from the past in the mall, he jumps at the chance to use his time machine to bring Brian back.
In the beginning of the episode, Stewie tells Santa all he wants for Christmas is for his best friend, Brian, back. Although Vinnie dresses up as Brian to cheer up Stewie, it doesn’t work.
TV Guide notes when Stewie sees himself from the past, who was going into the future to buy a video game, he steals the time machine and goes back in time to save Brian from getting hit by a car.
At the time, fans were outraged that the show killed off one of the main characters. The opening of the show was even amended to show Vinnie instead of Brian.
Executive producer Steve Callaghan said at the time, “Our fans are smart enough and have been loyal to our show for long enough, to know that they can trust us. We always make choices that always work to the greatest benefit of the series.”
After Sunday’s episode, creator Seth MacFarlane took to Twitter to say:
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, 2013
I 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, 2013
Oh and hey... thanks for caring so much about the canine Griffin. He is overcome with gratitude.
— Seth MacFarlane (@SethMacFarlane) December 16, 2013
image: FOX