Hey everyone, Jack Drees here from Scene Before! While I usually delve into the world of movies, today marks a special occasion to talk about television, specifically, my all-time favorite episode of “Family Guy”: “And Then There Were Fewer.” It’s hard to believe it’s been ten years since this gem first aired on September 26th, 2010, and its impact on me, and many other fans, remains undeniable.
“Family Guy” holds a special place in my heart. It’s a show I introduced to my dad, and thankfully, he now considers Seth MacFarlane a comedic genius. In fact, I’m even working on a “Family Guy” related project myself – more on that another time perhaps! While the show is still running, it’s no secret that newer episodes sometimes miss the mark. However, amidst the more recent seasons, there have been sparks of brilliance like “Three Directors” and “Trump Guy.” But “And Then There Were Fewer” stands apart, a truly exceptional episode from the show’s HD era.
Family Guy promo image for "And Then There Were Fewer" episode
In the realm of adult animation, “Family Guy” consistently delivers with its unique brand of humor and memorable characters. From Peter’s lovable buffoonery to Stewie’s diabolical schemes, the characters are the heart of the show. Even when episodes falter, the charm and personality of these animated residents of Quahog keep us coming back. Peter, the quintessential lovable idiot, Brian, the surprisingly insightful canine voice of reason (often mirroring MacFarlane himself), and Stewie, the baby genius with matricidal tendencies (minus that last part for relatability, of course!), are just a few examples of why “Family Guy” resonates with so many.
Brian and Stewie in a scene from Family Guy
The supporting cast is equally brilliant. Tom Tucker’s dry wit, Mayor West’s frat-boy-in-an-old-man’s-body antics (RIP Adam West), and even James Woods’s often villainous and hilarious appearances have all contributed to the show’s rich tapestry. It all culminates in a feeling of something significant, a sense of comedic legacy.
For me, “And Then There Were Fewer” surpasses every other “Family Guy” episode for a similar reason that “Avengers: Infinity War” stands out in the MCU. Just as “Infinity War” masterfully wove together threads from previous films into a grand, self-contained narrative, “And Then There Were Fewer” feels like a culmination of “Family Guy’s” strengths, presented in a unique and unforgettable way.
A dramatic scene from "Family Guy And Then There Were Fewer"
While technically the season nine premiere, “And Then There Were Fewer” carries the weight of a finale. It’s grand, it’s dramatic, and yes, people actually die – permanently (mostly!). Forget typical “Family Guy” humor; this episode delves into a quirky yet genuinely engaging murder mystery. The atmosphere is heavy and distinct, unlike anything else in the series. The humor is still present, but it takes a backseat to the compelling story and character development.
Let’s dissect the episode’s plot, with a major spoiler warning for those who haven’t experienced this masterpiece yet!
A Widescreen, High-Definition Mystery Unfolds
The Griffin family arriving at Rocky Point Manor
The episode opens with the Griffins receiving an invitation to a party at Rocky Point Manor, the stunning mansion that serves as the episode’s central location. Notably, “And Then There Were Fewer” marked “Family Guy’s” debut in 16:9 widescreen and high definition. Even the extended intro, usually cut for time on TV broadcasts, emphasizes this shift, signaling a new visual and atmospheric direction for the show. Instead of the usual character-centric intro, we are treated to sweeping scenery and an orchestral score that evokes a sense of grandeur and mystery. The mansion reveal, accompanied by bombastic, emotionally charged music, sets the stage for something truly special. The animation is vibrant, the colors rich, and the level of detail is remarkable from the opening scenes.
The Whole Town’s Invited… To Their Doom?
Lois Griffin pointing out that everyone in Quahog was invited
Being a cartoon, “Family Guy” can seamlessly pull off scenarios that live-action shows can only dream of. In this case, the Griffins discover they aren’t the only invitees; Lois astutely observes, “the whole town got invited!” And not just invited, but invited “in their honor.”
A gathering of Quahog residents at Rocky Point Manor
This premise brings together a massive ensemble cast – the mainstays like Mayor West, Quagmire, the Swansons, along with familiar faces like Mort and Muriel Goldman, the Channel 5 news team, Dr. Hartman, and many more. The episode sets the stage with immense promise, gathering a huge cast in one location. But does it deliver on this ambitious setup? Absolutely.
James Woods: From Antagonist to… Victim?
James Woods making an announcement to the guests
“Good evening, everyone.” – James Woods.
Regardless of current public opinions, James Woods’s recurring appearances in “Family Guy” have consistently been comedic gold, and this episode is no exception. His role here is perfectly crafted, building upon his established history as an antagonist to various characters. “Family Guy” has a long-running gag of portraying Woods as a self-absorbed, disruptive force in the lives of Quahog’s residents. From sabotaging Brian’s TV pilot to stealing Cheryl Tiegs from Quagmire and even Mayor West’s Twitter handle, Woods has a long list of grievances against him, all hilariously referenced in this episode. His presence here serves as a meta-reminder of the show’s history, while simultaneously driving the new narrative forward.
Woods reveals his newfound religious awakening, thanks to his girlfriend, Priscilla (voiced by Ashley Tisdale). As a “born-again Christian,” he’s invited everyone he’s wronged to Rocky Point Manor to make amends. Skepticism abounds, but Woods earnestly pleads for a chance at redemption.
The First Strike: A Deadly Dinner
As Woods and Priscilla leave the dining room before dinner, Quagmire’s girlfriend, Stephanie, unwittingly takes Woods’s seat. Suddenly, blood erupts from her chest.
Stephanie's shocking death at the dinner table
Stephanie is dead, face down on the table. It’s a shocking, darkly comedic moment that immediately shifts the tone of the episode.
To quote Agatha from “Minority Report”: “Murrrrderrrrr.”
This is the catalyst that plunges the episode into true darkness. While “Family Guy” is known for dark humor, this is different. This is a shift into a more serious, suspenseful territory.
Panic ensues, and everyone assumes James Woods is the culprit. They rush to escape, only to find their path blocked by a conveniently fallen tree, collapsing the only bridge off the island.
Escape is impossible. They are trapped back at the mansion.
Trapped and Terrified: The Mystery Deepens
Guests panicking inside the mansion
Cell phones are useless, the landline is dead – they are completely cut off. Fear escalates, amplified by James Woods’s reappearance. After a brief, typical “Family Guy” penis joke and some meta-commentary about Stephanie’s disposable character status, James and Priscilla feign confusion. Woods insists he’s innocent. They return to the dining room to find Stephanie’s body vanished. A power outage plunges the mansion into darkness, cueing a series of black frames and a classic Peter Griffin line:
“Oh my god! Is this what black people see all the time?” – Peter Griffin
When the lights return, James Woods is dead, a knife protruding from his back.
Again, the killer is unseen. Joe Swanson steps up, shifting the focus of the episode:
JOE: “What I’m saying is James Woods isn’t the murderer. The murderer… is one of us.”
*Collective gasps*
JOE: “And someone ate the last goat cheese tartlet.”
*Collective yammering*
PETER: “Now I hope I die next!”
It’s revealed Stephanie was killed by a timed gun, set to fire when someone sat in Woods’s chair. No one confesses to wanting Woods dead, initiating a real-life game of Clue.
Peter Griffin: Accidental Detective
Joe is promptly incapacitated by Peter, who hilariously takes over the investigation. The characters, in a moment of exposition, remind the audience that everyone at the dinner had a motive to kill James Woods. Accusations fly – Diane Simmons points at Tom Tucker, who points at Seamus the pirate, who points at Mayor Adam West – a frenzy of finger-pointing with no answers.
Carl, in a clumsy moment, shoves Chris into a bookshelf, triggering a hidden mechanism.
The bookshelf revealing a secret passage
The bookshelf slides open, revealing a hidden passage to the basement. Downstairs, they discover a book detailing James Woods’s misdeeds – his personal “amends” list. Brian uncovers a stash of Oxycontin bottles with Woods’s name, traced back to Goldman’s Pharmacy, owned by Mort and Muriel Goldman. It’s revealed Woods was blackmailing Muriel for free drugs. Muriel becomes the prime suspect, but she manages to escape before capture.
Teamwork… “Family Guy” Style
Peter divides everyone into investigative teams, with some hilariously questionable pairings:
“Chris, you check the basement with Herbert.”
*Herbert stretches creepily towards Chris*
Perfect “Family Guy” logic. Even the unconscious Joe and Priscilla become the “unconscious team.”
The investigative teams searching the mansion
The teams fan out. Derek and Jillian investigate the attic, encountering a “Professor” black cat (voiced by Patrick Stewart, a nod to “X-Men”). Chris and Herbert’s investigation is predictably uncomfortable. Diane Simmons and Tom Tucker find a secret passage behind a painting, trapping Tom. Meg and Carl, in a billiard room (classic “Clue” vibes), take a pool break. Meg, while reaching for a cue, falls down a hidden chute.
Brian and Stewie are humming TV theme songs when a scream pierces the air. They rush to the source.
Muriel Goldman's body discovered
They find Muriel dead, another knife victim. Notably, and unusually for “Family Guy,” these deaths, except for Woods’s later revival, are permanent. The stakes are raised; the tension is palpable. This level of genuine suspense is unprecedented in “Family Guy.”
Hollywood Sign Humor and a Vanishing Priscilla
Meg and Tom Tucker emerge from an underground passage, rejoining the group in the dining room. This leads to one of the episode’s most brilliantly absurd jokes. Derek announces he has cell reception. Peter, overhearing, interjects:
PETER: “Oh my god is that–… Are you holding up the whole Hollywood sign?”
*Derek’s phone case is revealed: a picture of him in front of the Hollywood sign*
DEREK: “No no no no, the sign was way in the background. I was standing in the foreground going like this (raises his arms) while Jillian took the picture. So, by forced perspective it looks like I’m holding up the whole sign.”
PETER: “I don’t believe you. I think you are a god. And I would die for you or kill others.”
It’s quintessential “Family Guy” – stupid, yet somehow brilliant, perfectly encapsulating the show’s unique comedic DNA.
Derek heads to the roof to call the police, but not everyone hears him.
“Oh my god, Priscilla’s gone!” – Brian Griffin
Priscilla has vanished from the couch where she was resting. Joe, however, is back in action. Suspicion shifts to Priscilla, but then… Derek falls from the balcony, splattering onto the ground. Dr. Hartman confirms his death – blunt force trauma to the head.
Accusations, Underpants, and a Bloody Golden Globe
Everyone retreats back inside, gathering in a room. Lois suspects Priscilla. Consuela notices James Woods’s Golden Globe is missing. Following Joe’s lead, they decide no one leaves the group, or they’ll be considered the killer. They search Quagmire’s room, finding nothing incriminating, except Stephanie’s comically oversized underwear, prompting some classic “Family Guy” humor:
LOIS: “Oh it’s got flowers! I mean, why bother? Who’s gonna see em?”
CHRIS: “Maybe someone in space!”
*Collective laughter*
Meg holding the bloody Golden Globe
Moving to Tom Tucker’s room, Meg discovers the missing Golden Globe – covered in blood. Everyone turns on Tom. But then, blood drips from the ceiling. Peter hoists Joe up to investigate a vent, revealing Priscilla’s dead body. Tom Tucker flees, pursued and captured. As dawn breaks, the police arrive and arrest Tom.
The musical score throughout these scenes, and the entire episode, is phenomenal – truly “ear porn.” While “Family Guy” is known for musical numbers, this episode’s orchestral score, devoid of lyrics, is arguably the best in the series. It’s intense, dramatic, and deeply immersive, almost like a character itself, reminiscent of scores from films like “Star Wars.”
The Dessert: A Killer Reveal
Peter and Lois getting ready to leave the mansion
With Tom arrested, everyone prepares to leave. Peter notices his Hot Wheels fire engine is missing. Lois goes to Diane Simmons’s room to check. Diane claims she’s “managing,” and then delivers a seemingly innocuous line:
Diane Simmons revealing her blouse
“You sound like my mother, she actually bought me this blouse for my first solo broadcast. I guess that’s sweet, huh.” – Diane Simmons
Lois is initially confused, but then the pieces click.
As Peter would say, “Holy crap!”
Lois realizing Diane is the killer
Lois backs away, feigning a continued search for the fire engine, but Diane pulls a gun. She’s the killer. The episode takes another dramatic turn, shifting perspectives to Diane’s motivations. It’s almost like watching a “John Wick”-esque revenge story unfold. The final act is emotionally resonant, genuinely moving.
Diane reveals her secret past with James Woods. They were lovers, but he dumped her around her 40th birthday, coinciding with Tom Tucker replacing her with a younger anchor, Joyce Kinney.
“I saw my career and my love life crumble, and I wasn’t gonna stand by and take it.” – Diane Simmons
Diane admits to manipulating Priscilla to convince Woods to become “born-again,” setting up the dinner party as a trap to kill Woods and frame Tom Tucker.
“Oh my god. You’re 40?” – Lois Griffin
Stephanie’s death was accidental. Diane capitalized on the power outage to stab Woods. Priscilla and Muriel, realizing Diane’s true plan, also had to be eliminated. Priscilla was hidden in Tom’s room, Muriel left in plain sight. Diane even used Peter’s absurd “Derek lifted up the Hollywood sign” comment as cover to slip away and kill Derek with the Golden Globe. Her plan was meticulously executed, framing Tom Tucker perfectly.
But what about Stephanie’s missing body? Quagmire, in a darkly comedic twist, had stashed it in his trunk – a morbid souvenir.
Of course, Diane’s plan isn’t complete without silencing Lois.
Diane pointing a gun at Lois
Peter enters, asking for his car keys. Diane claims she and Lois are going for a walk.
Lois reluctantly handing over the car keys
Lois, realizing her peril, hands over the keys. Diane leads Lois to a cliff edge, ready to deliver the final blow.
LOIS: “Diane, please! You don’t have to do this! I won’t tell anybody, I swear to god!”
DIANE: “That’s right, you won’t. Goodbye, Lois.”
The music swells to a dramatic crescendo.
*GUNSHOT*
Diane Simmons falling off the cliff
But it’s Diane who plummets off the cliff, a bullet in her chest. Who saved Lois? Not Tom, not Joe, not Peter…
Stewie Griffin revealing he shot Diane
Stewie Griffin, in a moment of unexpected badassery:
“If anybody’s gonna take that bitch down, it’s gonna be me.”
This twist is both shocking and brilliant. Stewie, the character who has spent years trying to kill Lois, subversively saves her. Does he secretly love his mother? Does he recognize her importance in his life? Or did Diane simply annoy him? Regardless, it’s a fantastic, character-defining moment.
A Masterpiece of Writing and Animation
Cherry Chevapravatdumrong at Comic-Con
Written by Cherry Chevapravatdumrong, “And Then There Were Fewer” is a writing tour-de-force. Every character, even in the massive ensemble, has a purpose. Motives are clear, actions are driven, and the plot is tightly constructed. Due to its length, some scenes are often cut for TV broadcasts, making the DVD or streaming versions essential for the full experience.
The animation in this episode is stunning. The HD upgrade is fully realized, with vibrant water effects, clear skies, and incredibly detailed environments, especially the magnificent Rocky Point Manor. Being the first widescreen episode, it set a new visual standard for the series.
Another promotional image for "Family Guy And Then There Were Fewer"
But perhaps the most remarkable aspect of “And Then There Were Fewer” is its masterful blend of comedy and genuine emotion. “Family Guy” is known for its humor, but this episode transcends simple laughs. It evokes suspense, empathy, and even a strange sense of sympathy for the villain, Diane Simmons. Despite her murderous actions, her motivations are understandable, even relatable on a certain level. It’s a testament to the episode’s writing that it can elicit such complex emotions while still delivering the show’s signature humor.
And of course, we can’t forget the most important takeaway:
“Derek lifted up the Hollywood sign.” – Peter Griffin
Never forget.
A Lasting Legacy
In conclusion, “And Then There Were Fewer” is endlessly rewatchable, visually stunning, and achieves a perfect harmony of comedy and emotion rarely seen in “Family Guy.” It allows for character development and narrative evolution, even bidding farewell to key characters like Diane Simmons while introducing new ones like Joyce Kinney. Change is inevitable, and “Family Guy” navigates it brilliantly in this episode. Ten years later, “And Then There Were Fewer” remains my favorite “Family Guy” episode and potentially my favorite television episode of all time.
Even Seth MacFarlane himself agrees!
Seth MacFarlane quote about "And Then There Were Fewer"
“I think this is my favorite episode of the series. A classic format, great-looking direction, and, I hope, a genuinely surprising ending. It was also the first episode to air in HD. It was really cool to finally see Lois’ pores.” – Seth MacFarlane
If the creator considers it his favorite, that speaks volumes.
While “Family Guy” may have lost some of its initial steam, “And Then There Were Fewer” is a powerful reminder of the show’s potential. It showcases the brilliant characters, intricate storylines, and sharp writing that made “Family Guy” a cultural phenomenon. As we look forward to new seasons, we can only hope “Family Guy” will recapture the magic of episodes like “And Then There Were Fewer.”
But always remember:
“Derek lifted up the Hollywood sign.” – Peter Griffin.
It’s right there in the picture!
Another promo image for Family Guy "And Then There Were Fewer"
Thanks for reading! While I don’t often discuss TV, the tenth anniversary of “And Then There Were Fewer” felt like the perfect occasion. For more movie content, check out my review of “Tenet!”
Did you watch “Family Guy: And Then There Were Fewer”? What are your thoughts? Or what’s your favorite “Family Guy” episode? Let me know in the comments below! Scene Before is your click to the flicks!
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