In a move that has fans buzzing, the creator of Family Guy is preparing to kill off a main character, a plot twist rarely seen in animated sitcoms. Ahead of the twelfth season premiere on Fox, showrunners confirmed that one of the Griffin family members would meet their end in an episode featuring Ashton Kutcher, in a parody of Two and a Half Men. This bold decision from the Family Guy maker is undoubtedly intended to inject fresh interest into a show that, despite its enduring popularity, faces the challenge of maintaining originality in a landscape dominated by long-running animated comedies like The Simpsons. Whether this gamble pays off remains to be seen, but it has certainly sparked debate and speculation, making Family Guy a talking point once again. Let’s delve into the potential candidates for this animated demise and assess who might be facing the chop from the Family Guy maker.
Lois Griffin: The Unlikely Casualty
First up is Lois, the Griffin family’s nasal-voiced matriarch. While some might argue that Lois’s departure wouldn’t be a devastating blow to the show – after all, she often serves as the somewhat exasperated voice of reason against Peter’s antics – eliminating her seems improbable. Lois provides a necessary counterbalance to the chaotic energy of the family, and her dynamic with Peter is a cornerstone of the show’s humor. Furthermore, Alex Borstein, Lois’s voice actor, also voices numerous other characters, mitigating any casting upheaval should Lois be written out. While a storyline where Stewie, her often-antagonistic son, becomes her killer could offer a dark twist, it feels narratively unsatisfying and unlikely to be the shake-up envisioned by the Family Guy maker.
VERDICT: SAFE
Peter Griffin: The Indispensable Patriarch
Then we have Peter, the show’s protagonist and arguably its most iconic character. Could the Family Guy maker dare to kill off Peter Griffin? From a shock value perspective, Peter’s death would undoubtedly create the seismic shift the producers are aiming for. However, to be blunt, Family Guy without Peter Griffin is essentially not Family Guy. The entire premise revolves around his often-absurd misadventures and interactions with his family and friends. Killing Peter would fundamentally alter the show’s DNA and risk alienating its core audience. The only conceivable scenario where Peter dies is one where his demise is instantly reversed in the following episode, a classic cartoon trope that the Family Guy maker might employ for a fleeting moment of drama.
VERDICT: SAFE
Stewie Griffin: The Untouchable Evil Genius
What about Stewie, the show’s diminutive, diabolical mastermind and arguably its second most popular character? The idea of the Family Guy maker eliminating Stewie is frankly ludicrous. Stewie’s sophisticated villainy and bizarre schemes are integral to the show’s comedic formula. His ongoing, often violent, but ultimately comedic rivalry with Lois, and his unique partnership with Brian, provide endless storylines and humor. Stewie is a fan favorite for a reason, and his removal would be met with widespread disapproval. Similar to Peter, should the Family Guy maker decide to kill Stewie, it would almost certainly be a temporary stunt for shock value, quickly undone in subsequent episodes.
VERDICT: SAFE
Brian Griffin: Is the Canine Companion’s Time Up?
Brian Griffin, the sophisticated family dog from Family Guy, looking contemplative, possibly hinting at his vulnerability and potential departure as decided by the Family Guy maker.
Now we turn to Brian, Stewie’s erudite, martini-swilling canine companion. Could Brian be the character chosen by the Family Guy maker for elimination? While Brian isn’t always the laugh-out-loud funniest character – his pretentiousness and occasional self-righteousness can be grating – there’s a surprisingly strong argument for his potential demise. Narratively, Brian’s age as a dog is frequently joked about; dogs simply don’t live as long as Brian has been around in the show’s timeline. His death, while perhaps not emotionally devastating for all viewers, wouldn’t be inconsequential, and it would certainly shake up the Stewie-Brian dynamic, forcing Stewie to find a new foil. Furthermore, Seth MacFarlane, the Family Guy maker himself and voice of Brian (along with Peter and Stewie), might welcome voicing one less main character. Brian’s time might indeed be running out in the eyes of the Family Guy maker.
VERDICT: IN DANGER
Meg Griffin: The Family Scapegoat’s Exit Strategy?
Then there’s Meg, the perpetual family outcast, voiced by Mila Kunis. Creatively, killing off Meg might seem counterintuitive. Her role as the family punching bag, the constant recipient of ridicule and neglect, is a rich source of dark humor in Family Guy. However, the very fact that Meg is so often marginalized within her own family could make her a surprisingly impactful choice for the Family Guy maker to eliminate. Her death could highlight the family’s dysfunction and elicit a genuinely emotional response, perhaps even guilt, from the other Griffins. Additionally, Mila Kunis’s burgeoning film career and increased demands on her time might make her departure from the show a practical consideration. With Ashton Kutcher, Kunis’s partner, guest-starring in the death episode, the signs are, perhaps surprisingly, pointing towards Meg.
VERDICT: IN DANGER
Chris Griffin: The Most Expendable Son?
Chris Griffin, the dim-witted son from Family Guy, looking lost and confused, symbolizing his perceived disposability in the eyes of the Family Guy maker.
Finally, we come to Chris, the least favored Griffin son (at least by this writer). Chris often feels like the most disposable member of the family. His storylines have become less prominent in recent seasons, and he lacks the strong character pairings that define the other Griffins – Peter has Lois, Stewie has Brian, and even Meg has her unfortunate family dynamic. Seth Green, Chris’s voice actor, also landed a lead role in the sitcom Dads around the time of this episode, potentially indicating reduced availability for Family Guy. Furthermore, Chris was notably absent from previews for the anticipated Simpsons crossover episode, further fueling speculation about his reduced role. If the Family Guy maker is looking for a character death that is impactful yet narratively manageable, Chris might unfortunately be the prime candidate. If forced to make a definitive prediction, Chris’s time in Quahog might be coming to an end, decided by the Family Guy maker.
VERDICT: IN DANGER
