It’s with a heavy heart that I write today. For here we are
in the wake of a tragic death, of a man so young and full of potential. Gone too
soon, he will remain in our hearts. Brian Griffin; Rest In Peace. Here’s hoping
all dogs DO go to heaven.
Yes, Family Guy have caused shock, outrage and sadness
galore by killing off a central character. In their latest, amusingly named,
episode “Life of Brian”, Brian is killed when a car hits him. Stewie is unable
to go back in time and prevent the death, and so loses his best friend, and
some would say, only real ally.
Although, in a move that will spark debate and divide the
fans straight down the middle, the beloved family dog was quickly replaced. Say
hello to Vinnie, the new guy in town (or at least the Griffin household). He’s
been dubbed “a pooch with attitude”, and is voiced by Tony Sirico of The
Sopranos fame.
I think it’s fair to say, the show’s dynamic is going to
change. But for the better? Who knows. But one thing is certain; this will
definitely shake things up.
Killing off a main character, so central to the show is
ballsy. And it seems to have sparked a possible trend throughout the “grown-up
cartoons” genre. The Simpsons is said to be planning a similar move, which is
leading to huge speculation. In a way, The Simpsons will hit harder, as though
Brian was in all senses a person, technically, he was still just a dog. Killing
off a human character will pack slightly more of a punch, and as The Simpsons
haven’t crossed the human/animal boundary in the way Family Guy and other similar
shows have (Klaus in American Dad, Tim and Ariana in The Cleveland Show), they’ll
be sending a person down.
That said, The Simpsons have got a lot more options, and
could really make a statement with it. Or not. If they kill of Grandpa, which
seems like a likely move, that’s not going to be such a big deal. But if, for example,
they have one of Moe’s regulars gone from an alcohol-related incident; that
could be HUGE.
So, it’s all up in the air in the world of “adult” cartoons.
Anything could happen and nothing is safe. It’s all a-changing, and I for one
am excited to see where we go from here.
RIP Brian.
Words by Ari Carrington
