‘Family Guy’ Brian and Stewie Prove Opposites Make for Great Entertainment

With the premier of “Family Guy” on Sept. 30, many television viewers are now treating themselves to a half-hour on Sunday evenings of laughter provided from quick one-liners, momentary cutaways and typically at least one joke per episode that gives the viewers a guilt-filled laugh.

In the 11 seasons that “Family Guy” has been on television, the characters have all slowly evolved and the way viewers perceive them has changed as well. Whether it’s outcast, Meg, who at times as shown her darker, crazier side or Peter, whose attention span equals that of a goldfish, yet somehow always manages to find ways to solve several issues, often times created by himself.

The two characters, however, that have evolved the most and have proven to be such a hilarious team that the show’s creators have teamed them up numerous times is the evil-genius baby, Stewie, as well as aspiring writer and family pet, Brian.

These characters prove yet again that opposites not only attract but also make for hilarious, good times!

The two could not be more different. Stewie has been hell-bent on world domination and ending his poor mother’s life since the show’s creation, yet is unable to change his own diaper and at times has struggled with shapes. Brian has tried, and usually failed, numerous times to break into the writing profession and has been hopelessly in love with Peter’s wife, Lois.

All the differences are what make these two characters work so well together. The personality and emotional clashes the two have, the disdain they at times display towards one another and yet each time one has truly needed help the other was there with hilarity sure to ensue!

Whether it was Brian helping Stewie track down his stuffed teddy bear, Rupert, from the snow-covered Rockies or Stewie showing Brian the peril’s of inter-universe travel in “Road to the Multiverse,” the two show viewers that even if you’re completely different not only can a bond occur, but can grow stronger as time passes.

This was clearly demonstrated in the Season 8 episode, “Brian and Stewie” where the two find themselves locked for a weekend in a bank vault. This episode is worth mentioning for several reasons. It’s the only episode in the series to not feature a single cut-away gag, had no background music or vocals, did not have a single other character besides the two, and Brian and Stewie showed their true feelings for one another.

Despite the typical “too far” jokes, including a scene involving a very soiled diaper and an… unusual method of disposal, the episode was filled with some intense interactions.

As things progressively get worse for them inside the vault, Brian and Stewie turn aggressive and use their differences to emotionally hurt each other.

Time continues to pass, gags are thrown in the mix and the viewers are treated to a drunken-baby dancing and a brutal piercing incident! As the episode draws to a close and the two have been stuck in the vault for countless hours, hurt feelings become shared and Brian and Stewie reveal to themselves, and the viewers, what they really think of each other. It’s quite emotional and even a little sad; a bold move for a comedy show whose die-hard fan-base enjoys fart humor and down syndrome jokes!

We find that despite their constant bickering, arguing over the proper way to say Cool-Whip, or Cool-WHHHHip, and Stewie not messing around when money is owed from Brian, that the two not only care for one another deeply, but in fact give each other purpose.

It’s funny to say that we can draw a life-lesson from a cartoon, especially one as hilariously crude as “Family Guy,” but in this case the lesson is there. Two individuals with different mindsets, values and beliefs are forced to interact on a daily basis and when trouble arises they tough it out together.

That episode stands out for numerous reasons, but an exhausted Brian lovingly carrying a sleeping, disheveled Stewie in his arms as the vault doors open in the closing moments of the show truly stands out. If those two can express their true feelings for one another and tough it out when situations seem bleak, maybe more of us can do the same in our real lives.

Hopefully, we don’t need to travel through parallel universes, go back in time to German-occupied Europe or car-jack a poor guy in Colorado to get to the point to truly care for one another!