10 Greatest 'I'm Dead And I Know It' Moments In TV History

"Greatest" may not be the best way to describe the death of Family Guy's Brian Griffin, yet that demise was a hugely powerful, poignant and emotional one when it occurred in Season 12's Life of Brian.

Whereas some other characters featured on this list realised death was upon them and went out with a spirited bang or a big middle finger to their rivals, the death of the Griffin's family dog was a different beast altogether.

As it dawns on Brian that the Grim Reaper is a-calling, the pooch opts to use this moment to tell his nearest and dearest how much he appreciates them, wishes them farewell and thanks them for giving him the best life possible.

In case you missed it, Brian was shockingly mowed down by a car as he and Stewie prepared to play street hockey. Rather than played for chuckles, the damage done to Brian is handled in a more nuanced, serious way, with him taken to the vets before it's revealed that his injuries are fatal.

Seeing Family Guy kill off one of its core characters was shocking enough, but it was even more jarring to see that it was a character as popular as Brian. In fact, so jarring was it, fan backlash led to the canine being brought back two episodes later thanks to some time-travel shenanigans.