Yes, Dallas is probably the Citizen Kane of writer cop-outs, but modern audiences are probably less acquainted with the Inception-esque misadventures of the Ewing clan than they used to be. Indeed, possibly overtaking them on the disappointment hard shoulder is Family Guy and their attention-seeking attempt at snuffing out Brian, only to roll him back out with some time-travel jiggery-pokery. To be honest, we probably shouldnt have been surprised. A lot of us left Family Guy after its Conway Twitty nadir, and only check in on it now in the same fashion as an ailing relative well visit them when given the opportunity, but feel pangs of sadness about what they used to be. Seth MacFarlanes crew have plunged the depths since season six they can occasionally churn out a belter, but theres been many ill-advised dalliances with domestic violence and Sarah Palins Downs Syndrome-afflicted daughter since the glory days. So to get some lapsed fans onside, it was only natural theyd throw us a curveball by throwing Brian under a car, to his seeming death. As soon as those wheels hit the dog, the Internet feared the worst. Not that Brian would stay dead, but when precisely the writers would hit the reset button. After all, this is a show that pretty prominently features a time machine (and had an episode with Brian in the title later on that season), so even if Stewie couldnt originally go back and save his canine chum, theyd eventually find a reality-bending way to re-establish the status quo. So when the baby genius did turn up and shove Brian out the way of his vehicular doom, there were plenty of disappointed, unsurprised sighs from the audience. It was just a shame, really here was a chance for Family Guy to make itself relevant again with an act of balls-out writing bravery, but they simply couldn't face truly cashing in their chips when it mattered. Although his transition from the show's lone straight man to a faux-intellectual, hypocritical liberal douche wasn't everyone's cup of tea, Brian is a great character. The fact you know who he is and understood that last sentence makes that plain. But if icing him proved would've allowed Family Guy to shake off its middle-age staleness and rejoin the party as a cutting edge show, I reckon they should've taken it. As is, they let a great opportunity become a cheap stunt, and that's just sad.
Durham University graduate and qualified sports journalist. Very good at sitting down and watching things. Can multi-task this with playing computer games. Football Manager addict who has taken Shrewsbury Town to the summit of the Premier League.
You can follow me at @Ed_OwenUK, if you like ramblings about Newcastle United and A Place in the Sun. If you don't, I don't know what I can do for you.
