Family Guyis first and foremost a comedy, but the series can have its share of dark, sad, and poignant moments, too. After all, Stewie promises in the theme song, Peter is a man who can positively do all the things that will make the viewer “laugh and cry.” Some episodes over the years have certainly proved him right. Viewers have seen both new and recurring characters go through hard times, learn sad lessons, and even lose their lives.
Family Guy
Some episodes devote most of the main plot around a dark or tragic moment, such as the death of a character. Other episodes save their tear-jerking moments for a brief scene. There are even a few episodes that end with a bittersweet moment. That said, while these episodes usually leave some sort of impression on viewers, some proved controversial with fans. In fact, some of these episodes were so sad that their endings had to be reversed or ret-conned in later episodes.
11"Dog Bites Bear"
One of the most recurring gags inFamily Guyis Stewie’s relationship with his teddy bear, Rupert, which he gradually imagines being increasingly deeper and more unhinged. Quite a few episodes have had stories where Stewie loses his beloved bear and must go on a journey to save him. Things take a more final turn, however, in “Dog Bites Bear,” which sees Brian chew up the toy.
It’s so Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday
Stewie guilts Brian into going to Vermont with him to scatter Rupert’s ashes. Along the way, irritation drives Brian to admit that destroying Rupert wasn’t an accident and that he is jealous of how Stewie treats a lifeless toy as his best friend and not him. As the funeral goes on, viewers are treated to the song “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday.” For the sake of continuity, Brian just buys a new bear, making Stewie think his friend came back to life, but the episode still ends on a poignant note, with Rupert’s spirit driving away.
10"Leggo My Meg-O"
“Leggo My Meg-O” isFamily Guy’s take on theTakenfilm series. Wanting to get away from her bullies,Meg and her frienddecide to take a semester in Paris. While there, unfortunately, Meg is captured by human traffickers, leaving it to Brian and Stewie to save her.
Meg Came so Close to Happiness
While much of Meg’s situation is already horrifying, the episode makes it especially cruel with a bait-and-switch twist. It turns out that Meg, after being purchased by an Arab emir, was selected to be the bride of a handsome prince, who even offers the chance to return home if she chooses. Meg gladly accepts, but before she can become a princess, Stewie “rescues” her by killing the prince. Meg wakes up at home having few memories of what happened. However, she at least ended up better off than Ruth, who had her tongue removed.
9"New Kidney in Town"
In “New Kidney in Town,” Peter suffers kidney failure and is in need of a donor. Brian offers to give Peter one of his. Unfortunately, Dr. Hartman claims he’ll need both, as a dog’s kidney may be too small for humans to use.
Always Ask for a Second Opinion
Stewie is horrified that he is about to lose his best friend for good, only having to be told the hard truth that he’ll need his father more than a dog. The fact that Peter’s problems are self-imposed, particularly skipping a dialysis appointment, makes the situation all the more unfair. Of course, everything ends happily when Hartman donates his kidney instead, sparing Brian.
Adding to the misery, there’s a subplot where Chris wins an essay contest, ripping off Meg’s musings about her miserable life. Fortunately, both share the prize, getting to introduce the president in what ends as a parody ofBye Bye Birdie.
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8"Brian & Stewie"
“Brian & Stewie” is an experimental episode, devoid of the cutaway jokes that are usuallyFamily Guy’s lifeblood. Using the format of a typical bottle episode, Brian and Stewie get locked in a bank vault together, soon realizing they’ll be stuck there for the whole weekend.
It Got Even More Serious in Reruns
As the story goes on, it comes to light that Brian keeps a gun in his safe deposit box. Stewie, knowing that it goes against Brian’s political leanings, asks why he has a gun, but gradually admits that he’s contemplating suicide, with some stored scotch serving as his last drink. Stewie confronts Brian about this by telling him how much he means to him and that being there for someone is enough to give anyone a purpose. The story ends with Brian carrying a sleeping Stewie out of the vault.
Notably, the episode has become even more somber in reruns, cutting out the opening song and the ending music. In fact, when it first aired, the episode was part of the “Fox Rocks” television event, which saw the episode followed by acollection of musical numbers.
7"Brian Wallows and Peter’s Swallows"
“Brian Wallows and Peter’s Swallows” revolves around two subplots: Peter growing a beard and Brian having to do community service for an old woman, Pearl Burton. Early on, Pearl is cruel and abusive towards Brian, causing him to eventually lose his temper and tell her off. Brian then learns Pearl used to be a talented jingle singer, but was rejected when she tried to pursue opera. Coming back to see her, Brian stops her in the middle on an attempted suicide.
A Life That Could’ve Been
Brian stops her in time, and they bond over their shared love of music, with Brian convincing Pearl to leave her house. He convinces her, only for her to be fatally hit by a truck. With the little time they have left together, Brian and Pearl see the life that could have been with virtual reality helmets.
Peter’s subplot starts out a little more comical, with Peter raising a trio of baby birds that have been left in his beard. However, he is forced to watch them go in the end. In essence, both stories reflect the unbeatable flow of time.
6"Pawtucket Pete"
“Pawtucket Pete” is a somber episode, but more for an opening scene rather than the overall story. After the passing of actress Carrie Fisher, it was decided to retire her character Angela, Peter’s boss, from the series in tribute. The opening of the episode has Peter appear to give a eulogy at her funeral.
Heaven Has a New Princess
The scene isn’t completely serious, with Peter quoting the theme songs forThe Mary Tyler Moore Show,Sanford and Son,Cheers, andFriends, complete with clapping for the latter. Angela’s cause of death is given as swimming right after she ate, and Peter realizes too late that he’s at the wrong funeral.
However, he still offers his love, praising her courage and honesty. He reminds the listeners that her voice will live on for generations to come in recordings, a meta joke on the legacy she has left her fans. Finally, Peter adds that Heaven has gained a princess, in honor of Fisher’s famous role as Princess Leia.
5"Seahorse Seashell Party"
“Seahorse Seashell Party” already starts out quite dire, as the family is in the midst of an incoming hurricane. In fact, the episode aired as part of an event called Night of the Hurricane, which saw the characters ofThe Cleveland ShowandAmerican Dad!face the storm.
The Infamous “Lightning Rod” Analogy
As tensions rise, the family takes out their frustrations on their usual punching bag, Meg. This time, Meg isn’t having it and tells off her family for their abuse. The family’s fighting then drives Peter to hide upstairs. Brian comforts Meg, praising her for standing up for herself, but tells her she might have a purpose as the family’s “lightning rod,” causing her to go along with the family’s abuse.
Over the years, the message of the episode has been controversial among fans, feeling it encourages people in abusive situations to stay in them. At the very least, some fans disliked Meg not getting a break for the sake of continuity.
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4"Screams of Silence: The Story of Brenda Q"
“Screams of Silence: The Story of Brenda Q” serves as a very special episode for theFamily Guyseries. After Quagmire ends up in the hospital, he gets a visit fromhis sister Brendais in a relationship with her abusive boyfriend, Jeff. Fearing for her safety, Quagmire and his friends get involved. Eventually, Quagmire decides Jeff needs to be taken down once and for all.
A Very Special Episode
Quagmire’s sister had previously been alluded to in “Jerome is the New Black,” where she was likewise portrayed in an abusive relationship. However, the latter episode treats the situation more dramatically than before.
Not only is Brenda’s situation heart-wrenching to watch, but the episode is one of the series' darkest, as viewers see Quagmire, Joe, and Peter come together to kill Jeff, saving Brenda from him once and for all. Infamously, a later episode, “Coma Guy,” implies Brenda died offscreen, as she appears in a hallucination of posthumous characters.
3“Quagmire’s Baby”
“Quagmire’s Baby” sees Quagmire get a special surprise on his doorstep: his own baby daughter. Naming the girl Anna Lee, he decides that the new responsibility gets in the way of his cherished bachelor lifestyle. Eventually, he decides to put the girl up for adoption.
A Chance for a Better Life
As he tries to go back to his old life, however, he realizes that everything reminds him of Anna Lee, and he conspires to get her back. In the end, however, when he sees Anna Lee with her adoptive family, he decides that they can give her a better life than he can, and decides not to contest it. Interestingly, the series would have a similar plot in the later episode “No Giggity, No Doubt,” which sees Quagmire reunite with a teenage daughter.
2"Boys & Squirrels"
“Boys & Squirrels” is an episode that gives focus to Chris and Stewie. After Peter cuts down a tree, the Griffin brothers find an injured baby squirrel and nurse it back to health. The two grow close with their little foundling. However, while filming the baby squirrel’s first steps, Brian gives into his canine nature and mauls the poor animal to death.
The Loss of an Innocent Life
After the funeral, the death drives a rift between Chris and Stewie, as the two start blaming each other for what happened. It reaches a point where they go to counseling, allowing them to come to terms with what happened. When Christmas rolls around, however, Stewie finds a card using a photo of the squirrel, causing him to break down all over again. Infamously, beyond Stewie partially being blamed for the squirrel’s death for being Brian’s best friend, Brian is otherwise forgotten about after attacking the poor squirrel.
