Family Guy - "Brian & Stewie" - Talkback [5/2]

[spidl]

The beginning was Family Guy at it’s worst.
It made me sick. I switched channels a few times, coming back hoping it was over. I almost gave up on it.

The end was Family Guy at it’s best.

Then we got the musical clip show.

Agreed. I did pretty much the same thing. I muted much of the second act. The friend I was watching the show with bailed and starting to watch something else. I am not sure why they included the poop stuff. They did not need it. It was not funny. It seemed to only be designed to get a rise out of people or make them change the channel. The odd thing is the people who would have really enjoyed the last scene probably did not stick around.

 

[Eleanor Hugbees]

....Hmm

When you have these characters that pretty much do anything for a laugh turn around and do a complete 360, it's kind of awkward to watch. "Wait, i'm supposed to feel for these characters all of a sudden? The frick?"

On the other hand, there just seems to be a certain awareness of itself underneath the insanity and cutaways. You really don't have to be like Simpsons or toned down to be touching.

Do I want it to be like this all the time? No, but this definately worked.

 

[ThePRPD]

I guess I'm in the minority that found what happened in the fist act amusing and it especially worked when Stewie and Brian were drunk.

 

[Classic Speedy]

I could've done without the gross ear piercing gag, but the poop eating thing actually wasn't too bad. Call me crazy, but Stewie seemed to rationalize why they almost had no choice but to do it. And luckily, they didn't show it in graphic detail, which would've been horrible.

"Locked in building" plots in TV shows usually lend to the characters bonding in some fashion, and this was no exception, so it was good to see the Brian and Stewie relationship grow a bit.

 

[spidl]

I could've done without the gross ear piercing gag, but the poop eating thing actually wasn't too bad. Call me crazy, but Stewie seemed to rationalize why they almost had no choice but to do it. And luckily, they didn't show it in graphic detail, which would've been horrible.
.

Except that since they read from the book a the end of episodes that means they had something to use to dispose of the poo without Brian eating it. Plus, they had the safety deposit box to put stuff in. The logic does not make a ton of sense.

 

[Freedom Fighter]

Wow, that was sick. Stewie convincing Brian to eat his poop for the sake of their noses (and his butt). Probably the awkwardest moment of Family Guy to date... Brian actually committing the foul deed. Whoa...

But then, finding out they're stuck in there for an extra day (tomorrow's Sunday, LOL!) and watching them get drunk and emotionally lash out at each other.

And then the final act... holy moley! Deep stuff with Brian telling Stewie that he's been inactively thinking about suicide. Love the bonding between these two at the end... and this episode in the end again reinforces the fact that no characters on this show work together anywhere near as well as these two do.

Musical clip show aside (which I have no comment), great 150th episode!

 

[DarthGonzo]

Except that since they read from the book a the end of episodes that means they had something to use to dispose of the poo without Brian eating it.

It was a first edition of a classic novel. Why in the world would Brian want to use it to clean up Stewie's poop?

While I have no problem with people who thought the poop-eating stuff was gross I don't see how it was boring. I've never been more riveted by an half hour (or so) of Family Guy than I was last night. I wouldn't want to see this in every episode but this really worked for me.

 

[spidl]

It was a first edition of a classic novel. Why in the world would Brian want to use it to clean up Stewie's poop?

While I have no problem with people who thought the poop-eating stuff was gross I don't see how it was boring. I've never been more riveted by an half hour (or so) of Family Guy than I was last night. I wouldn't want to see this in every episode but this really worked for me.

Why on earth would he eat Stewie's poop? I do not think anyone is saying it was boring. The scene was unnecessary.

 

[RonDrakenfan17]

I do agree, that scene wasn't needed for the episode.
It did turn off some fans, however I stayed through the entire episode.
And saw what was so touching about it.

 

[KarlOlson]

Lock it in the safe deposit box.

That said, it was probably the gutsiest episode in series history, and may even be a landmark in primetime animation. Regardless of whether they really meant it, it was just a very, very unexpected episode which completely flew in the face of what would have been typical of an 150th episode for any show, let alone Family Guy. It was brilliant as such - it was slower, it had no cutaways or flashbacks, it had no easy laughs. Even the gross out elements were just that - gross, real and not funny.

This is going to go down as a lot of people's jump the shark the moment for the show, but personally, it's probably the first time in a long time Family Guy actually surprised me. I can't say whether this gamble payed off, and it's obvious that it's not going to change a thing about the show at the end of the day, but the fact that it's generated visceral reactions is probably a sign of some success.

 

[Classic Speedy]

Forgot to mention above, but the second half of the episode? Mostly a waste. There were opportunities for Brian and Stewie to comment on various things during the clips MST3K-style (for instance, they could've remarked on Corey Haim being a dated reference, or that George W. Bush didn't end the world), but they mostly just ran stuff we've seen before. Meh.

Except that since they read from the book a the end of episodes that means they had something to use to dispose of the poo without Brian eating it. Plus, they had the safety deposit box to put stuff in. The logic does not make a ton of sense.

Hence why I said "almost". Yes, they could've used the safety deposit box.

That said, without getting too graphic: If the poop was stored in the safety deposit box, wouldn't the room still stink? I'm pretty sure it would. Thus their problem wouldn't have been completely solved if they went that route.

 

[ThePRPD]

I love how annoyed people are by that scene.

Seriously, I love it when FG does something gross like that since it annoys so many people.

I laugh at the scene itself and I laugh when reading the complaints directed at the scene and how annoyed people are by it.

 

[Totally_Insaney]

I loved this episode. I liked how it wasn't as fast paced and was pretty much played straight. Brian eating Stewie's poop was gross, but you could tell that he pretty much had to and that the scene could have been a lot worse. Also like someone said before, the dialogue felt really natural. That's one of my favorite things about FG's style.

The second half of the episode was kind of a waste, but I didn't expect much from it anyway. I'm pretty sure it was intended as just a throwaway that'll be cut out of the reairings so the episode can fit the half-hour time slot. And we did get some deleted scenes out of it, although I'm disappointed that The List didn't make it in. I love that song.

 

[Aquadementia]

I keep thinking about the Jerry Lewis musical number.
It started out strong, but as it went on I don’t think Peter has enough facial movement, or lips even, to really sell some of the variations in the music.
He had quite a few good facial expressions and I think the body language really worked well, especially at the start.
I may have to look it few more times to really decide.

I thought it was a great episode. Though it would be interesting to see how Peter and Lois reacted to Brian and Stewie being gone for so long, and not hearing from them.

Actually, what I appreciate most is that they knew when to stop and leave it be.
What was said was said. What was done was done.
No need to put a frame around it, deny, expand, expound or for anyone to intrude.

 

[Monterey Jack]

That said, without getting too graphic: If the poop was stored in the safety deposit box, wouldn't the room still stink? I'm pretty sure it would. Thus their problem wouldn't have been completely solved if they went that route.

Anyone who's ever "cut one" in a small, enclosed space knows that the stink isn't going anywhere. If there were poop in a small, unventillated room, said room would continue to stink even if said poop were removed, so Brian wasn't doing anything constructive by eating it.

 

[jph139]

Huh, just watched this on Hulu and... wow. Bravo, Family Guy.

I think it was pretty good all the way through. I mean, was the poop eating disgusting? Yes. I absolutely loved it, though. Stewie's line about how you can't explain a half-eaten poop just, man, hilarious. And the ear-piercing, too - gah, when he yanks it out, man, you can just feel that. Ouch.

And the excessive drama was actually done really well. Eased in without too much whiplash, very in-character for both of them... and, well, really sweet. I mean, when you have a cartoon dog and baby - who, just moments before, were eating feces and getting drunk - talking about suicide and pondering one's purpose in life and you're actually buying it? If that's not the mark of good drama I don't know what is.

Feels to me like - as per usual - they know all the complaints and said, fine, we'll do drama, we'll do no cutaways, and it'll kick ass. And then we'll go back to doing what we like to do because it's fun and we get a ton of money from it. Wouldn't want it any other way.

 

[chalmers]

... so Brian wasn't doing anything constructive by eating it.

And you're not doing anything constructive when you consistently criticize the show. We get it, you don't like Family Guy, so why do you keep posting comments in topics about it, especially negative ones?

 

[Neo Yi]

Much of how I feel is basically what others have stated: it's a rare, sentimental look at Family Guy that hasn't felt this sincere since "Brian Wallows and Peter's Swallows". No music, no cutaway, just some genuine great character interactions and development.

I'm not sure how to take this because in the long run, the rest of the season (and possibly the rest of the series) will go down the usual route which I can't blame it on when that's its prime formula from the beginning. It almost makes this episode worthless in retrospect. But the other side is that this episode will jump out and stand out more because of it. That's probably the best, positive way to go by. It did what it set out to do and it did it well, I can't deny that.

This doesn't change my mixed view on Family Guy, but the episode helped to support my opinion that when it isn't forcing messages down my throat, it honestly can be a very, very entertaining show.

 

[Juu-kuchi]

Eh, I know I could watch the rest of the episode with the musical numbers, but really the main meat of the show with Brian and Stewie was more than enough for me.

If anything, when I got into the episode I immediately thought Samuel Beckett (author of Waiting for Godot) for some reason. I mean... two characters, in a minimalist locale with little to do, nothing but dialogue, and nowhere to change the scene. It's a rather fascinating setpiece and for that I give them credit. The episode is not a masterpiece by any means, but it's a daring take for a 150th episode and a poignant moment for two longstanding characters to just work through the hardship.

If anything, it doesn't feel at the very least cloying. I think that's because there was no music to emphasize it, and thus was quite sincere. It also kindof ranks with that moment earlier in the season after Brian was told off by Quagmire where Stewie consoled him in a similar fashion and without music.

Blah, this is a very interesting episode. Whether it is great or Top 10 worthy of any Family Guy is up for debate, but whenever we look back at Family Guy, we'll remember this episode.

 

[ThePRPD]

Anyone else think this episode could have been a nice series finale?