When it first premiered back in the tardily '90s, many critics dismissed Family Guy as a cheap knockoff of The Simpsons. Only one of the principal things that set Family Guy apart from The Simpsons – the fact that the pet dog could talk – was also one of its focal points, at least in the early seasons.

Peter and Brian used to be the show'southward principal characters. In the years since, Brian and Stewie accept gone on adventures across the spacetime continuum and beyond the Earth'south surface, and then they've sort of taken over. Here are v Reasons Brian & Stewie Are Family Guy's Best Duo (And 5 Why It'll Always Be Peter & Brian).

10 Peter and Brian: They've been the focus of the testify since the offset

Family unit Guy grew from a couple of blithe shorts that Seth MacFarlane wrote, directed, and starred in at the starting time of his career. The Life of Larry was his thesis film at the Rhode Isle Schoolhouse of Design, about a middle-aged slob named Larry and his cynical talking dog, Steve.

Hanna-Barbera later funded a sequel called Larry & Steve, which showed the backstory of their human relationship, as Larry adopted Steve from a dog pound. These two shorts somewhen formed the footing of Family Guy, meaning that the foundation of the entire show is the relationship shared past Peter and Brian.

9 Brian and Stewie: Babies and dogs get along in real life

It's often said that dogs are a man'south best friend, and every show with a canis familiaris has a man to be their best friend. Family unit Guy is no different, with a friendship quickly blossoming betwixt Peter and Brian. Just something that doesn't oft get explored in sitcoms is that babies and dogs become along in existent life also.

They bond over their reliance on the homeowners and their inability to properly communicate with them, and dogs' "pack drive" compels them to protect babies. So it makes perfect sense for Stewie and Brian to be the best of friends in the show.

8 Peter and Brian: They accept more conflict

In drama – which is a blanket term that, in this case, as well applies to developed-oriented animated sitcoms featuring an abundance of fart jokes – stories and relationships between characters are all built on conflict. Aside from Stewie having a lot more scientific knowhow than Brian, they're mostly on the same page.

What makes Peter and Brian's human relationship interesting is Brian's unrequited love of Lois. A couple of episodes accept dealt directly with the fact that Brian is in love with Peter's wife, and the effect that that's had on their friendship. They're easily the Family Guy pairing with the near conflict.

7 Brian and Stewie: They star in a serial of special episodes

Although Peter and Brian could be said to be the stars of the show, they don't accept whatsoever special episodes defended to them. Brian and Stewie accept starred in the series of "Route to..." episodes, about of which feature no other characters and focus entirely on those ii characters going on an risk.

These episodes are amid the most popular of the show. Oft, when a series does an episode missing a large chunk of the main cast, fans of that bear witness volition be disappointed, merely, as long equally Brian and Stewie are effectually, Family Guy fans are happy.

6 Peter and Brian: Stewie scientifically proved that they were all-time friends

In the season 10 episode "Forget-Me-Not," Stewie puts Peter, Brian, Joe, and Quagmire into a virtual simulation in which they'll all wake up in an empty hospital with no knowledge of who they are, in society to determine whether or not Peter and Brian are actually best friends. Stewie had suggested that Peter isn't actually friends with Brian, and but hangs out with him considering he's his canis familiaris, and Brian contested it. Then, Stewie put information technology to the test.

In the simulation, they didn't know each other, so if they became friends, it was because it was truly meant to exist. Brian sacrifices himself to save Peter and Peter weeps over Brian'south corpse, proving that they are actually friends.

5 Brian and Stewie: They go along sci-fi adventures

Peter and Brian have a fun rapport, but they haven't put their lives on the line to save the unabridged universe quite every bit many times as Stewie and Brian have. Thank you to Stewie existence plenty of a genius to invent time travel, interdimensional travel, and proportional shrinking, he and Brian have been on a litany of sci-fi adventures.

In "The Big Blindside Theory," they accidentally wiped the earth from beingness and then fix it again. In "Yug Ylimaf," they reversed the flow of time and Brian managed to fix it earlier Stewie was un-born. And in "Back to the Pilot," Brian told his past self to prevent nine/xi, unwittingly caused the apocalypse, and went dorsum in time to set the timelines straight.

4 Peter and Brian: Their relationship hasn't changed since season one

In the start flavor of Family Guy, Brian and Stewie weren't really on each other'due south radar, and if they did speak, it was merely to insult each other. When they started getting acquainted, it was just as contentious, with Stewie making fun of Brian's drinking and Brian making fun of Stewie's size.

Somewhen, it grew into the human relationship we come across today, with Stewie beingness a scientific genius and Brian being the failed writer and misinformed liberal that Stewie tin't take seriously, but ultimately loves. But Peter and Brian's relationship has remained the same since season i. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

three Brian and Stewie: Stewie is the just one who calls out Brian's B.South.

Brian pretends to be politically informed, he pretends to be an intellectual and he pretends to be a tortured artist equally an alibi to drink every twenty-four hour period. Stewie is the only one who's willing to call him out on whatsoever of information technology. (Or, at to the lowest degree, the only one who pays close plenty attention to notice.) Conversely, Brian is the but one who pays shut enough attention to Stewie to be enlightened of his many astounding inventions.

And then, they tin can only really talk to each other about most of the things going on in their lives. Neither Brian nor Stewie is the primary lead of Family Guy, but this unique dynamic with Stewie arguably makes their human relationship the most important on the testify.

two Peter and Brian: They have a straight man

Every good comedy duo needs a straight man. Peter and Brian's relationship is marked by Peter saying idiotic things and Brian dryly pointing it out. For instance, when Peter said, "I read a book about this sort of thing once," Brian sharply replied, "Are you sure information technology was a book? Are you sure it wasn't zero?" And and so with pitch-perfect comic timing, Peter said, "Oh, yeah."

Occasionally, Peter even gets a risk to be the straight man, when he points out that Brian can't stand up in a moving van or thinks that his reflection in the mirror is another dog.

1 Brian and Stewie: They're the only two characters who get each other

What makes Brian and Stewie's relationship really special is that they're the only two characters in the testify who really get each other.

Brian is a dog with human qualities and, equally a result, he struggles to fit in and notice his purpose in life. He isn't accepted by dog guild and he isn't accustomed by human society. Stewie is a baby, merely his intellect is far superior to anyone in his family. Withal, he's restricted by his immature historic period. He'south too mature to hang effectually with other babies, but most adults can't comprehend him. Brian and Stewie need each other because they empathise each other and relate to each other.

NEXT: 10 Weirdest Episodes Of Family Guy

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About The Author

Ben Sherlock (3368 Manufactures Published)

Ben Sherlock is a writer, comedian, independent filmmaker, and Burt Reynolds enthusiast. He writes lists for Screen Rant and features and reviews for Game Rant. He's currently in pre-product on his kickoff feature (and has been for a while, considering filmmaking is expensive). Yous can catch him performing standup at odd pubs around the Uk that volition give him stage time. Previously, he wrote for Taste of Picture palace, Comic Book Resources, and BabbleTop.

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