Line #21 TearJerker/FamilyGuy


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/family_guy_brian_4.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:''"You've given me a wonderful life. I love you all.'''"''[[note]]Even if this was ultimately undone, it didn't make this scene any less painful to watch.[[/note]]]]
3
4	Yes, even ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' [[SadistShow of all shows]] has [[TearJerker moments that make you want to cry]], despite being buried under ComedicSociopathy. When the theme song says, "Lucky there's a man who positively can do all the things that make us laugh and ''cry''," [[NotMakingThisUpDisclaimer they mean it]].
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6	----
7	[[foldercontrol]]
8
9	[[folder:General]]
10	* The fact that Joe is a DeathSeeker. Although it's mainly PlayedForLaughs (ex. when Peter rigs him to a harness and lifts him off the ground, he thinks that he's ascending to heaven and joyfully exclaims, "I died! I died!"), it's very depressing to know that he'd rather be dead than continue life as a paraplegic.
11	* [[ButtMonkey Much of the Meg-bashing]]. To say that it '''''[[TheWoobie sucks]]''''' to be her is a total understatement.
12	* A recurring theme the show likes to bring is the fact that Brian is a middle-aged dog who likely only has a few years left to live. Unlike other recurring bits in the series, this is one usually never PlayedForLaughs. Especially when it comes to Stewie, who mentions in many episodes that the thought of losing Brian in a few years makes him depressed.
13	[[/folder]]
14
15	[[folder:Season One]]
16	* The very first episode "Death Has a Shadow", though heaped with EarlyInstallmentWeirdness, has a surprisingly earnest one from Peter. After he loses his job, and attempts tax benefit fraud to keep a roof over his head, he is sent to court. Lois, more outraged he lied to her than the crime he committed, shuns Peter the whole time, until she hears him cut the act and confess to the judge in remorse:
17	-->'''Peter:''' Okay, everybody, I feel really bad about what I did. I just... I don't know. I just saw one chance I'd ever have to give my family the things they deserve. I guess I screwed it up. I cheated the government. And worst of all, I lied to my wife. And she deserves better. I'm sorry, honey.
18	[[/folder]]
19
20	[[folder:Season Two]]
21	* A minor one, but in "Love Thy Trophy" when Stewie gets taken away by Child Protective Services at the end of the second act, you can hear the fear in Lois' voice when she cries out for her baby.
22	-->'''Lois''': ''[[SayMyName Stewie!]]''
23	* "Death is a Bitch" has the Griffins (sans a gleeful Stewie) tearfully saying goodbye to Peter when Death comes to claim him.
24	* "If I'm Dyin', I'm Lyin'" has Chris almost dying when God sends an encore performance of His Egyptian plagues onto the Griffins' house for Peter claiming to be a god himself. Peter ends up tearfully regretting his actions and pleads with God to let Chris live. [[SugarWiki/HeartwarmingMoment He does]].
25	-->'''Chris:''' Hey, Dad... do you think they got ''Gumble to Gumble'' in Heaven?\
26	'''Peter:''' (''sniffles'') [[ComfortTheDying Yes, son. And there's no reruns or commercials. And Kirstie Alley is still hot and all those scrambled channels come in clear as a bell]]. Please don't take him, God! I'm sorry!
27	[[/folder]]
28
29	[[folder:Season Three]]
30	* ''Family Guy'' [[GagSeries of all shows]] pulled one off in the episode "Brian Wallows and Peter's Swallows". First, Brian convinces a shut-in to enjoy the outside world, only to watch as she gets hit by a truck. They then spent her last few moments on Earth imagining what their future would have been like together with a virtual reality helmet. Meanwhile, Peter is forced to release some swallows who have taken up residence in his beard, and to whom he had gotten rather attached. Creator/SethMacFarlane himself said this is one episode that contains "real emotional content".
31	* In the episode "From Method To Madness", Stewie's breakup with Olivia and ensuing SanitySlippage is played mostly for laughs, but their final goodbye before Olivia heads to Hollywood for a major acting gig is not. Stewie is very clearly [[HumiliationConga not as successful as he claims to be anymore]], so all Olivia can really do [[AmicableExes is bid him a bittersweet goodbye]] as their diverging career paths play their course.
32	-->'''Limo Driver:''' So, did you let him have it?\
33	'''Olivia:''' No... he let ''himself'' have it.
34	* "Road to Europe" has the moment when after traveling across the Middle East and Europe to get to [=BBC=] London, Stewie [[FanDisillusionment learns that Jolly Farm is just a set with actors.]] [[BrokenPedestal And then Mother Maggie's actress insults and assaults him, leaving him depressed and in tears.]]
35	-->'''Stewie:''' It's a fake... it's not real!\
36	'''Brian:''' I thought it be best for you to find out on your own, kid.\
37	'''Stewie:''' ''(utterly humiliated)'' I feel like such a fool. ''(tearfully)'' Don't even look at me!
38	[[/folder]]
39
40	[[folder:Season Four]]
41	* The ending from "The Fat Guy Strangler" where Lois's brother Patrick, a serial killer who targets obese men due to childhood trauma, has a breakdown and begs Lois for forgiveness.
42	--> '''Patrick''': I have to go back to the asylum, don't I?
43	--> '''Lois''': Oh, Patrick, you're very sick, but you're still my brother, and I love you.
44	* In "Perfect Castaway" when a memorial service is held for Peter, Quagmire, Cleveland and Joe who are presumed lost at sea, the reactions and tears of everyone is pretty sad. Particularly those of Joe's son Kevin (who is seen crying and being consoled by Bonnie in the background) and Chris, who openly wails for Peter [[KickTheDog (even as Lois stops him from that due to "making a scene" in front of all their friends]] and it makes perfect sense for him to react that way, since of all three Griffin children, he is the closest to his father).
45	[[/folder]]
46
47	[[folder:Season Five]]
48	* The "Rupert's Funeral" cutaway from "Road to Rupert" captures the scene it parodies (Spock's funeral from Film/StarTrekIITheWrathOfKhan) so perfectly that it will leave a tear in your eye.
49	* The "Lieutenant Shiny Sides" cutaway in "Meet the Quagmires" is played for slight laughs, but it's enough to tug at the heartstrings of anybody who had a pet they really loved and were in denial when it died.
50	-->'''Peter''' ''(pouring fish food into an overflowing fishbowl)'': Here you go, Lieutenant Shiny Sides. It's okay, you don't have to eat it now. You're just sleeping. You'll eat it later... You'll eat it later, Lieutenant Shiny Sides! ''(dissolves into InelegantBlubbering)''
51	[[/folder]]
52
53	[[folder:Season Six]]
54	* "Believe It or Not, Joe's Walking on Air" has Joe getting a swelled head due to a successful leg transplant. It's disheartening to see him pushing aside Peter, Cleveland, Quagmire and even ''Bonnie'', to the point where all four attempt to re-cripple him so he'll stop acting like a jerk.
55	* "[=McStroke=]", where Peter gets a stroke and suffers just trying to live his life while his whole left side of his body is paralyzed. It was Peter's fault that he caused the stroke to himself by eating 30 hamburgers in one sitting, but for anyone who has or had a friend or family member suffering from a stroke, Peter's suffering can hit home.
56	-->'''Peter:''' I hate being all strokey!
57	* It's a little sad to see Peter and Brian fighting in "Play It Again Brian", as they were really close back in these seasons.
58	* "The Former Life of Brian" reveals that Brian has a son named Dylan, who he abandoned when he was born. A few scenes later, and we get one of the most heartbreaking moments in the entire series.
59	-->'''Brian:''' I'm sorry I wasn't around when you were growing up.
60	-->'''Dylan:''' Don't. ''[tears up]'' Just-- Just don't...
61	-->'''Brian:''' ''[tearing up as well]'' If-- if I had known having a son could be like this...
62	-->'''Dylan:''' ''[angrily]'' '''How ''dare'' you?!'''
63	-->'''Brian:''' I didn't know!
64	-->'''Dylan:''' You had '''no right''', man! '''NO RIGHT!'''
65	-->'''Brian:''' ''It wasn't my fault!''
66	-->'''Dylan:''' You weren't there for me!
67	-->'''Brian:''' Damn it, ''[[ArmorPiercingQuestion don't you think I]] '''[[ArmorPiercingQuestion wanted]]''' [[ArmorPiercingQuestion to be?!]]''
68	-->''[Cue breakdown. Brian and Dylan both hug each other.]''
69	[[/folder]]
70	[[folder:Season Seven]]
71	* In the otherwise hilarious "Road to Germany", the scene where nerdy Jewish ButtMonkey Mort Goldman, transported back in time to Warsaw in September of 1939, dances happily-- the only moment of happiness we've ever seen the character have-- with all of his old relatives at a wedding while "Tradition" from ''Fiddler on the Roof'' plays, interspersed with the Nazi invasion. It was as though the writers were acknowledging that even a BlackComedy like ''Family Guy'' has to address UsefulNotes/TheHolocaust with at least one moment of solemnity before getting back to ThoseWackyNazis.
72	* Peter killing Quagmire's cat on "Episode 420" [[note]]The one where Brian petitions Quahog to legalize marijuana[[/note]]. The cat was one of the few things he loved other than women, and it's shown that he's clearly distraught about his disappearance (he didn't know that his cat was dead until the end when the main story about Brian's marijuana campaign fizzles out).
73	-->'''Quagmire:''' I'm raising the reward to 50 dollars for any information on James. No questions asked.
74	-->'''Peter:''' ''(beat)'' ''(takes reward from him)'' I killed your cat. ''([[KickTheDog slams door on him]])''
75	* In "Love Blactually", after Loretta wants Cleveland back and he gently turns her down, though saying he still loves her:
76	-->'''Loretta''': Oh, Cleveland... Isn't there anything I can do to make you happy?
77	-->'''Cleveland''': Yes, there is. You can live your life, Loretta--live it as full and as wonderful as you can.
78	* In the episode "The Man With Two Brians", the Griffins adopt a new dog named New Brian. New Brian is a [[NiceGuy huge charmer]], though he turns out to be a BitchInSheepsClothing, and Stewie tells Brian that it's a sign they are looking to replace him. In order to convince the family otherwise, Brian shows the family [[HappierHomeMovie adorable old home videos]] of him as a puppy... and is ignored as the family are more entranced with New Brian sleeping (and farting). PlayedForLaughs, but it's still quite disheartening.
79	* The parody of ''Film/StandByMe'' from "Three Kings" has a real tearjerker moment at the end, which feels a lot like a eulogy for Creator/RiverPhoenix, who was one of the main characters in the original movie. Not helped by the fact that it's narrated by Creator/RichardDreyfuss, in the same role he had in the movie.
80	--> '''Adult!Petey''': Quags grew up to become a famous Hollywood celebrity. Unfortunately, about a week ago, he overdosed on designer drugs at the Viper Room. ''(Quags fades away.)'' He died... on the curb outside...
81	[[/folder]]
82
83	[[folder:Season Eight]]
84	* The Evil Monkey's backstory (which was briefly referenced before, but fully expanded upon this season). He arrived home from work one day to find his wife cheating on him, which led to the two of them getting divorced, and the Evil Monkey to spiral into depression as a result. This caused him to lose his job (and later loses his house, since he couldn't pay for it without income). With nowhere to go, the Evil Monkey moved into Chris' closet until he could get his life sorted out, only to end up living there for ''nine years''. Unsurprisingly, Chris doesn't buy it, but the rest of the Griffins take pity on him, realizing that [[NotEvilJustMisunderstood the "Evil" Monkey isn't evil after all]].
85	* "Quagmire's Baby". As one could probably tell, Quagmire gets a doorstep baby from one of the many women he slept with. He's referenced the likelihood of having kids all over the world, but this is the first time he actually has to be a father to one of them. He tries to put the child up for adoption, but finds himself attached to his child. The episode ends with Quagmire trying to get his baby back, but after observing her adoptive family's joy, decides it would be best to let her go. [[KavorkaMan He still hasn't changed all that much]] ([[{{Squick}} implying that he might have sex with her when she turns 18]]), but the moment is still surprisingly poignant.
86	* Brian's efforts to get people to realize animals' lives are as important as those of humans in "Dog Gone" ending in utter failure. To prove that the Griffins love Brian, Stewie takes his collar to a bar and burns the bar down while a stray dog wearing the collar is inside. The firefighters are led to believe that the stray's burnt corpse was Brian thanks to the collar and give the news to the Griffins. Though the viewer knows that Brian is perfectly fine, it's still heart-wrenching to see the family's tearful reactions.
87	** Plus, the scene of Brian crying in the tub. Especially this line:
88	--->'''Brian:''' Nobody gives a damn about animals. I never noticed what little meaning my life had.
89	* Some scenes from "Brian and Stewie", particularly the revelation that Brian keeps a gun and a bottle of Scotch in his bank vault for when the day comes that he becomes so sick of living that he can have one final drink before he kills himself (especially because the whole scene is played for drama rather than comedy), and Stewie telling Brian that he's the only person he cares about in this world and he'd be lost if he died.
90	* "Dial Meg For Murder"
91	** Brian sabotages one of Meg's relationships by telling her parents that Meg is dating a fugitive and a criminal. Meg keeps insisting she loves Luke and he's not manipulating her. But then Joe re-arrests him and then takes Meg into custody for harboring a fugitive. We find out that while Meg only got a few months, Luke got ''forty years''. They ''definitely'' aren't getting back together any time soon.
92	** Meg's transformation is awesome and tragic. She comes home with tattoos, a cold expression, and a contralto. Then she starts bullying her family, refusing Lois's peace offerings of doing laundry, and beating up the popular kids at school. Meg simply doesn't care anymore and to hell with the consequences.
93	** The climax: Meg forces Brian to give her to the pharmacy, where she can rob Mort and use the money to run away. Brian tries to talk her down, asking what happened to the sweet girl that Luke loved. Meg shoves his words back in his face by reminding Brian that thanks to him, she and Luke are definitely broken up and she no longer needs him. When Brian threatens to call the police, Meg's voice breaks as she says, "You know what? Fine! Call them!" and asserts she doesn't care about going back to jail because no one cares about her. Only ''then'' does Brian have a guilty JerkassRealization as he finally realizes this is all his fault.
94	[[/folder]]
95
96	[[folder:Season Nine]]
97	* Mort's reaction to the death of his wife, Muriel, in "And Then There Were Fewer".
98	-->'''Mort''': Oh, my god! Muriel! My sweet Muriel! She was so young! She was so beauti... She was so gener... uh, we were married!
99	** In the same episode, Derek's death and Jillian crying over him.
100	-->'''Jillian:''' Oh, my god! No! Derek! ''(cries)''\
101	'''Diane:''' Oh, Jillian... I'm so sorry.
102	** In the DVD extended edition, Derek's death is even worse as it turns out that Jillian is actually pregnant, meaning that she will have a kid who will grow up without a father. [[note]] That is, unless she does manage to find another lover who's wiling to raise the child with her.[[/note]]
103	** While she obviously threw away any sympathy she had, One cannot help but still feel somewhat sad for Diane Simmons. She never wanted to kill anybody, she was victim to a cutthroat industry that valued age and appearance over experience. Granted she went way too far to get back at Tom Tucker for getting her fired by murdering many of the guests who most of them didn't even do anything really wrong to her, it still doesn't change the fact her own entire career was about to be taken away from her all because she just barely started to get older, [[note]] and not even that old at all, she had only just turned 40.[[/note]] not to mention the whole murder spree of hers really was still partly Tom's fault as well, as she wouldn't even have murdered anyone in the first place had Tom never tried to replace her with a younger reporter. It just goes to show how truly unfair the world can be, and how it can leave one for dead with nothing.
104	* In "New Kidney in Town", Brian plans to give up his kidneys to save Peter after Peter's kidneys shut down from drinking a homemade energy drink with kerosene in it. And when Stewie finds out, besides the...[[InelegantBlubbering pretty disgusting way he cries]], he feels pain because he believes Brian would leave him alone in the world.
105	** Plus, the scene after Brian first agrees to give up his kidneys and Peter just hugs him tearfully, stroking him silently as Dr. Hartman and a tearful Lois look on.
106	* The awful bullying/hazing that Joyce Kinney went through in her flashback in "And I'm Joyce Kinney". Imagine if you wanted to become a cheerleader, only to find yourself blindfolded and with a hot-dog stuck in your mouth and with your pants down on the floor, and with half the school laughing at you, to the point that you start crying.
107	* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTVjKgSljlA The one time]] where "Surfin' Bird" is ''not'' PlayedForLaughs.
108	[[/folder]]
109
110	[[folder:Season Ten]]
111	* In "Seahorse Seashell Party" (part two of the Creator/SethMacFarlane hurricane crossover special, featuring ''WesternAnimation/TheClevelandShow'' and ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDad'') Meg's breakdown at her life as a ChewToy. After years of abuse, neglect and hate, she finally snaps and lets ALL of her anger out at [[ReasonYouSuckSpeech on Chris, Lois and Peter]], and says nothing positive about them.
112	-->'''Meg''': ''(to Lois)'' Not only are you not the perfect mother, you're the farthest thing ''from''! From the ''moment'' you gave birth to me, I had to trust you--I had no choice. I needed you to protect me from the world, to be my guide: to help me navigate the difficult, confusing, and vulnerable journey to becoming a person. You have done ''none'' of those things! You're my mother, and you took a child's trust and smashed it into bits in a seventeen-year long mission to destroy something that you killed a long time ago! And honestly, when I turn eighteen, I-I don't know that I ever want to see you again!
113	-->''({{Beat}}. Then Lois bursts into TearsofRemorse.)''
114	-->'''Meg''': ''(to Peter)'' You're a fat, lazy, abusive, blue-collar, Irish-Catholic dad who drinks ''way'' too much, and barely makes enough to support his family! You've lived ''half'' your life, and you have ''nothing'' to show for it! Your ''only'' arguable accomplishments are your kids, and look at us! We're a ''disaster!'' You're a total and ''complete'' embarrassment in every ''possible'' way! Take a good look at yourself, Peter Griffin! You're a ''waste'' of a man!
115	-->'''Peter:''' ...[[LateToTheRealization Wait a second!]] [[CantTakeCriticism These are criticisms]]!
116	** Several minutes later, the whole ''family''--sans Brian and Stewie--is at each other's throats, with Peter running to his room and saying, "I didn't ''ask'' to be in this family!"
117	** And it becomes even sadder when she accepts her role of being a ChewToy to keep the family from falling apart.
118	* The entire episode "Screams of Silence: The Story of Brenda Q". Aside from some of the expected tasteless Family Guy jokes (mostly from Peter), the whole situation is played as surprisingly serious and dramatic, but especially Quagmire's speech to his sister at the intervention.
119	-->'''Quagmire''': Brenda, the fact that you are being abused has affected my life in the following ways. The sister that I knew and loved growing up no longer exists. The person I see before me right now is just a punching bag. And I call you "person" and not "woman", because a woman is a strong, beautiful vibrant creature. A woman embraces life, a woman makes choices to make her life better. Sadly, the fact that you are with Jeff proves to me that you have made a choice to make your life worse. ''(tearing up)'' I...I want the girl who I grew up with back. I want...I...I want my sister back.
120	** And this is coming from '''QUAGMIRE'''. The same Quagmire who often slips roofies into his date's drinks, steals women's used shoes to satisfy his foot fetish, has a sex doll of Lois hidden in his bedroom that he uses as a StalkerShrine, and doesn't use protection at all during sex (despite that he has every venereal disease known to man) actually cares about his sister and wants her to get out of being abused by her boyfriend.
121	* In "Amish Guy", Meg is told by an Amishman to stay away from his son. How does Meg respond? She ''cries''. This even angers '''[[PapaWolf Peter!]]'''
122	** Followed by her [[CrossesTheLineTwice getting pooped on by a horse]].
123	** Then near the end, when Meg and Eli share a final goodbye.
124	* In "Quagmire and Meg", nobody shows up to Megs 18th birthday party. It's sad because Peter and Lois ''actually feel sorry for her'' (even though the later episodes do show Peter and Lois as treating their children like crap, especially Meg, to the point that she may be mentally ill). Earlier on, Chris was told to ''pay'' kids from school to come. It's pretty obvious that the main reason Meg latched on to Quagmire's advances was due to loneliness.
125	* "Internal Affairs" forces Joe and Bonnie to admit to their cheating hearts. Rather than try to point out how one is better than the other, the show takes a third option and puts them both to task. Both of them are deeply unhappy in their marriage, despite starting off so strong and to see it hit this low can hurt.
126	* "Thanksgiving" has the most upsetting and heartbreaking cutaway in the show's history. Peter mentions he faked his own death once, cueing an actual funeral. The gut-punching is Lois wailing as her dad holds her as Peter's casket is lowered into the grave. There is '''''NOTHING''''' funny about the cutaway, not even the "punchline" of Peter doing it to avoid the dentist. It's just horribly sad.
127	[[/folder]]
128
129	[[folder:Season Eleven]]
130	* Right at the end of the episode "Yug Ylimaf", it's slightly heartbreaking when the Griffins leave the hospital with the newly-born Stewie and Peter asks, "Is he smart? Or is he...like me?".
131	* Peter and Lois accidentally destroying Chris' self-esteem in "Space Cadet". Also, Chris writes an essay about what his teacher does after school, saying that she eats a roll of cookie dough, throws it up and puts doll clothes on a sonogram picture.
132	* Brian's BreakTheHaughty moment in "Brian's Play". Brian's play was pedestrian and cheesy, but it was ''his'' and one of the few things he's made that other people actually liked. Him trying to hide that Stewie had real talent just so he could keep his delusions was a big dick move, but a lot of creators can empathize with him. You work and you slave, and even your best just isn't good enough, while others can just pull the damn Mona Lisa out of their ass like it's nothing.
133	-->'''Brian:''' ''(to a squirrel)'' You stink! And your play ''stinks!''
134	-->'''Squirrel:''' ...This ain't about me, is it?
135	-->''({{Beat}}. Brian then starts weeping.)''
136	-->'''Brain:''' No! And I'm sorry... but nobody can ever know that. ''(snaps the squirrel's head in half)''
137	* Brian imagining [[WhatCouldHaveBeen what life could have been like as a puppy if he had gotten to stay with his mother and siblings]] while listening to Stewie singing Anne Murray's "You Needed Me" in "Chris Cross". He's even moved to tears by song's end.
138	* In "Bigfat", the Griffin family, except Stewie, saying goodbye to a now feral Peter when he's nearly leaving his own family to live in the forest forever.
139	[[/folder]]
140
141	[[folder:Season Twelve]]
142	* "Quagmire's Quagmire": It's oddly tearjerking to see him getting the crap beaten out of Quagmire, and then kidnapped. Even though nobody can say he didn't ''deserve it''. However, the problem is, Glenn is treated as a victim of domestic abuse, and the scene can be quite uncomfortable to watch, as he's actually begging her to stop.
143	* In "A Fistful of Meg," after Meg was threatened to be murdered by Mental Mike in a fight, she goes to her mother for help. However, Lois coldly scoffs her for wanting to go to another school saying that it would cost too much, not noticing how Meg is clearly horrified for her life. Also, in this episode, her own friends decided to steer clear of her leaving her alone to face her tormentor.
144	* Goodness gracious, where to ''begin'' with "[[CharacterDeath Life]] [[WhamEpisode of Brian]]"? When the titular character gets hit by a car, it's definitely a shock value [[SignatureScene moment]], which itself could go here for a tearjerker. But at the same time, it's ''Family Guy'', so we assume everything will be fine, right? '''Wrong.''' Brian ''actually dies'', and it's not even the usual black humor--it's played as a serious moment. And as a result, it's truly heartbreaking that, love or hate him, Brian is truly ''gone''.
145	** What happens next is quite possibly the saddest scene in all of ''Family Guy''. When the Griffins are told that Brian is about to die, they're utterly heartbroken. And then Brian flatlines, but not before giving the Griffins his last words.
146	--->'''Brian:''' You... you've given me a wonderful life. [[DyingDeclarationOfLove I love you all.]] ''([[GoOutwithaSmile smiles]] before finally passing away, to the family's horror. The veterinarian checks his heartbeat. Nothing.)''
147	--->'''Vet:''' I'm sorry. [[HesDeadJim He's gone.]]
148	--->'''Chris:''' Oh, my god... He's...
149	--->'''Lois:''' Yes, Chris. I'm afraid... I'm afraid ''[[WhamLine our Brian is dead]]!''
150	** Then there's Peter's speech at the funeral. It drives everyone except Quagmire to tears, and for good reason.
151	-->'''Peter:''' This is probably the worst pain I've ever had to go through, and I've sprained my ankle twice. Um...the truth is, Brian wasn't just my dog. He was my best friend in the whole world. He was smart, he was loyal, and I guess what I'm trying to say is he was like a brother to me. And I-I'm gonna spend the rest of my life missing him...
152	*** Followed by Stewie dropping a red rose on Brian's casket.
153	** Later on, Vinny finds Stewie crying outside, still depressed over Brian's death. It's even at one point where Stewie admits that "you're not supposed to lose your best friend at my age--you're not supposed to lose him ''ever!''"
154	* Vinny being in the theme for two episodes. Either people took it this way, or went into horrified shock over what they'd just seen.
155	* "Christmas Guy". The episode where Brian is brought back in question, has Stewie asking for Santa to bring Brian back for Christmas, as this will be the Griffins' first Christmas without him.
156	-->'''Stewie:''' I want my friend back.
157	-->'''Santa:''' Your friend?
158	-->'''Stewie:''' Yes. My best friend. My dog, Brian. He's dead. It's our first Christmas without him and no one's even mentioned his name. I don't care about this stupid carnival or Christmas. I don't care about anything except Brian! ''I want Brian!'' ''(cries)''
159	** Vinny looking saddened seeing Stewie weeping for Brian, as he both feels sorry for Stewie and the fact that he'd never truly replace Brian. He even tries later on to emulate what Brian was like just to cheer Stewie up.
160	** Also, despite their short time together, Stewie saying goodbye to Vinny before leaving to save Brian is pretty sad but sweet at the same time.
161	* From "Meg Stinks!":
162	** Peter telling Meg that he does love her (despite all the crap and abuse she has to take from him) and doesn't wish that she was never born.
163	** Peter crying when Meg tells him that she needs to grow up and go to college.
164	--->'''Peter:''' ''(sobbing)'' My little girl's growing up!
165	* The flashbacks in "He's Bla-ack!" of Cleveland and Peter's times together, complete with a [[DarkReprise melancholy rendition of]] [[WesternAnimation/TheClevelandShow Cleveland's theme song]].
166	* Stewie's meltdown after Peter and Chris break the TV in "Chap Stewie" can be pretty heartbreaking to watch. [[MoodWhiplash Until he bites Lois, throws a picture against the wall, and headbutts Meg hard enough to break her nose, that is.]]
167	[[/folder]]
168
169	[[folder:Season Thirteen]]
170	* "The Simpsons Guy"
171	** Lisa tries to help Meg find something that she is good at. They fail at nearly everything, but Lisa lets Meg play the saxophone. Meg proves to be a better player than Lisa, so Lisa tricks Meg into thinking she's a bad player, removing the one thing that she's good at. Lisa eventually tells Meg she's good at playing and [[{{Heartwarming/FamilyGuy}} gives Meg her own saxophone]]--which Peter immediately throws in the trash.
172	** Earlier, Lisa encourages Meg to tell herself, "I matter!" Meg does so with rising confidence...and then Peter yells, "[[KicktheDog Shut up, Meg! You don't matter!]]" You can see the dejection on Meg's face as he says this.
173	** Homer apologizing to Peter for costing his job, only for Peter to tell him that he's through with the Simpsons.
174	--->'''Homer:''' Hey Griffin, sorry about your job. I was just sticking up for Duff. [[TrademarkFavouriteFood I love Duff, and Duff loves me. Duff can keep a secret, Duff never says "no". Duff is more experimental than any partner I've ever had.]] Anyway, point is, I'm sorry.\
175	'''Peter:''' [[RejectedApology You know,]] [[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech when I first met you, I thought, "Hey! I love this guy! This is the funniest guy I've ever met! I'm gonna quote this guy to all my friends! I love his town! I love his family!" But now, I think I speak for all of us when I say, I am over the Simpsons.]]\
176	'''Homer:''' ''(gasps)'' [[Recap/TheSimpsonsS8E23HomersEnemy What are you saying?!]]\
177	'''Peter:''' I'm saying the Simpsons '''''suck!'''''\
178	'''Homer:''' [[CatchPhrase Why]] '''''[[RageBreakingPoint YOU...]]'''''
179	** Stewie being heartbroken at the end when Bart doesn't want to talk with him anymore. The final scene of the episode is Stewie doing Bart's chalkboard gag, sobbing quietly to himself at having lost Bart's friendship.
180	* The beginning parts of "Brian the Closer" is rather heartbreaking to watch and it's the fact that it's ''animal abuse'' PlayedForLaughs, especially with the fact that Peter causes Brian to lose all of his teeth and have his nose completely smashed. Worse yet, Lois', the usual OnlySaneWoman, refusal to pay to treat Brian because he's not a human and laughing it off as if it was a joke, even though it was Peter's fault this happened.
181	** The fact it was QUAGMIRE of all people who helped Brian afterwards takes on a bit of fridge tearjerker and horror. This is Quagmire, the same one who openly said he once HATED Brian, actually doing something his own family refused to do. It's possible that he heard about how Brian lost his teeth and felt disgusted by his friends' callousness. The fact that a known pedophile and the same one who once tried to take his life was more helpful than the family that's supposed to love him unconditionally...
182	--> '''Quagmire''': I don't care enough to make fun of you.
183	** This line could show that Quagmire's done with the shit done by the Griffins altogether and now is just there to pick up the pieces after every time Peter does something that nearly kills one of his own.
184	** And yet then Brian goes around and stabs Quagmire in the back. It wouldn't be bad if it was Peter as a revenge ploy... but this was a guy who helped him when Peter was the one who abused him. Yet he chose the one guy who ACTUALLY had the guts to help him and play him like that...
185	* The entirety of the "nasty wolf pack" cutaway in "Roasted Guy".
186	** It starts with a wolf named Phil being tricked into yelling "Cock-a-doodle-doo!" at the moon instead of howling, causing his fellow wolves to laugh at him. Enraged, Phil returns to his cave and yells at his son, even going so far as to say that he never wanted a cub. This prompts his wife to order him to leave the cave and never return. Later, in the city, he meets a man who sells him drugs, and the next time we see him, he appears to have transitioned and become a hooker. Then one of his friends shows up in a car and instead of apologizing to him for tricking him, he just yells, "Cock-a-doodle-doo!" at his face and as the others ''laugh at him!'' This turns out to be the last straw for Phil, who whips out a handgun and shoots all 3 of them... [[BleedEmAndWeep before realizing what's he's done and falling to his knees in tears]].
187	[[/folder]]
188
189	[[folder:Season Fourteen]]
190	* In "Peter's Sister" it revealed that Peter's got a {{jerkass}} sister named Karen who bullies him WAY worse than what he does to Meg. She always calls him "Pee-Pee", tells embarrassing stories about him, and what's worse is she humiliates him by almost breaking his arms and choking him unconscious in her signature wrestling move "The Toxic Shock" which makes him stutter and pee his pants. Of course, in some ways, this can be seen as Peter's KarmaHoudiniWarranty running out.
191	** His friends and family, especially Meg out of all people, feel sorry for Peter (despite how he treated her over the years). What's worse is that Peter's parents didn't do anything to stop Karen from picking on Peter in childhood. To really drive it home, [[TruthInTelevision some people's siblings]] ''[[TruthInTelevision really]]'' [[TruthInTelevision do treat them like that and then some]].
192	* In "Brokeback Swanson", it is rather heartbreaking that Joe became a [[WheelchairWoobie quadriplegic after the bull run accident]]; [[FromBadToWorse and to add insult to injury]], Bonnie leaves him because she doesn't want to take care of him.
193	[[/folder]]
194	%%[[folder:Season Fifteen]]
195	%%[[/folder]]
196	%%
197	[[folder:Season Sixteen]]
198	* Peter and Lois' fight at the end of "Nanny Goats". Though they've had countless arguments over the series almost all in a comedic manner, this feels truly personal and upsetting. It's heartbreaking to see how their marriage is on the very tip of destruction especially considering how close they used to be in the earlier seasons.
199	* "The D in Apartment 23" has Brian being kicked out by the Griffins after making an offensive tweet which caused everyone in Quahog to hate them. To put things in perspective, the fact that he is hated and shunned by everyone, even by his own family, makes this very disheartening. This is, however, somewhat lessened by the fact that Brian never apologizes for what he did, and thinks it was just a small joke.
200	** What arguably makes it worse is that he wasn't exactly kicked out because of the tweet. They did it to save their own hides.
201	* In "Don't Be A Dickens At Christmas", Peter is shown how everyone in his life is affected by his passing. While his friends and family have moved on, Brian is seen sleeping by Peter's grave. This not only captures Brian's UndyingLoyalty to Peter, but is TruthInTelevision for how dogs would cope after their owners pass away.
202	* In "The Woof of Wall Street", Jerome leaves the bar to take care of his sick mother and leaves the guys in charge. Midway through the episode, he calls [[ManlyTears crying]], telling Peter that his mom has passed away. Other than setting the stage for more antics (the bar has just been wrecked and the guys need to fix it before he gets back), it's not PlayedForLaughs, and can really hit home if you've lost a loved one.
203	* "Boy (Dog) Meets Girl (Dog)" has Brian date Ellie, a female dog that he truly is in love with. But by the end of the episode she is forced to breed with another dog as per contract for a dog show. The heartbroken tone in Brian's voice while talking to Stewie really shows how depressed he is.
204	* In the episode, "Dog Bites Bear", Rupert is violently chewed to pieces as if he were a mere chew toy. Needless to say, when Stewie sees Rupert's remains all strewn about the living room, he does ''not'' take Rupert's death well at all. Stewie becomes so mad at Brian, that he decides to end their friendship because of it. What makes it worse is that Brian ''knew'' that Rupert was very real to Stewie, he knew how much that stuffed bear meant to the toddler... and he just rips Rupert to shreds, anyway. They have a fight twice over it; once at home and on the mountains. Granted, on the way back to Rhode Island, Brian does buy Stewie a bear that looks exactly like Rupert (of course, Stewie never knew it was a replacement bear).
205	** The real reason why Stewie treasures Rupert so much is because he'd still be around long after others in his life had gone, particularly Brian, who will die while Stewie's still a kid.
206	* Peter's attempt to prove to God he deserves a second chance in "Are You There God? It's Me, Peter" fails spectacularly; after a disastrous dinner at Fuddruckers, Peter screams that he hates his whole family.
207	-->'''Peter:''' ''(thinking)'' You can do this, Peter. You love your family. You can do this, Peter. You love your family. ''[[SurvivalMantra You can do this, Peter. You love your family]].''\
208	'''Chris:''' Hey, Dad? Can you crack your window a little bit?\
209	'''Peter:''' '''''I HATE YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!''''' ''(DramaticThunder)'' [[OhCrap Uh-oh]]...
210	** This causes him to start seeing God's face everywhere, leading him to realize he failed and bid his farewells to the family. As he sits in his car, God appears and Peter tearfully admits that he's a horrible person and that his family ''would'' be better off without him.
211	-->'''God:''' It's weird. For the first seven days, all I did was create things, but since then, it's just killing, killing, killing.
212	-->'''Peter:''' [[DeathSeeker Well, go ahead and do it.]] ''(tears stream down his face)'' My family would be better off without me. [[HeelRealization I'm a terrible husband and a terrible father.]] I should never have questioned you. You were right about everything. ''(hangs his head in sorrow, ready to accept his fate)''
213	-->'''God:''' Say that again.
214	-->'''Peter:''' You were right about everything.
215	-->'''God:''' ''(happily)'' [[SecretTestofCharacter That's all I needed to hear.]]
216	[[/folder]]
217
218	[[folder:Season Seventeen]]
219	* Peter's monologue at Angela's funeral in "Pawtucket Pete". At first, you think it's Peter talking about his boss until you realize that, at the same time, it's Seth talking about Creator/CarrieFisher. [[MoodWhiplash Then it's revealed he's at the wrong funeral.]]
220	-->'''Peter''': I may have lost a boss, but heaven has gained a princess.
221	[[/folder]]
222
223	[[folder:Season Eighteen]]
224	* Brian and Ida being forced to split up again, after Quagmire forces her to choose between him and Brian in "Bri-Da". Sure, Brian may have been a bit condescending towards Quagmire as his stepfather figure but he does show a genuine effort to try and bond with him like a son and it's shown that he really does care about Ida. The said thing is that unlike most of these romance plots, Brian didn't do anything particularly awful here and just wants a genuine relationship with another woman. Not helping matters is the way Quagmire [[KickTheDog rubs it into Brian]].
225	* In "Better Off Meg", Meg is reported to have died in a car crash, due to a mix-up with her driver's license. After seeing how little her family cares about her being dead, Meg finally has enough and moves away to start a new life on her own. Averted with Lois, however, who is genuinely torn over the loss of her daughter, which is quite sad itself ([[{{Hypocrite}} especially given how she's treated her in the past]]), especially when she bursts into tears during dinner.
226	-->'''Lois:''' I hope everyone enjoys tonight's dinner. It-it was Meg's favorite... ''(cries inconsolably)''
227	** After trying and failing to "say something about Meg" at Lois's request, Brian also breaks down in tears.
228	--->'''Brian:''' ''(voice cracking)'' I miss you, Meg… ''(starts sobbing)''
229	[[/folder]]
230
231	[[folder:Season Nineteen]]
232	* In "Boys and Squirrels", Chris and Stewie find and adopt an injured baby squirrel whose parents were killed by the tree which Peter cut down using his new chainsaw. Just as the squirrel is taking its first steps after being injured, Brian viciously mauls it to death due to his hatred for squirrels. This results in Stewie and Chris being devastated over the loss of their adorable new friend. The squirrel's [[https://i.ytimg.com/vi/iacOzDu09WE/maxresdefault.jpg facial expression]] and squealing as it's being mauled don't help either.
233	** This is made all the worse when months later at Christmas time, Stewie gets the Christmas cards he and Chris made with the squirrel. "I Love L.A." playing as the episode closes out on Stewie crying only makes the moment worse, as that was the song they were playing to commemorate the moment right before its death.
234	* In "Family Cat", Meg is shown to have a microwave and several snacks in her room. When Brian asks about it, she explains that she got tired of people groaning whenever she enters the kitchen. Her family treats her so badly that she's ensured she can get a snack without leaving the one room in the house that she has to herself. And she would've had to spend her own money on an extra microwave just to have that. Quite possibly the table, too.
235	** When she tells Brian this, he doesn't seem to care about how sad that is and doesn't express any sympathy, he just says "Oh" and then asks if she has any popcorn. And this is ''immediately'' after she explained to him that with how badly she's treated by everyone, she often could've used a dog to help cheer her up, but Brian was never there for her.
236	[[/folder]]
237
238	[[folder:Season Twenty-Two]]
239	* In "Baking Sad", after having an awful day as usual (Thinking a cool kid said hi to her at school only for it to turn out to be a dream she immediately wakes up from, finding both her pet goldfish and horse dead, mistakenly getting thrown into a garbage truck while eating already half-eaten subs from a dumpster at the back of a Quizno's to cheer herself up, losing her bra at the process of being dumped into garbage.) Meg decides to end the worst day of her life by baking cookies from scratch and eating them all until she throws up, when she then receives a letter from the University of Rhode Island, thinking she got in and believing things are finally going her way, she opens it with her head up high in hope, only for it to downright say she didn't get in. Meg then just completely breaks down in despair, with her tears going into the cookie dough, having lost all hope of finding any joy. It's just absolutely breaking to watch and hear her just finally break down crying after having such a horrible day, hell just the way she cries is actually just completely hard to listen to. It really shows how miserable and awful her life in generally is, it just makes you want to hug her and tell her she deserves so much better.
240	-->'''Meg''': ''(crying while making cookies)'' I just have to accept it, i'll '''''never''''' be happy! ''(continues sobbing)''

Context TearJerker / FamilyGuy