Family Guy (TV Series) Brian's a Bad Father (2014) User Reviews

Step in the Right Direction.

[kalecrane-240-838887 · 7/10 · 9 February 2014]

Although not near the level of enjoyment can be had with this episode as in older series but it certainly is a step in the right direction for family guy on the whole.

Like in most long running US comedy series' the creativity and the overall humour of the show has drastically decreased. I have noticed in the past three series the show has become less and less like the creative and at some points not funny in the slightest. The stories have become nonsensical, and don't allow for any character or story progression at all. In my opinion they need to create some kind of on going story over a few episodes to keep fans interested. I know they tried this with the story about Brian's death, but it wasn't executed nearly well enough.

But like I have stated previously this episode brings back some of the random but humorous cutaways, and outrageous moments.

Based on Alec Sulkins dad

[neilgodfreyyk1-209-875326 · 6/10 · 16 September 2018]

According to the podcast "you made it weird" Alec sulkin explains that this episode is based on his own life when his father that walked out on him when he was young returned into his life when he found out he was a successful writer.

7

[Edvis-1997 · 7/10 · 11 October 2021]

I'm not sure why it has such a low rating. It wasn't perfect episode but it was interesting to watch so can't complain.

Please Stop

[joshnolen · 2/10 · 24 May 2017]

Family Guy was once considered funny unfortunately this episode shows Brian's behavior has been getting worse and worse. The episode supposed to have a heartwarming moment, but it botched it up again. My other main issue is Peter Griffin in Plot B. They should pretty much stop giving moments to a sex offender, South Park got this right. The only good thing are some of the cutaways gave me a laugh

The One Where Brian's Son Gets On TV...

[taylorkingston · 9/10 · 26 April 2015]

I really like this episode. I love to see Brian being a douche, because let's be honest, that's who his character is. A pretentious, snobby, inconsiderate douche. So when the opportunity comes up to whine about him, I'm going to.

In this episode, Brian's long-lost son, the one we've only seen in one or two other episodes before, comes back and he gets a job on a TV show. Brian then uses his son to get a writing job for the show. See, inconsiderate douche. But things do not go well for Brian after Dylan finds out what's going on. Meanwhile, Peter accidentally shoots Quagmire and Quagmire stops being friends with him. I guess that's understandable.

Overall, I give this episode a 9 out of 10, which in my ratings book is: Amazing.

One of Family Guy's worst episodes ever.

[ericthoffmann · 1/10 · 21 August 2016]

Personally after seeing this a few times Brian should've just stayed dead for good. He mooches off his son to get success because, well, he has no redeeming factors anymore! The writing here makes him worse than before he was killed off! So to get Brian's job back, Stewie dresses up as Zac, and at the audition wastes about 30-45 seconds of him constantly talking (Seriously, why do you need to do cram unimportant garbage that isn't funny so much?) and then telling Dylan that it's better to take a risk of having a dad instead of having one. Stewie, go back to being a murderous infant like you were in the first 4 seasons...

Peter's plot is even worse. Peter "accidentally" (Note the quotations) shoots Quagmire in the arm. Why? Well, he was showing Quagmire the difference between a gun with a safety on and one with a safety off. Quagmire and Joe break up the friendship from Peter after the incident and the hounding toward Joe. To settle things, Peter brings a handgun to offer to Quagmire to shoot him and holds it back from him. Joe shoots him the arm and Quagmire shoots him in the head.

Some of the worst jokes have been in this episode, but I'm going to throw one in the mix real quick: Sideways for attention, Longways for results.

Never watch this one, please. It's marginally better than Fresh Heir and Brian and Stewie (Which is the all time worst episode in my opinion) but I'm not kidding when I say this one was rancid. Horrifically mean-spirited, unfunny, and completely disturbing. This episode should've resulted in some terminations.

Brian's a bad father indeed...

[kaimoney · 1/10 · 22 February 2021]

Season 12 was the darkest time for Family Guy, and this episode is no exception.

In this episode, Brian sees that his son Dylan from The Former Life Of Brian returns to Quahog to star in a tv show. So he decides to be around him not because he cares about him, but just to show off his career. Yep they're not kidding with the title.

And here's something stupid: There's a deleted scene where Brian and Dylan actually start bonding with each other. Yeah they cut out a highlight of the episode and it gets worse.

Brian basically gets hired for the show Dylan is in. After Brian gets fired, Dylan realizes what Brian was trying to do and never wants to see him. Next Brian feels horrible and wants to make it up to him, but instead has Stewie apologize for him. And of course Dylan accepts Brian's forgiveness and happy end for them.

That's pretty much it for the main plot, but the side plot is actually even worse than this one believe it or not!

The side plot begins with Peter, Quagmire, and Joe hunting. I'll admit I liked a couple of parts like a bird thinking he's getting laid and a bunch of deer beating up Peter. But it all goes downhill immediately when Peter intentionally shoots Quagmire just to prove his safety was on. Yes he does that on purpose.

Quagmire understandably doesn't want to be friends with Peter anymore. Stupid thing about this plot: We're suppose to side with Peter even though he's the one who started this mess. And every bad thing that happens to Peter, we're suppose to feel sorry for him. I don't feel sorry for this fat jerk, I'm actually rooting for all this bad stuff to happen to him.

And now here is the most insulting, abhorrent, depressing joke ever on the show. Here's how it plays out:

Peter: "Hey Lois if I was gonna kill myself, do I slit my wrists this way or this way?"

Meg: "Sideways for attention, longways for results."

Lois: "Meg is right."

Peter: "Alright I'll be in the garage."

I know! What kind of joke is this?! And even worse, this is not a deleted scene, this was in the episode as it aired on television! Yes they cut out Brian and Dylan's happy bonding, but kept in Peter about slitting his wrists! WHAT IS WRONG WITH WHOEVER THOUGHT ABOUT THIS?! Peter even admits whoever is watching this is 14 years old earlier in the episode. Oh yes! Let's show 14 year olds how to commit suicide! Also remember this scene is all meant to be funny.

In the end, the only way for Quagmire to become friends with Peter again is to have him shoot Peter which they end up doing and that's how it ends. Well not before mocking handicapped people with Peter in a wheelchair.

This episode is absolutely horrible. Both plots suck, Brian and Peter are awful characters, the writing is beyond terrible, most of the comedy are pitiful (especially that wrist slitting joke), and one of Family Guy's pathetic attempt at being heartwarming.

And that's not all the problems with the episode. There's a scene where Peter gives Susie (Joe's baby daughter) a... uh... I'm not gonna say it because it disgusts me. Anyway this episode is an abomination. I hope no one else has to see it ever.

The worst episode I've ever seen

[jace-rynearson · 1/10 · 3 February 2019]

I could barely stomach watching this episode 1 SINGLE TIME. I know Family Guy is well known for it's risque humor, but at least it was generally used to great effect and actually made me laugh. Even if they made fun of mormons (I am a mormon) I still found myself laughing. That's just a broad example, but you get the point. This was NOT one of those episodes. I hated it, all the humor was completely crass, all the characters went from likeable despite being hateable to just vile. Especially Brian, Peter, Quagmire, and Joe, and that's pretty much all the major characters of this episode. I hate Brian anyway, but he just keeps sinking lower than the combined opinion of me and Quagmire. Anyway, the plot is bad even for family guy, it paints all the main characters in an even more negative light than usual. First off, Peter shoots Quagmire on purpose for no reason, so it's no surprise that Quagmire is pissed to the point of ending their friendship. But what is even worse is that the oh-so-surprising reconciliation involves Joe and then Quagmire shooting Peter back, I'm confused, how is that a solution even for Family Guy. On top of that, Brian is even more petty and selfish than usual and once again exploits his son. Bad plot aside, the jokes just weren't funny. The only joke I found to be funny was "The Love Boat with Somali Pirates" joke, but all the rest were just plain mean spirited or lazy, coupled with the lazy plot of the show. One specific joke that made my stomach churn was the "Sideways for Attention, Longways for results" joke. That one wasn't in the slightest bit funny. Suicide is a very personal issue to me, not because I've attempted it or anything, but just the subject matter. Someone said that to me in the wake of an actual suicide and I felt like beating him up. I don't mean to bring so much attention to that story or myself, but even out of context, it's just mean-spirited and unpleasant. That being said, though, this didn't ruin Family Guy for me. There have been plenty of great episodes that I really like to this day and that still make me laugh, even their sense of humor makes me laugh. Ultimately, this episode is one bad apple in a generally good bunch, and Seth McFarlane didn't write this episode, so you can't really blame him for it. Still though, after one single time, I avoided it like the plague. It's a bad episode, but not quite show-ruining bad. And frankly, thank the lord (no pun intended).

The Worst Episode In My Opinion

[samuelshawel-38485 · 1/10 · 24 December 2020]

Brian's A Bad Father is the Worst Family Guy Episode, Here's Why: Brian is very unlikable in this episode, as he gets a job on his son's show to continue his writing career and makes adult changes to the show. The title really does feel that Brian is a bad father. Brian is extremely hypocritical, he purposefully ignores and avoids his son for no good reason and his excuse is "what does he have to gain from it?" but in the episode "Fresh Heir" he scolds Peter for avoiding Chris for no reason after Peter asks what in it for him. Despite "Fresh Heir" coming out after this episode, it's still hypocritical. The subplot which has Peter and Quagmire ending their friendship after Peter shoots Quagmire in the arm is a filler. Speaking of which, Peter is also unlikable as he shoots Quagmire in the arm after he tries to prove to him that the safety on his gun was on. And they both end their friendship and become bitter enemies. After Peter and Quagmire ended their friendship, and Joe chooses Quagmire over Peter, and the episode wants you to sympathize with Peter for losing both his friends, when he deserved to lose them both. Peter's infamous suicide joke: He asks Lois if he wanted to kill himself how does he slit his wrist and Meg's voice is heard off-screen and said sideways for attention and long-ways for results. It's not a very good way to bring back Brian's son, Dylan since he hasn't appeared on the show nor has been mentioned ever since his first appearance in season 6. Stewie says, "Oh, that dog o' mine!" in one scene just to get a pathetic laugh from the viewers. The writing is pretty messed up. A pretty disturbing scene where Peter gives Joe's infant daughter, Susie a raspberry in the wrong place. In fact, Joe doesn't arrest Peter for this, even though he's a cop After this episode, Dylan no longer appears. As if the writers wrote him out completely! To make matters worse, Dylan never is mentioned or even appears in another episode after this one!

Please Kill Off Brian Again, please...

[nasdagoodshepherd · 1/10 · 4 January 2020]

This one is waaaay worst than other terrible Family Guy episodes and that is Brian's a Bad Father. It's literally about when Brian's son, Dylan came to see Brian and tells him about that he is becoming a star, so Brian avoids him...wow, what a good dog... Then, Brain discovered that Dylan is being in a new Disney Channel show so Brian is becoming a writer of the show..only just to USE HIS OWN SON to spice his career up...seriously, Brian is such a good dog, doesn't that make him extremely likable...not. Brian became the most despicable character in the whole world! Jesus Christ, he's worst than Buck Cluck, at least Buck Cluck tries to redeem himself by being supportive to his son, Chicken Little. Plus, he is kind of a better character than Brian Griffin. Seriously, Brian is such a jerk! So Dylan finally realized that Brian is only using him for his stupid career so he told that deadbeat that he never want to see him again. Serves that mutt right. Another story is also terrible, Peter straight up, shoot Quagmire in the arm with a shotgun which made Quagmire ends his friendship with Peter. Peter is also a worthless, unlikable character, he became way heartless and selfish! Also there is an awful joke about suicide. WHAT THE HELL?! For crap's sake, Seth, I like you and all, but what has gotten into you?! Brian's a Bad Father made me hate this show so much, I started becoming a fan of Family Guy Seasons 1-5... and maybe season 6. I give this episode a 1.1/10

Is the title really supposed to be a selling point? What is the point here if they say nothing about it?

[adampkalb · 3/10 · 8 June 2020]

Despite that awful joke about how to cut your wrists that did not need to be here, I do not think it will really make any teens watching cut their wrists in real life if they can distinguish fiction from reality. It is not much harm in comparison to the disturbing jokes and cruel moments of Seahorse Seashell Party and Herpe the Love Sore. I gave Brian's a Bad Father a 3 because - both plots could have been salvaged if Alec Sulkin cared a bit more about making us root for Brian in the A plot and Peter in the B plot when they messed up. A Shot in the Dark was a better way to do Peter's B plot, for instance, and Brian's a Bad Father had one good joke that landed for me and won another star from me where Peter did not need Joe or Quagmire because he has silent movie friends. It is even funnier when you pause it to read Bill's long response when Peter asks him what is up. Peter might have been more forgivable if he did not think that just offering Quagmire to shoot him back without going through with it would be enough.

Even if Alec Sulkin really did base this episode on his real dad, it is not a good idea to write a story about his father coming back into his life for selfish purposes if this story wants us to root for Brian the father, and there is no reason to tell us anything about "taking a risk" to give someone a second or third chance unless Brian did anything to prove he really cares about Dylan. This story could have worked a lot better if Brian was trying to write better storylines for Dylan and did not realize that Parent Boppers was too kid-friendly for him to write for it, but even if both plots of Brian's a Bad Father were written perfectly, or as good as conceivably possible...it is a very bad sign either way when we never see Dylan again. Don't make this if you do not want any more episodes to do with Dylan. It would be like Big City Greens ruining Uncaged by having Nancy inexplicably disappear and never appear in any Big City Greens episodes again. Even though they are much different shows with much different types of audiences, it is amazing how many times Family Guy or Friendship is Magic both easily forgive a character in the wrong in their dud episodes, and give them a third chance too easily (see Peter-assment, Seahorse Seashell Party, A Canterlot Wedding or The Cutie Re-Mark for other examples). It is hard to tell if people really deserve a second chance or not, and Friendship is Magic even has an episode about this called No Second Prances. What we should do is treat third chances on a case-by-case basis. If the people who want another chance from us really care about our needs, they will change for us and do whatever it takes for us to forgive them.

Disgusting Mean Spirited Episode

[GravityLoudHouseLover1 · 1/10 · 12 March 2022]

Hello IMDB Viewers I'm GravityLoudHouseLover1 & Today I'm Reviewing a Bad Episode of Family Guy From Season 12 Called Brain's a Bad Father which is panned by a lot of Family Guy Fans including Mr. Enter & Phantomstrider & I think it's awful too. This episode is about Brain wanting to See his Son Dylan to get on his show & the Subplot is about Peter, Quagmire & Joe going Hunting & Peter Shooting Quagmire in the arm & the rest of of the Subplot is About Peter trying to get Quagmire to be Friends with him again & there was an awful Suicide Joke which was pretty Tasteless & Mean Spirited about Peter trying to get Advice about killing him self from Meg because he has no Friends. 1/10.

Awful to the very extreme

[hagen-39417 · 1/10 · 23 August 2023]

I've seen a lot of movies and tv series. Some good, some not so good. But I've never seen one that is purposely trying to make me hate it.

There's no doubt in my mind that the people who made episodes like herpes and the love sore, fresh heir and this episode were made for the sole purpose of being hated by viewers.

This could not be more f up! What could you possibly gain from this as an artistic creator?

All 3 of these episodes could not be more unpleasant, abysmal, appalling or nihilistic and for what possibly cause?!

TV shows and movies last time I checked were supposed to entertain, stimulate the mind and serve a purpose for what I'm watching.

There's no other way around it, the creators wanted to make something so shocking and atrocious that everyone watching would hate the show and not watch it anymore so it could be permanently cancelled.

Well at least they succeeded with no one wanting to watch it anymore. These episodes are without a doubt no exaggeration full on crimes against nature and the biggest sh* on all of storytelling.

Something this obscene can only come when you go out of your way and strive to be unpleasantly atrocious.

Brian actually uses his own son Dylan he hasn't seen in years to get a writing role on a kids tv show and still feels not even a hint of shame for using him.

Yet Dylan somehow forgives Brian after he's giving his son no love at all and don't care at all to get close to him and learns not a thing by the ending.

Brian is no exaggeration a full on sociopath!

And believe it or not that's not even the worst thing in this episode cause in a side plot Peter shoots Quagmire in the arm right in front of him fully intentionally and aware of what he did yet feels no shame at all for what he did.

Turns out Brian isn't the only sociopath in this horrible family.

Peter actually dares to have Joe choose between which best friend he's gonna stand by.

As if Quagmire is actually overreacting. Peter should be grateful Quagmire doesn't kill him where he stands for acting like that.

Oh wait never mind it ends with Quagmire shooting Peter and killing their friendship forever or not cause in the next episode Peter is somehow alive and Quagmire is somehow okay being with Peter like it didn't even happen.

In the most insulting way this episode will completely sh* on any dramatic serious build up with something completely nonsensical a character does or say or with something shocking or disturbing a character does.

Why the f would you have a story with a well meaning message just to sh* on it and acting like everything that took place didn't even happen?!

While simultaneously having a horrible story with no massage at all just a appalling cruel act done by a suppose good friend to another that ends in the most horrible way of pure hateful violence.

This episode have reached an unmatched level of awful I didn't think was even possible.

After seeing this episode I know not any tv show or movie ever can come close to this level of awful.