"Brian and Stewie" is that rarest of Family Guy episodes, where cheap humor and tired gags are replaced by witty dialog and a legitimately interesting story. Given how formulaic the series has become in recent times, "Brian and Stewie" may not return Family Guy to its days of glory, but it's a relief to see that Seth MacFarlane can still write genuinely good television on occasion, and leave us with an offering that remains in memory long beyond the credits. And for good reasons, to boot. 

The premise is refreshingly (and intelligently) simple: Brian and Stewie are locked in a bank vault, with no cutaways, flashbacks, incidental music or other characters. There's enough of a history between the two of them for this scenario to be loaded with good ideas, and although it starts questionably enough (Stewie soiled his diapers and there's only one way to take care of the stench, Brian), it quickly moves into good territory. There are still the outrageously funny moments, like when they have to dodge a ricocheting bullet that just doesn't give up, or when Brian drunkenly tries to pierce a drunken Stewie's ear. Ethical implications of getting a toddler drunk aside, once they start talking about living for the moment and having a purpose in life, the episode moves away from typical Family Guy humor into deeper and bigger territory.

This being Family Guy, of course, the very special moments rub shoulders with Brian's horrified realization that his consumption of Stewie's feces was recorded on a security camera (Stewie: "Oh my God! Oh, that is gonna be on Youtube! Everybody that works in an office is gonna say to their coworkers, 'Hey, type in "dog baby heiney lick, check this out!' And then the boss is gonna say, 'Hey, what are you doing there? Oh yeah, that's funny, I saw that in my room. Okay, now type in 'Japanese fish ass'"). Once Stewie gets over the surprise of Brian having a gun ("Are you sure it's not a sexual thing?") the two have probably the only real heart to heart conversation in Family Guy's history. Truth be told, this is Family Guy, not Scrubs or Picket Fences, but it's refreshing to see MacFarlane not only attempt something with sincere gravitas, but accomplish it quite well.

"Is there ever a time," Brian asks, "when we're truly in the present moment? And looking towards the past or the future? I mean, right there, in the moment?" In an episode devoid of distractions and gags, it's a poignant question. Stewie, to his credit, is right there with him: "I get that way when I watch Handy Manny." As the camera slowly closes in on the two of them sitting side-by-side, Stewie gradually admits that he likes Brian, likes him a lot, cares a great deal about him, a very great deal about him, maybe even deeper than that, and finally, "...I love you. I mean, you know, not in like a 'Hey, let's have an underpants party' or whatever grownups do when they're in love. But I mean, I love you as one loves another person whom one simply cannot do without. You give my life purpose. And maybe, maybe that's enough. Because that's just about the greatest gift one friend can give another." Brian's reply is simple: "I love you too, Stewie."

Well, if you eat someone's feces, you'd damn better well love them.

You never expect sentiments of true human worth to shine through in a Family Guy episode. Like South Park, the characters will engage in all kinds of shenanigans, offending every sensibility they can think of, then wrap things up with some token fortune cookie speech about tolerance or acceptance. For two (ostensibly) guys to admit that they love each other, and not the "bromance" love (how I hate that word), but something much purer and deeper…from a show like Family Guy, that's risky. The frequent dosages of humor (both high- and low-brow) ensure the plot never gets enamored with its own seriousness. Despite any perceived slacking off in quality or writing, the show remains quite popular; and while I don't see Family Guy losing viewers because of an unusually meaningful episode (next week's installment is entitled "Quagmire's Dad", which leads me to think that it'll be business as usual), having an episode like this was risky enough. Having two major characters confess their platonic love to one another was risky. Hell, love is risky. And I never thought I'd live to say it, but Family Guy has celebrated that, and celebrated it with style.

After all, who but a friend would lick your ass clean after you poop?