Family Guy’s Whodunit Parody Predates Rian Johnson’s Knives Out Films

by

I’ve always loved Rian Johnson’s playful mysteries, and it’s fascinating to realize that Family Guy actually predicted his style way back in 2014 – almost ten years before Knives Out even existed! He just gave us another installment, Wake Up Dead Man, and while I didn’t think it was quite as strong as the first two, it still has that wonderfully witty and self-aware humor that made me fall in love with the series in the first place.

The Knives Out films clearly show affection for classic Agatha Christie murder mysteries, while also playfully taking them apart and examining how they work. Interestingly, nine years before director Rian Johnson created the character of Benoit Blanc, Family Guy actually presented a similar kind of mystery storyline.

Family Guy Homaged Agatha Christie Murder Mysteries Long Before Rian Johnson Made Knives Out

Rian Johnson’s 2019 film Knives Out launched him as a leading figure in contemporary mystery stories. His follow-up films have also received widespread praise from both critics and audiences, and the success of Poker Face demonstrates his skill with the genre isn’t limited to the Knives Out world. He’s now considered the modern equivalent of Agatha Christie.

Before Rian Johnson directed Knives Out, he worked on Family Guy. In 2010, the show’s ninth season began with a special hour-long episode called “And Then There Were None.” Similar to Knives Out – and inspired by Agatha Christie – the episode features a large group of potentially dangerous people brought together in a remote place, where someone is murdered and they all become suspects.

“And Then There Were Fewer” Is One Of Family Guy’s Best Episodes

Okay, so in this “Family Guy” episode, “And Then There Were Fewer,” the Griffins get invited to this fancy dinner party at some creepy mansion way out in the boonies. Turns out, pretty much everyone in Quahog got the same invite! It’s all thanks to James Woods, who it turns out has messed with everyone there. He claims he wants to make amends, but then – plot twist! – he ends up dead. It’s a seriously messed up dinner party, let me tell you!

This Family Guy episode is considered one of its best. It’s a brilliant spoof of typical murder mystery stories, playfully referencing films like Clue and Gosford Park. What’s surprising is that the plot is actually quite good – unusual for Family Guy! It’s cleverly aware of its own silliness, but still manages to be a genuinely engaging whodunit, much like Knives Out.

Family Guy’s Whodunit Did What Most Episodes Neglect To Do

The Family Guy episode, “And Then There Were Fewer,” stands out because it actually tells a good story. Many Family Guy episodes prioritize jokes and random cutaways over a strong plot, often lacking a satisfying conclusion. However, this episode, a mystery story, features a genuinely engaging plot with unexpected twists.

Read More

2025-12-28 01:08