#SPOILERALERT: Truth behind Stewie's accent (and his sexuality) revealed
Family Guy's Stewie, coupled with his 'accent' might be the be the gayest character on television, which is particularly interesting given the fact that he’s only one year old.
In the longest running Fox animated series, the youngest Griffin has been not-so-subtly been coded gay - a phrase used to describe characters who exhibit traits that hint at being homosexual, without explicitly acknowledging it. In other words, Stewie hasn't come out. Yet!'Explicitly acknowledging is, however, relative in the case of Stewie and Family Guy. This is a show that has had the smarmy toddler leering at men showering through peepholes, speaking at least once an episode in homoerotic innuendo, crushing on male celebrities, fan-girling over musical theatres, and even self-referencing being 'possibly homosexual.'
Let me refresh your memories. Have a look at this compilation video:
In a landmark episode, on Sunday night, aired without a commercial break (and guest starring Sir Ian McKellen, to boot), Stewie’s sexuality was finally explicitly acknowledged.
Does he come out though? Well, kind of. The end of the episode, ambiguous as it may be, is nonetheless fascinating. It’s not only one of the best episodes of Family Guy in a very long time, but also one of the most nuanced and edgy coming out episodes of a TV show we’ve seen.
Again, all centering around a 1-year-old.
Of course, Stewie’s age is part of the whole joke, and why his sexuality has been one of the riskier—and in payoff, funnier—running gags of the show. Here’s this toddler from a New England family who speaks in a British accent, with a heightened intelligence and bon vivant’s understanding of the world and culture, but who is, you know, still a toddler: petulant, vulnerable, and emotionally unevolved.
First published: 19 March 2018, 14:40 IST