WARNING: This article contains spoilers to Sunday's episode of "Family Guy."

After three weeks, a fan petition, a new dog and ample confusion, Brian Griffin has rose from the dead, so to say, and made his return to Family Guy.

Stewie Griffin, the baby of the Griffin family and Brian's biggest fan, was able to manipulate time travel in order to make it so that Brian never died. After running into a future version of himself, he used Vinny, the Griffin's new dog voiced by The Sopranos's Tony Sirico, to distract future Stewie. Then, present-Stewie went back in time to warn Brian of his impending doom. Future Stewie then conveniently disappeared because his timeline never existed.

Time travel can be confusing, but according to Seth MacFarlane, the show's creator and voice of Brian, Stewie and Peter Griffin, the show's message was simple.

"And thus endeth our warm, fuzzy holiday lesson: Never take those you love for granted, for they can be gone in a flash," MacFarlane said via Twitter.

When Brian Griffin first died via a car accident, fans were not pleased. They formed a petition demanding that Brian be re-instated as a show regular.

"Brian Griffin was an important part of our viewing experience," Aaron Thompson, the petition creator wrote. "He added a witty and sophisticated element to the show. Family Guy and Fox Broadcasting will lose viewers if Brian Griffin is not brought back to the show."

MacFarlane says that his fans should have known better. Brian Griffin is too important to the show to die.

"I mean, you didn't really think we'd kill off Brian, did you? Jesus, we'd have to be fucking high. Oh and hey... thanks for caring so much about the canine Griffin. He is overcome with gratitude," MacFarlane continued on Twitter.

Most fans could not be happier.

"Family Guy brought Brian back! Now all is right with the world!" Marcus Stroud said via Twitter.

"stewie time traveled and saved brian from dying so he's back! thank you, that new dog was so wack! #FamilyGuy" OG Tony said.

Meanwhile, harsher critics are annoyed by the flip flop.

"i'm not annoyed Brian died & came back, I'm annoyed that we were told it was permanent and then it wasn't. ... #FamilyGuy," Amber Dowling said.

"Family Guy is such an unbelievable cop out now. #StickToYourGuns," Stuart Smith tweeted.

"So Family Guy decided to bring back Brian by way of Stewie and a time machine. Total cop-out," Micah said via Twitter.

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