The essayist’s dilemma here is Brian’s realization that his "intelligence" was largely performative—consisting of wine-sipping and name-dropping—rather than disciplined study. The Satire of Higher Education
The narrative is driven by Brian Griffin’s deep-seated insecurity. After losing his job at The New Yorker because he never finished college, Brian is forced to return to Brown University. His character has always been defined by a sense of superiority over the rest of the Griffin family, rooted in his literacy and supposedly refined taste. However, when faced with the actual rigors of an advanced physics course, his facade crumbles.
The episode mocks both the prestige of the Ivy League and the absurdity of college life. Through the subplot involving Peter, Quagmire, and Joe winning a costume contest as the "A-Team," the show contrasts Brian’s high-stakes academic struggle with the mindless, low-brow fun the other characters enjoy.
"Brian Goes Back to College" is more than just a series of cutaway gags; it is a character study on the dangers of building an identity on unearned prestige. By the end, Brian’s return to the status quo suggests that while education is a requirement for the professional world, true character is tested not by a diploma, but by how one handles the fear of failure.