The best episodes of The Simpsons contain several layers, mixing the absurd and sophomoric with
the heartfelt and sincere. Seventeen seasons down this long road with no forseeable end in sight,
it's normal to catch an occasional episode where everything doesn't quite fit, even if some elements still
work.
That's just my long-winded way of saying last night's episode didn't exactly rock my world, but there were parts I liked. As far as the "gags" they all pretty much left me cold. I don't think I had a single "laugh out loud" moment, though Homer going through a mill in the beginning in order to get his rubber duck back into a charity race was a fun bit of Chuck Jones-inspired insanity. Also, seeing the expressions of pure elation on the faces of Rod and Todd when they use a see-saw correctly for the first time was amusing. Bart's relationship with his surrogate monkey mother had several nice little subtleties, and I loved how easily he fell into the role of "son," immediately taking advantage of his fake mother's natural instinct.
At the heart of the episode was Marge and how she teaches Flanders and his two sons that it's okay to take risks and get hurt once and awhile. It's that element of humanity that's in all the best Simpsons episodes. Even if it was a bit weak in this instance, I'll call it okay but forgettable. Besides, next week is the Ricky Gervais episode, and I have slightly larger hopes for that one.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
3-20-2006 @ 9:51AM
Aaron said...
What? The ending quote by Rod/Todd of "I'm gay daddy! Mrs. Simpsons made me gay!" wasn't laugh out loud funny? I sure thought it was. Funniest thing in the Simpsons in a long time.
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3-20-2006 @ 10:29AM
CGB said...
I agree..usually I can count on each episode for at least one cackle, and last night that didn't happen. I even tried to force it, but no such luck.
I thought the animation was pretty good though, particularly Flander's finger tapping while he pondered something and his withering look at Marge when Tod said he was gay.
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3-20-2006 @ 12:15PM
thecrapspot said...
I enjoyed it. Maybe not the best episode, but far from the worst.
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3-20-2006 @ 3:02PM
Bex said...
I thought this was the best episode in a while. To me the whole thing was laugh-out-loud funny. I actually turned to my friend and said, "This is one I have to watch again."
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3-20-2006 @ 3:47PM
Jason Anderson said...
I was impressed. Definitely one of the best episodes in a long time.
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3-20-2006 @ 6:21PM
Jeff said...
Christian Clue cracked me up.
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3-20-2006 @ 6:42PM
Terry said...
NimRod and NimTodd is a classic Simpsons quote that should last if anyone knows anyone named Rod or Todd.
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3-22-2006 @ 9:48AM
nick said...
I liked that the episode's plot was basically realistic unlike most of the "what job does homer have this week"-type plots. i was dying when maggie rolled her eyes at Rod and Todd and put a fake bullet in her head. also, homer and marge role-playing was both hilarious and sweet. I honestly havent laughed as much at the Simpsons in many years.
"Do you think any of the Gremlins from the Gremlins movie is going to be there? I'm gonna get them so wet!"
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