I think this was the first episode since Bart the Genius that really focuses on Homer and Bart's relationship. Or at least it is the first one that shows Bart's point of view. Up to this point in the series, their relationship has focused on Homer's need to impress Bart. This can definitely be seen most in The Call of the Simpsons and Dancin' Homer. I would argue that Homer's motivation is somewhat similar in this episode. He gets in the war with Flanders because of pride. Homer accepts the fact that Flanders has a better house, lawn, and even wife, but he needs to prove that he has raised the better son. If Bart can win the game of golf, it will prove to Homer that Bart actually respects him.
Bart, on the other hand, once again shows that he is actually a good person when placed under an unfair amount of pressure. Again, going back to Bart the Genius, when Bart starts failing at his new school, he realizes how much he missed his old life as a regular student. Similarly, in this episode, Bart is able to become a pretty successful golfer, but acknowledges the craziness of the situation. I don't really know what this says about him. On the one hand, it kind of confirms his "underachiever and proud of it" persona. He could be successful but chooses not to. But on the other hand, he is the only one acting reasonably in the entire episode. Basically, I think this indicates that Bart will be fine in the long run. He's a little lazy, but can apply himself if he has to.
Flanders is so interesting in this episode. We later learn that Flanders has some pretty serious emotional issues, and you can sort of see them in this episode. The character was introduced as the perfect, annoying, next door neighbor, but it is nice to see the writers acknowledging the fact that a person like that can't actually exist. After all, at a certain point, Flanders is shouting "mercy is for the weak". It doesn't take much for Flanders' perfect exterior to crumble and we begin to see a somewhat nasty guy. It's interesting that something as small as a golf game reveals the true Flanders in this episode. Later in the series, it takes some major events to have the mean person underneath come out. It's probably a good choice to restrict his emotional outbursts to life changing events; he would seem really unstable if his personality changed back and forth on every simple bet.
There were a couple of other inconsistencies with Flanders in this episode. Mainly that he was in a frat! He also seems to enjoy drinking beer. In these early episodes, I think the writers were actually trying to make Flanders a nice, relatable guy (ignoring of course his emotional outbursts). In later seasons, he becomes so overprotective, nervous, and innocent. It's definitely a big change from the somewhat over-eager, friendly neighbor we see in these episodes.
Springfield characters:
Maude Flanders - Maude is introduced as yet another perfect Flanders member. Whereas Todd was introduced as the opposite of Bart, Maude really wasn't compared to Marge in any way (well, except for the butt...). I'm trying to think of any occasions where Marge and Maude butt heads, but can't think of any off the top of my head.
Other stuff I liked:
Moaning Lisa was my roommate Jason's favorite episode of the show. This one was my roommate Sam's favorite episode. He was particularly fond of the "one hand clapping" bit, as well as Homer chuckling "oh Marmaduke" to himself at the breakfast table.
Homer is so belligerent in this episode. Thank god he is not normally like that. Its so rough to see him yelling at Marge to get him a beer at the start of the episode. I can see why Lisa is happy he takes no interest in her.
We can see how Helen gets her gossip. It was a nice touch to have her be the one to answer the phone before passing it to Reverend Lovejoy (who's "Ohhhh Matthew 19:19" quote always makes me laugh)
I smiled when I saw the mini-golf windmill. That place has a very special significance in Simpson lore.
Marge says she's Homer's best friend. That line is so sweet. The more I think about it, the more I am convinced my personal view on relationships comes from Homer and Marge (Yikes, is that a good thing?)
I think in general, the dialogue was really sharp this episode. The entire "name your putter" bit is great and Homer's response to Lisa bringing a protractor is hilarious.
Another episode that I did not have extremely fond memories of, but ended up enjoying a lot.
6/10
Friday, August 16, 2013
Thursday, August 15, 2013
2x05 - Dancin' Homer
I have probably seen this episode less than 5 times in my entire life. Considering this is from the first ten seasons of the show, that points to the fact that this is one of the weaker stories of the season. That being said, I enjoyed the episode much more than I was anticipating. I my enjoyment of it relates directly to my reinvigorated love of baseball over the past 5 years; It has a lot of really solid baseball jokes. That being said, it doesn't come anywhere near the centric episode, Homer at the Bat, which might be in my top 10.
The first act of this episode was surprisingly funny - I really didn't have a complaint about any segment. The one oddity in the first act is the fact that Otto is driving the power plant's bus. I think this shows a dependency on the side characters that we haven't seen before. It could have been anyone driving the bus, but the writers were clever enough to use the bus driver that had already been established in the universe. It's little things like that that make the audience feel like they really get to know Springfield. Although Otto driving the bus might not make the most sense, it was a nice touch.
Speaking of things not making sense, this episode firmly kills all hopes for continuity in the show. The last episode ended with Burns swearing vengeance on Homer, and this one begins with him asking Smithers for his name. Lack of continuity isn't necessarily a bad thing, and I think it's good that they're abandoning it so early on.
The show does a good job of poking fun at baseball while still respecting the game. The sequence where Homer gives a parody of Lou Gehrig's famous speech shows that the writers, and animators, know their history. Even so, the writers have no qualms about saying how boring the game can be. From the long, overdrawn national anthem (by Bleeding Gums!), to the dependence on 78oz beer tubs, the audience either bored to death or intoxicated. On top of all that, most of the isotopes players seem to be either sleazy, overweight, or both. It's not the most flattering picture of the game, but Homer and Burns still find a way to have a great time.
The parts of this episode in Capital City are slightly weaker, but we are given our first musical parody. In fact, it's the first time the main theme hasn't been played over the end credits. The montage of Capital City's sights and Tony Bennett's take on New York, New York gives the episode a somewhat grand scale. I think this might be one of the biggest differences between the first two seasons. The second season, and the last two episodes in particular, almost feel like a saga. In Two Cars, Burns goes through the highs and lows of a political campaign in under 15 minutes. And in this episode, Homer begins a new job, thrives, is promoted, moves to a new city, and fails in 20 minutes. There is so much more going on in season 2 - especially compared to episodes like "the family gets lost in the woods" or "Marge considers having an affair with a bowling instructor".
Springfield Characters:
The Rich Texan - Although the owner of the Isotopes technically is not The Rich Texan, he is essentially a more realistic version of the character that is eventually introduced. In fact, in a later episode, The Rich Texan that we know and love (?) owns the Isotopes and there is no reference to this owner.
The Capital City Goofball - He doesn't appear in a lot of episodes, but I thought he was worth mentioning. I was always very disturbed by the human eyes you can see in the costume. They always looked really sinister to me. My favorite Capital City Goofball moment is when he's one of the celebrities singing "Sending Our Love Down the Well" in Radio Bart.
Other things I liked:
Moe has an ad in the Isotopes stadium. I wonder how the hell he paid for that. That establishing shot of the stadium is also used in the credits of Homer at the Bat.
In the last episode we were introduced to the running joke that Burns was extremely weak (we see that again in this one when Burns throws the opening pitch). However, in this episode, we get Burns' other main joke; he is insanely old. He makes a couple of great references that nobody else in the stadium has any chance of understanding.
I like how Lisa remains enthused and attentive during Bleeding Gum's song. It's a funny little detail and fits perfectly with her character.
Marge can't believe anyone would want a Simpson on a tshirt. That's another nice little bit of meta humor.
Was the Duff Brewery the first reference to Duff Beer? I haven't been paying close enough attention at Moe's.
Overall, it was better than I expected. This season has been a nice surprise.
6/10
The first act of this episode was surprisingly funny - I really didn't have a complaint about any segment. The one oddity in the first act is the fact that Otto is driving the power plant's bus. I think this shows a dependency on the side characters that we haven't seen before. It could have been anyone driving the bus, but the writers were clever enough to use the bus driver that had already been established in the universe. It's little things like that that make the audience feel like they really get to know Springfield. Although Otto driving the bus might not make the most sense, it was a nice touch.
Speaking of things not making sense, this episode firmly kills all hopes for continuity in the show. The last episode ended with Burns swearing vengeance on Homer, and this one begins with him asking Smithers for his name. Lack of continuity isn't necessarily a bad thing, and I think it's good that they're abandoning it so early on.
The show does a good job of poking fun at baseball while still respecting the game. The sequence where Homer gives a parody of Lou Gehrig's famous speech shows that the writers, and animators, know their history. Even so, the writers have no qualms about saying how boring the game can be. From the long, overdrawn national anthem (by Bleeding Gums!), to the dependence on 78oz beer tubs, the audience either bored to death or intoxicated. On top of all that, most of the isotopes players seem to be either sleazy, overweight, or both. It's not the most flattering picture of the game, but Homer and Burns still find a way to have a great time.
The parts of this episode in Capital City are slightly weaker, but we are given our first musical parody. In fact, it's the first time the main theme hasn't been played over the end credits. The montage of Capital City's sights and Tony Bennett's take on New York, New York gives the episode a somewhat grand scale. I think this might be one of the biggest differences between the first two seasons. The second season, and the last two episodes in particular, almost feel like a saga. In Two Cars, Burns goes through the highs and lows of a political campaign in under 15 minutes. And in this episode, Homer begins a new job, thrives, is promoted, moves to a new city, and fails in 20 minutes. There is so much more going on in season 2 - especially compared to episodes like "the family gets lost in the woods" or "Marge considers having an affair with a bowling instructor".
Springfield Characters:
The Rich Texan - Although the owner of the Isotopes technically is not The Rich Texan, he is essentially a more realistic version of the character that is eventually introduced. In fact, in a later episode, The Rich Texan that we know and love (?) owns the Isotopes and there is no reference to this owner.
The Capital City Goofball - He doesn't appear in a lot of episodes, but I thought he was worth mentioning. I was always very disturbed by the human eyes you can see in the costume. They always looked really sinister to me. My favorite Capital City Goofball moment is when he's one of the celebrities singing "Sending Our Love Down the Well" in Radio Bart.
Other things I liked:
Moe has an ad in the Isotopes stadium. I wonder how the hell he paid for that. That establishing shot of the stadium is also used in the credits of Homer at the Bat.
In the last episode we were introduced to the running joke that Burns was extremely weak (we see that again in this one when Burns throws the opening pitch). However, in this episode, we get Burns' other main joke; he is insanely old. He makes a couple of great references that nobody else in the stadium has any chance of understanding.
I like how Lisa remains enthused and attentive during Bleeding Gum's song. It's a funny little detail and fits perfectly with her character.
Marge can't believe anyone would want a Simpson on a tshirt. That's another nice little bit of meta humor.
Was the Duff Brewery the first reference to Duff Beer? I haven't been paying close enough attention at Moe's.
Overall, it was better than I expected. This season has been a nice surprise.
6/10
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
2x04 - Two Cars in Every Garage and Three Eyese on Every Fish
As Burns and Smithers are looking for someone to eat dinner with, Smithers asks "can we find someone common enough". The camera slowly pans across various power plant workers and rests on Homer scratching himself, eating a donut, and burping. I think this is a great representation of what the show was trying to do for its first ten seasons. In later seasons, the story would have escalated to a whole different level; Homer would have certainly been involved in the Burns campaign in a much larger way. But for now, the Simpson are just a simple and flawed American household reacting to events around them. These early episodes almost seem quaint compared to what the show eventually becomes. It was nice to see the episode open with Bart and Lisa quietly sitting at a fishing hole - it is something you could see two young kids actually doing on their day off.
In the case of tonight's episode, we were shown two topics that have not yet been seen in Springfield. The first is politics. Interestingly, one of the main political figures, Mary Bailey, is never seen again in the show. Looking at the series as a whole, it is a bit odd that Burns was not running for Mayor against Quimby. One could argue that Bailey is necessary because she provides a wholesome candidate to counter Burn's evil, but I think it would have been nice to see how Quimby charms the voters. Nevertheless, The Simpsons presents politics as a ruthless, fickle business. In one of the best scenes of the episode we are introduced to Burns' campaign team. One side of the table contains everyone who will make Burns look good, and the other side has all the people who will slander Bailey. I also really like the end of the episode. When it is clear that Burns has blown his chances in the election, his campaign manager leaves him without a second thought. Burns is suddenly just an old man who can't even flip a table in his rage.
I also really like how the episode focused so much on Burns. Just like in Treehouse of Horror, the Simpson family was really secondary to Burns' story; Burns would have had trouble interacting with any common family. Burns trying to bribe the safety inspectors is absolutely classic Simpsons - in fact, it's not the last time we'll see a scene like this. The neatly arranged table of money is a funny image, but my personal favorite Burns bribe is in a later episode where the inspectors can pick between "the washer and dryer where the lovely Smithers is standing or you can trade it all in for what's in this box." And even though there's no reason to feel sympathy for Burns, I began to feel a bit sorry for him when his bribe was rejected and he begins drinking alone in his office. I'll chalk it up the sense of moodiness in this scene to the excellent animation. Overall, we finally got to see a more sympathetic side to Burns. But not too much, of course, seeing how the episode ends with him swearing vengeance on Homer.
Finally, the episode ended on another great bedroom scene between Homer and Marge. These seem to be a theme of this season, and I absolutely love it. At least 3 episodes this season end with Marge turning off the light. Just like in other episodes, Marge comforts Homer by reminding him who he is. Just like how his regained baldness won't ruin his life, Marge shows Homer how Burns' temporary anger won't be a problem either. All of these scenes are combining to show the audience how much Homer really needs Marge. It makes the episodes where they are having marital troubles all the more powerful. In Life on the Fast Lane we really didn't have very much information about the couple; from now on, those episodes will care even more weight.
Springfield characters:
No new ones. Sorry, Mary Bailey.
Other things I liked:
"I'm Bart Simpson, who the hell are you" is another classic Bart-ism. I'm enjoying how there has been very little Bart this season. The premiere focused heavily on him, but since then there has been almost nothing.
Burns' campaign ad is great. My favorite part is how there is a random elephant standing in the room for Burns to use as an example. Visual aids always help...
Burns' tirades about taxes are also hilarious. The entire dinner is so painfully scripted that having Burns yell at the family doesn't seem too out of place.
This is the first time we have seen a "Burns is weak" joke. Expect many more in the future.
Homer really shouldn't be worried about Burns' threat since it is clear that Burns can't even remember Homer's name
"Imperial and Godlike" are interesting polling opinions.
The episode wasn't unbelievably funny, but it kept pushing the envelope in terms of ambition for the show.
5.5/10
In the case of tonight's episode, we were shown two topics that have not yet been seen in Springfield. The first is politics. Interestingly, one of the main political figures, Mary Bailey, is never seen again in the show. Looking at the series as a whole, it is a bit odd that Burns was not running for Mayor against Quimby. One could argue that Bailey is necessary because she provides a wholesome candidate to counter Burn's evil, but I think it would have been nice to see how Quimby charms the voters. Nevertheless, The Simpsons presents politics as a ruthless, fickle business. In one of the best scenes of the episode we are introduced to Burns' campaign team. One side of the table contains everyone who will make Burns look good, and the other side has all the people who will slander Bailey. I also really like the end of the episode. When it is clear that Burns has blown his chances in the election, his campaign manager leaves him without a second thought. Burns is suddenly just an old man who can't even flip a table in his rage.
I also really like how the episode focused so much on Burns. Just like in Treehouse of Horror, the Simpson family was really secondary to Burns' story; Burns would have had trouble interacting with any common family. Burns trying to bribe the safety inspectors is absolutely classic Simpsons - in fact, it's not the last time we'll see a scene like this. The neatly arranged table of money is a funny image, but my personal favorite Burns bribe is in a later episode where the inspectors can pick between "the washer and dryer where the lovely Smithers is standing or you can trade it all in for what's in this box." And even though there's no reason to feel sympathy for Burns, I began to feel a bit sorry for him when his bribe was rejected and he begins drinking alone in his office. I'll chalk it up the sense of moodiness in this scene to the excellent animation. Overall, we finally got to see a more sympathetic side to Burns. But not too much, of course, seeing how the episode ends with him swearing vengeance on Homer.
Finally, the episode ended on another great bedroom scene between Homer and Marge. These seem to be a theme of this season, and I absolutely love it. At least 3 episodes this season end with Marge turning off the light. Just like in other episodes, Marge comforts Homer by reminding him who he is. Just like how his regained baldness won't ruin his life, Marge shows Homer how Burns' temporary anger won't be a problem either. All of these scenes are combining to show the audience how much Homer really needs Marge. It makes the episodes where they are having marital troubles all the more powerful. In Life on the Fast Lane we really didn't have very much information about the couple; from now on, those episodes will care even more weight.
Springfield characters:
No new ones. Sorry, Mary Bailey.
Other things I liked:
"I'm Bart Simpson, who the hell are you" is another classic Bart-ism. I'm enjoying how there has been very little Bart this season. The premiere focused heavily on him, but since then there has been almost nothing.
Burns' campaign ad is great. My favorite part is how there is a random elephant standing in the room for Burns to use as an example. Visual aids always help...
Burns' tirades about taxes are also hilarious. The entire dinner is so painfully scripted that having Burns yell at the family doesn't seem too out of place.
This is the first time we have seen a "Burns is weak" joke. Expect many more in the future.
Homer really shouldn't be worried about Burns' threat since it is clear that Burns can't even remember Homer's name
"Imperial and Godlike" are interesting polling opinions.
The episode wasn't unbelievably funny, but it kept pushing the envelope in terms of ambition for the show.
5.5/10
Monday, August 12, 2013
2x03 - Treehouse of Horror
Treehouse of Horror - a tradition unlike any other. For the 16th episode of a series, Treehouse of Horror is a very surprising change of pace. The biggest change that comes from the new format is that nothing in this episode is canon. This allows the writers so much more freedom; they can kill off characters, introduce aliens, or blow up the entire town. The possibilities are almost endless; it quickly becomes clear why this became a yearly event. I think this is another example where The Simpsons lays the groundwork for future shows. Family Guy is essentially always operating in a Treehouse of Horror universe. None of the characters actions have any real consequences, and it allows for the outrageous sequences that show is known for. This may be one of the reasons why the writers have expanded this 3 mini-episode, non-canon format into other genres over the past couple of years. Tall tales and other historical events are seen through the eyes of the Simpson family and it allows for the level of craziness that is seen on other modern cartoons. This seems like the thousandth time I've said this, but this is another huge step in The Simpsons becoming something more than a show about a family. In fact, the family is almost secondary; any characters could be in these stories. The meat of Treehouse of Horror lies in the spoofs and references to other genres.
Bad Dream House is a great first segment for the Treehouse of Horror series because it is generic enough not to be a carbon copy of a story, but still contains many references. It almost throws every haunted house cliche at you - my personal favorites were the walls bleeding and the ancient Indian burial ground (which contained Mahatma Gandhi's grave). This segment also used the characters' personalities well. Each of the family members interact with the house in a way that makes sense. Marge scolds it as if it were a misbehaving child, Bart tries to bully it, and Lisa psychoanalyzes it. A potential problem with the segment is that the plot is fairly thin and nothing really happens. This is a somewhat common problem for Treehouse of Horror segments. There just isn't enough time for a complex plot and all of the jokes and references, and personally, I am happy that they stick with the jokes.
The second segment in these episodes are traditionally the worst, and I think that's true in this episode. The ultimate reveal that Kang and Kodos did not have a sinister plot is pretty great, and the How to Cook for Forty Humans bit is a classic. It's funny that Kang and Kodos become icons of the Treehouse of Horror episodes because I think Sorak the Preparer was the funniest of the aliens. I always feel so bad for that guy.
The Raven is an absolute masterpiece. This is another example of The Simpsons actually teaching me. This segment introduced me to the poem, and it was so well done that I immediately wanted to learn more about it. I distinctly remember my 7th grade teacher offhandedly mentioning The Raven and feeling great about myself for knowing what he was talking about. James Earl Jones does a great job as the narrator, but I think Dan Castellaneta deserves a lot of credit for his work as the protagonist. He is actually able to make some of the lines funny and is a hilarious contrast to the imposing voice of Jones. The segment also allowed for some really creative animation.
Springfield charcters:
There wasn't a singe character outside of the family members in this episode. The Halloween segments only get better as more characters get involved.
Other things I liked:
The opening gravestones are a Treehouse of Horror tradition for a couple of seasons. The best one in this episode was definitely Disco. I think it eventually becomes too hard for the writers to think of new gravestones, so the tradition dies with "Gravestone Jokes" being written on a gravestone in a later season.
There was one Treehouse of Horror tradition that was missing from the episode. I think in all future Halloween episodes, everyone in the credits are given fake "scary" names. For example Matt Groening tends to go with the relatively simple "Bat Groening"
"Its pretty tame by today's standards" is an interesting quote to have in the episode. I wonder if this episode was actually a problem for the network at the time. It's hard for me to tell if Marge's warning to families is a joke or not. I'm sure some families took it to heart and some disappointed kids were sent to bed early.
Homer using an entire bottle of lighter fluid is a joke that is used again later. Although the second time he does it, it surprisingly creates a perfect fire in the grill.
It's hard to rate this episode against a traditional episode. But in terms of a Treehouse of Horror episode, it is one of the better ones, mostly thanks to The Raven. I feel like we've had 3 classic episodes in a row!
8/10
Bad Dream House is a great first segment for the Treehouse of Horror series because it is generic enough not to be a carbon copy of a story, but still contains many references. It almost throws every haunted house cliche at you - my personal favorites were the walls bleeding and the ancient Indian burial ground (which contained Mahatma Gandhi's grave). This segment also used the characters' personalities well. Each of the family members interact with the house in a way that makes sense. Marge scolds it as if it were a misbehaving child, Bart tries to bully it, and Lisa psychoanalyzes it. A potential problem with the segment is that the plot is fairly thin and nothing really happens. This is a somewhat common problem for Treehouse of Horror segments. There just isn't enough time for a complex plot and all of the jokes and references, and personally, I am happy that they stick with the jokes.
The second segment in these episodes are traditionally the worst, and I think that's true in this episode. The ultimate reveal that Kang and Kodos did not have a sinister plot is pretty great, and the How to Cook for Forty Humans bit is a classic. It's funny that Kang and Kodos become icons of the Treehouse of Horror episodes because I think Sorak the Preparer was the funniest of the aliens. I always feel so bad for that guy.
The Raven is an absolute masterpiece. This is another example of The Simpsons actually teaching me. This segment introduced me to the poem, and it was so well done that I immediately wanted to learn more about it. I distinctly remember my 7th grade teacher offhandedly mentioning The Raven and feeling great about myself for knowing what he was talking about. James Earl Jones does a great job as the narrator, but I think Dan Castellaneta deserves a lot of credit for his work as the protagonist. He is actually able to make some of the lines funny and is a hilarious contrast to the imposing voice of Jones. The segment also allowed for some really creative animation.
Springfield charcters:
There wasn't a singe character outside of the family members in this episode. The Halloween segments only get better as more characters get involved.
Other things I liked:
The opening gravestones are a Treehouse of Horror tradition for a couple of seasons. The best one in this episode was definitely Disco. I think it eventually becomes too hard for the writers to think of new gravestones, so the tradition dies with "Gravestone Jokes" being written on a gravestone in a later season.
There was one Treehouse of Horror tradition that was missing from the episode. I think in all future Halloween episodes, everyone in the credits are given fake "scary" names. For example Matt Groening tends to go with the relatively simple "Bat Groening"
"Its pretty tame by today's standards" is an interesting quote to have in the episode. I wonder if this episode was actually a problem for the network at the time. It's hard for me to tell if Marge's warning to families is a joke or not. I'm sure some families took it to heart and some disappointed kids were sent to bed early.
Homer using an entire bottle of lighter fluid is a joke that is used again later. Although the second time he does it, it surprisingly creates a perfect fire in the grill.
It's hard to rate this episode against a traditional episode. But in terms of a Treehouse of Horror episode, it is one of the better ones, mostly thanks to The Raven. I feel like we've had 3 classic episodes in a row!
8/10
Sunday, August 11, 2013
2x02 - Simpson and Delilah
As cliched as it sounds, the great thing about The Simpsons is that it often subverts your expectations. The show constantly seems to lead the audience towards an obvious moral only to steer away at the last minute. In an animated show that was aimed at a younger audience, Bart's studying would have earned him an A. In There's No Disgrace Like Home, the family's therapy session would have been a success. And in this episode, Homer would learn that confidence leads to success, and that his hair wasn't really necessary. In fact, Karl's parting words indicate this exact sentiment. He tells Homer, "It was never the hair, it was you". However, it quickly becomes clear that the people of Springfield only care about appearances. Even when Homer gives a dazzling speech, it is not nearly impressive as a haired Homer muttering something about tartar sauce. So while we don't get the moral we were expecting, we get one that is just as fulfilling. Like many of the episodes so far, the moral of Simpson and Delilah is that it is ok to be a Simpson. They are clearly flawed, but that doesn't make them bad. As Marge says, "you are so beautiful to me".
The highlight of this episode for me was without a doubt Karl. Karl is a rare character in The Simpsons universe because he is so genuinely selfless. Almost every character in Springfield is self interested in some way, but Karl only cares about helping Homer. The scene where he gives Homer the umbrella is very touching. He is one of the more mysterious guest stars on the show. He shows up with little fanfare, helps Homer to the best of his ability, and then leaves never to be seen again. He almost seems like Homer's guardian angel. The guest stars early on have all been amazing. I am interested in seeing what season begins using guest stars as a crutch and their appearances are more obnoxious than entertaining.
The other interesting bit of characterization that we got in this episode was with Smithers. Other than perhaps Martin, Smithers is the first regular character outside of the family to actually get some depth. On the surface, we know that Smithers is an obnoxious suck up, but in this episode we see that he is mean and vengeful as well. He's almost the anti-Karl - everything he does in this episode he does for his own personal gain. It's a somewhat interesting choice; Burns is already so evil I am surprised that there isn't a higher-up at the powerplant who is fighting for the little guy. I think this is one of the reasons why the writers end up making Burns somewhat more sympathetic, which is a welcome change. We even see a little bit of that come through at the end of the episode when Burns sympathizes with Homer's hair loss.
Springfield characters:
I didn't notice any new ones - it might be a first for the series.
Other things I liked:
I love how shallow everyone in Springfield is. Even Patty and Selma completely reverse their opinion of Homer after seeing him with a full head of hair. Having a shallow, fickle population fits in well with what we've seen already; we've already seen the town form a pitchfork-wielding mob against a 10 year old boy. I've heard lots of comparisons between the town of Pawnee from Parks and Rec and Springfield, and I think it's pretty good. Both towns are towns of extremes; they either love or hate something. Pawnee has Little Sebastian and Springfield has hair.
These two episodes in season 2 just seem so much happier than season 1. Both episodes have had wonderful montages of characters being happy. Just like with the snow day scene from the last episode, I had a huge smile on my face when Homer ran around town celebrating his hair. I especially love his encounter with the other Dimoxinil user.
I always known the capital of North Dakota is Bismark thanks to this episode. Definitely not Hitler.
There were a couple of quick jokes that could fly by you. My favorite was Dimoxinil promising a free brochure after sending five dollars.
This episode is fairly beloved by the community, and I think it holds up pretty well. There's something just so infectious about Karl, he really makes you smile. The ending is also fantastic. I love seeing Marge repair Homer's confidence by just singing to him - I can't wait until the first flashback episode where we get to see more of them as a couple.
8/10
The highlight of this episode for me was without a doubt Karl. Karl is a rare character in The Simpsons universe because he is so genuinely selfless. Almost every character in Springfield is self interested in some way, but Karl only cares about helping Homer. The scene where he gives Homer the umbrella is very touching. He is one of the more mysterious guest stars on the show. He shows up with little fanfare, helps Homer to the best of his ability, and then leaves never to be seen again. He almost seems like Homer's guardian angel. The guest stars early on have all been amazing. I am interested in seeing what season begins using guest stars as a crutch and their appearances are more obnoxious than entertaining.
The other interesting bit of characterization that we got in this episode was with Smithers. Other than perhaps Martin, Smithers is the first regular character outside of the family to actually get some depth. On the surface, we know that Smithers is an obnoxious suck up, but in this episode we see that he is mean and vengeful as well. He's almost the anti-Karl - everything he does in this episode he does for his own personal gain. It's a somewhat interesting choice; Burns is already so evil I am surprised that there isn't a higher-up at the powerplant who is fighting for the little guy. I think this is one of the reasons why the writers end up making Burns somewhat more sympathetic, which is a welcome change. We even see a little bit of that come through at the end of the episode when Burns sympathizes with Homer's hair loss.
Springfield characters:
I didn't notice any new ones - it might be a first for the series.
Other things I liked:
I love how shallow everyone in Springfield is. Even Patty and Selma completely reverse their opinion of Homer after seeing him with a full head of hair. Having a shallow, fickle population fits in well with what we've seen already; we've already seen the town form a pitchfork-wielding mob against a 10 year old boy. I've heard lots of comparisons between the town of Pawnee from Parks and Rec and Springfield, and I think it's pretty good. Both towns are towns of extremes; they either love or hate something. Pawnee has Little Sebastian and Springfield has hair.
These two episodes in season 2 just seem so much happier than season 1. Both episodes have had wonderful montages of characters being happy. Just like with the snow day scene from the last episode, I had a huge smile on my face when Homer ran around town celebrating his hair. I especially love his encounter with the other Dimoxinil user.
I always known the capital of North Dakota is Bismark thanks to this episode. Definitely not Hitler.
There were a couple of quick jokes that could fly by you. My favorite was Dimoxinil promising a free brochure after sending five dollars.
This episode is fairly beloved by the community, and I think it holds up pretty well. There's something just so infectious about Karl, he really makes you smile. The ending is also fantastic. I love seeing Marge repair Homer's confidence by just singing to him - I can't wait until the first flashback episode where we get to see more of them as a couple.
8/10
Saturday, August 10, 2013
2x01 - Bart Gets an F
What a difference an offseason makes. Just like with season 1, I haven't seen season 2 in years. I know there are a couple of classic episodes here and there in the two seasons, but when I get the urge to rewatch a large chunk of the show, I start at season 3 and above. Because of this, I've always had the impression that the first two seasons are fairly similar in terms of quality and scope. But if this episode is any indication, I couldn't be more wrong.
This episode truly felt like classic Simpsons. The main difference is the production quality and scope of the episodes. In terms of production quality, you can already see the difference in the animation. I'll admit that it feels like I'm nitpicking when I complain about the animation in season 1, but the fact of the matter is that it could be very distracting. The characters were off model and some of the crowd scenes were hard to watch. Compared to season 1, the animation in this episode was an absolute joy. I had a massive grin on my face during the snow day sequence because everything was bright, smooth, and most importantly, familiar. It was so great to see so many different characters interacting. The music was another gigantic leap forward in production quality. With Simpson-maina in full swing, you can definitely see the creators pouring everything they have into the show.
In terms of the scope of the show, I think the main difference is that there are now many references to real-world events and pop culture. I always joke that most of my pop culture knowledge comes from The Simpsons but it's probably true. In this episode alone, there are references to Ernest Hemingway, Treasure Island, Peanuts, the French Revolution, the Spirit of St. Louis, King Kong and the American Revolution. All of a sudden the show seems like its taking place in the real world. It's a stark comparison to the last episode of season 1. In that episode, the kids watch The Happy Little Elves while Marge and Homer eat at a generic restaurant and dance to unfamiliar music. I think the world building that took place in this episode was more significant than almost everything that was introduced in the first season.
Bart has some great character development in this episode as well. This is the second episode of the series where we've seen Bart have problems academically. In both episodes, you can see that Bart really cares about how others perceive him. He's tormented in Bart the Genius because he loses the respect of his friends. In this episode, he is driven by the fear of humiliation of being held back a grade. It is so important to show Bart as a venerable, self-conscious little kid. His popularity outside of the Simpsons' universe was so massive that he could have easily turned into a character that was untouchable. Do The Bartman was probably the height of Bart-mania. I think it's a pretty embarrassing skit and shows how close we were from losing the character entirely. It was so risky to show Bart crying (and even praying!) in this episode, but I am incredibly thankful that they did.
Springfield characters:
Quimby: We don't see much of Quimby's personality here but we hear the one thing he's most famous for: his Kennedy-esque voice. As Quimby gets more screentime, it becomes clear that he is a pretty terrible mayor. He is corrupt, a womanizer, and does not care very much about his city.
Other things that I liked:
Going back to the scope of this episode, the opening credits have been cleaned up and Springfield-ized. The music sounded crisper and there are now regular characters like Burns, Smithers, and Moe in the background. I also like how Jacques, the sexy French bowler is in the credits even though he is not a regular.
The Itchy and Scratchy was great. It was the first time I've seen the episode and understood the title "Let Them Eat Scratchy". I love how the episode starts off in a French revolution setting with a guillotine, and then ends with the usual cartoon nonsense of Itchy using dynamite on Scratchy's head.
Marge continues to see the best in her son. She buys his illness (made clear from the great line "Homer, bring up the tv - Bart's got his vision back") and truly believes that Bart works hard. Maybe it's not exactly what Bart needs, but it is reassuring to know he has a loving family.
Bart is an underachiever and proud of it. That line has always stuck with me.
The over the top snow day scene ending with Bart's face pressed against a window is my favorite scene in the show so far.
This was an amazing episode. After a summer of hype, The Simpsons came out of the gate strong.
8/10
This episode truly felt like classic Simpsons. The main difference is the production quality and scope of the episodes. In terms of production quality, you can already see the difference in the animation. I'll admit that it feels like I'm nitpicking when I complain about the animation in season 1, but the fact of the matter is that it could be very distracting. The characters were off model and some of the crowd scenes were hard to watch. Compared to season 1, the animation in this episode was an absolute joy. I had a massive grin on my face during the snow day sequence because everything was bright, smooth, and most importantly, familiar. It was so great to see so many different characters interacting. The music was another gigantic leap forward in production quality. With Simpson-maina in full swing, you can definitely see the creators pouring everything they have into the show.
In terms of the scope of the show, I think the main difference is that there are now many references to real-world events and pop culture. I always joke that most of my pop culture knowledge comes from The Simpsons but it's probably true. In this episode alone, there are references to Ernest Hemingway, Treasure Island, Peanuts, the French Revolution, the Spirit of St. Louis, King Kong and the American Revolution. All of a sudden the show seems like its taking place in the real world. It's a stark comparison to the last episode of season 1. In that episode, the kids watch The Happy Little Elves while Marge and Homer eat at a generic restaurant and dance to unfamiliar music. I think the world building that took place in this episode was more significant than almost everything that was introduced in the first season.
Bart has some great character development in this episode as well. This is the second episode of the series where we've seen Bart have problems academically. In both episodes, you can see that Bart really cares about how others perceive him. He's tormented in Bart the Genius because he loses the respect of his friends. In this episode, he is driven by the fear of humiliation of being held back a grade. It is so important to show Bart as a venerable, self-conscious little kid. His popularity outside of the Simpsons' universe was so massive that he could have easily turned into a character that was untouchable. Do The Bartman was probably the height of Bart-mania. I think it's a pretty embarrassing skit and shows how close we were from losing the character entirely. It was so risky to show Bart crying (and even praying!) in this episode, but I am incredibly thankful that they did.
Springfield characters:
Quimby: We don't see much of Quimby's personality here but we hear the one thing he's most famous for: his Kennedy-esque voice. As Quimby gets more screentime, it becomes clear that he is a pretty terrible mayor. He is corrupt, a womanizer, and does not care very much about his city.
Other things that I liked:
Going back to the scope of this episode, the opening credits have been cleaned up and Springfield-ized. The music sounded crisper and there are now regular characters like Burns, Smithers, and Moe in the background. I also like how Jacques, the sexy French bowler is in the credits even though he is not a regular.
The Itchy and Scratchy was great. It was the first time I've seen the episode and understood the title "Let Them Eat Scratchy". I love how the episode starts off in a French revolution setting with a guillotine, and then ends with the usual cartoon nonsense of Itchy using dynamite on Scratchy's head.
Marge continues to see the best in her son. She buys his illness (made clear from the great line "Homer, bring up the tv - Bart's got his vision back") and truly believes that Bart works hard. Maybe it's not exactly what Bart needs, but it is reassuring to know he has a loving family.
Bart is an underachiever and proud of it. That line has always stuck with me.
The over the top snow day scene ending with Bart's face pressed against a window is my favorite scene in the show so far.
This was an amazing episode. After a summer of hype, The Simpsons came out of the gate strong.
8/10
Thursday, August 8, 2013
1x13 - Some Enchanted Evening
The Simpsons ends its first season on a somewhat unremarkable note. Much like the entire season, there's nothing particularly wrong with the episode, but it doesn't come anywhere close to the humor and complexity of later seasons. Again, the problem comes down to the fact that the show was still only about the family. There are nice moments between all of them, but having an episode without a single regular Sprinfieldian is crazy considering what the show becomes. (edit: shoot, Moe and Barney are in the episode! Well there are VERY few regulars). It would have been a really interesting experience to watch this season live. Reviewing these episodes is so difficult because I know where the show eventually goes; I think I would appreciate the smaller, family-driven humor much more if I had only seen the first season.
My favorite part of this episode was actually getting to see Homer and Marge in love. Up to this point, we have had several stories where Marge and Homer's marital problems are resolved because we are told their previously established love is unbelievably strong. It's assumed that they're often happy together, and the moments that we see are dramatic points in their marriage. But the high points of their marriage have been off screen until now. So it's nice to see everything just go right. There of course needs to be some foil to the evening, but I'm glad it was the trouble with the kids rather than Homer screwing up. I also think it's remarkable how sexual the show is - and sexual in a non-humorous. There's no skirting around the issue; there is literally a scene where Marge changes into lingerie to arouse Homer. By today's standards it's fairly tame, but it is definitely unexpected for an animated comedy. We'll see more of this in other episodes where the kids are gone.
In terms of the kids' storyline, it's nothing special. It's as wacky as we've come to expect from the show, but not nearly as ambitious as episodes like The Telltale Head or Krusty Gets Busted. However, it is the first time we have seen Maggie act way smarter than her age (at least in a way that is relevant to the plot). This is a pretty common theme for the show. Maggie is almost a deus ex machina in a lot of episodes. It's somewhat cute and clever a couple of times, but I get tired of it. I guess there's not a whole lot for her to do otherwise. Maggie's lack of character development is probably the biggest drawback of the show's no-aging policy.
Springfield characters:
Bill Pie (later renamed to Arnie): The local radio weather reporter. His voice is just annoying enough to be on radio. I like how he adds to the chaos of the Simpsons' breakfast by constantly yammering on in the background.
Other things I liked:
Early on in the episode I was thinking that it almost felt like a bottle episode. Obviously once Homer and Marge go out on the town, that no longer holds up, but there were really very little characters in the episode.
I liked the nod to Dr. Monroe's annoying voice. This might be the last time they used him because of that.
Homer standing out in the rain nervously practicing what he was going to say to Marge was a very sweet moment. It's scenes like these that make Homer a likable guy.
Homer's perpetual 5 o'clock shadow.
"If she's convicted we get t-shirts". Seems exactly like what a cheap scandal tv show would offer as a reward.
The very last scene was a nice conclusion to the season. Homer and Marge are simply sitting in bed talking. Homer's line "Lord help me, I'm just not that bright" sums up his character nicely, and Marge's genuine compassion encapsulates hers.
I hadn't seen this season for probably 10 years and I don't think my opinion has changed much. There are a couple of quality episodes here and there, and you can tell that the show has a lot of heart in it. You can also see glimpses of the sheer size the show will eventually reach. However, I don't have a strong desire to watch any of the episodes again and again, with perhaps the exception of Krusty Gets Busted. I think a lot of really innovative shows use their first season as something of a prequel and maybe this indicates trepidation on the part of the network. Even so, it's a glimpse into the universe and sets the stage for what is to come. Off the top of my head, I think both Breaking Bad and Seinfeld fall into this category. The Simpsons certainly does this as well, and it makes me very excited to get into season 2 when the show really begins.
5/10
Favorite episode of the season: Krusty Gets Busted
Least favorite: The Call of the Simpsons
My favorite part of this episode was actually getting to see Homer and Marge in love. Up to this point, we have had several stories where Marge and Homer's marital problems are resolved because we are told their previously established love is unbelievably strong. It's assumed that they're often happy together, and the moments that we see are dramatic points in their marriage. But the high points of their marriage have been off screen until now. So it's nice to see everything just go right. There of course needs to be some foil to the evening, but I'm glad it was the trouble with the kids rather than Homer screwing up. I also think it's remarkable how sexual the show is - and sexual in a non-humorous. There's no skirting around the issue; there is literally a scene where Marge changes into lingerie to arouse Homer. By today's standards it's fairly tame, but it is definitely unexpected for an animated comedy. We'll see more of this in other episodes where the kids are gone.
In terms of the kids' storyline, it's nothing special. It's as wacky as we've come to expect from the show, but not nearly as ambitious as episodes like The Telltale Head or Krusty Gets Busted. However, it is the first time we have seen Maggie act way smarter than her age (at least in a way that is relevant to the plot). This is a pretty common theme for the show. Maggie is almost a deus ex machina in a lot of episodes. It's somewhat cute and clever a couple of times, but I get tired of it. I guess there's not a whole lot for her to do otherwise. Maggie's lack of character development is probably the biggest drawback of the show's no-aging policy.
Springfield characters:
Bill Pie (later renamed to Arnie): The local radio weather reporter. His voice is just annoying enough to be on radio. I like how he adds to the chaos of the Simpsons' breakfast by constantly yammering on in the background.
Other things I liked:
Early on in the episode I was thinking that it almost felt like a bottle episode. Obviously once Homer and Marge go out on the town, that no longer holds up, but there were really very little characters in the episode.
I liked the nod to Dr. Monroe's annoying voice. This might be the last time they used him because of that.
Homer standing out in the rain nervously practicing what he was going to say to Marge was a very sweet moment. It's scenes like these that make Homer a likable guy.
Homer's perpetual 5 o'clock shadow.
"If she's convicted we get t-shirts". Seems exactly like what a cheap scandal tv show would offer as a reward.
The very last scene was a nice conclusion to the season. Homer and Marge are simply sitting in bed talking. Homer's line "Lord help me, I'm just not that bright" sums up his character nicely, and Marge's genuine compassion encapsulates hers.
I hadn't seen this season for probably 10 years and I don't think my opinion has changed much. There are a couple of quality episodes here and there, and you can tell that the show has a lot of heart in it. You can also see glimpses of the sheer size the show will eventually reach. However, I don't have a strong desire to watch any of the episodes again and again, with perhaps the exception of Krusty Gets Busted. I think a lot of really innovative shows use their first season as something of a prequel and maybe this indicates trepidation on the part of the network. Even so, it's a glimpse into the universe and sets the stage for what is to come. Off the top of my head, I think both Breaking Bad and Seinfeld fall into this category. The Simpsons certainly does this as well, and it makes me very excited to get into season 2 when the show really begins.
5/10
Favorite episode of the season: Krusty Gets Busted
Least favorite: The Call of the Simpsons
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