[7.5/10 on a post-classic Simpsons scale] Like so many Simpsons episodes from this era, I don’t quite know what to do with this one. On the one hand, you have a spate of dumb jokes, some wild exaggerations of the characters (Homer in particular), and an utterly insane ending. But you also have a solid central premise, some interesting and on-brand characterization for Lisa, and god help me, even a bit of heart. It evens out to an above average episode for this period of the show.
That said, it does take a while to get going. You have extended sequences where Bart covets a new game console, tries to find a job, and becomes a bizarrely Matrix-esque door hanger boy for a Thai restaurant before we get into the meat of the story.
Honestly, if I could cut all of it, I would. Very little of it brings the funny. (Though Marge’s corny song got a smile out of me.) Hank Azaria’s Thai accent is unfortunate, as is the restaurant owner character he plays. (Though I did get a kick out of the phrase “drunken jock-ocracy”.) The door hanger gags let the animators run wild a bit, but don’t have much to them beyond that. (Though I did get a kick out of Bart reflexively hanging one on Lisa’s accusatory finger.) There’s a few modest gems here and there, but for the most part, it’s a pointless wind-up.
Still, once the main story begins, things pick up. Lisa having a crush on an eco activist is very much on brand for her, and the way she combines her own stab at activism with an attempt to impress a cute boy makes you root for her, while also remembering what it’s like to be a kid with a crush. Not every gag is a winner, but they come at a quick clip, and there’s even some nice setups and callbacks (Wiggum’s “flaming toilet paper” line that comes to fruition when Lisa enters the cell block, and the Thai restaurant owner showing up at Quimby’s tree auction.)
Lisa choosing to hole up in the town’s oldest tree in order to protect it is a nice homage to the similar thing that happened in real life. And I like the heart of where it goes from there. Bart’s “care bucket” note to Lisa is sweet, and Lisa wanting to return to the warmth of home and family is endearing.
Of course, she has to pay for it. It’s a little convenient that the tree gets struck by lightning and collapses while she’s at home, but I’m willing to forgive it given the interesting dilemma that follows. Lisa feels guilty about leaving her post, but then flattered when the world thinks she died for her cause and everyone (including “Eco-Hunk” Jesse Grass) treats her like an icon, and then committed to the lie when it seems to change the hearts and minds of the logging company, and then willing to out herself to put the kibosh on Rich Texan’s craven scheme.
Not all of it makes complete sense. (It’s minor, but I get a kick out of the fact that Mayor Quimby apparently knows who Milhouse is.) But there’s some nice character moments in all of it, with tough decisions for Lisa that reveal her both as a person of principle and a little girl who doesn’t mind the adoration. And the bits with Homer and Bart trying to take advantage of
Of course, from there it goes nuts with Rich Texan trying to build a theme park with a giant Lisa head on the log, only for Jesse’s activism to lead the log to rampage through downtown Springfield and go off in the distance. It’s the usual Scully era third act lunacy. But god help me, the “This Log Is Your Log” outro wins me over. You win this round, post-classic Simpsons!
Overall, this one stands out in my memory as one of the better episodes from this stretch, and it lives up to the billing despite a rocky start and a wacky trajectory. Lisa-focused episodes tend to be a cut above, and while this one is far from perfect, it’s also no exception.
Review by Andrew BloomVIP 9BlockedParentSpoilers2023-12-09T06:18:57Z
[7.5/10 on a post-classic Simpsons scale] Like so many Simpsons episodes from this era, I don’t quite know what to do with this one. On the one hand, you have a spate of dumb jokes, some wild exaggerations of the characters (Homer in particular), and an utterly insane ending. But you also have a solid central premise, some interesting and on-brand characterization for Lisa, and god help me, even a bit of heart. It evens out to an above average episode for this period of the show.
That said, it does take a while to get going. You have extended sequences where Bart covets a new game console, tries to find a job, and becomes a bizarrely Matrix-esque door hanger boy for a Thai restaurant before we get into the meat of the story.
Honestly, if I could cut all of it, I would. Very little of it brings the funny. (Though Marge’s corny song got a smile out of me.) Hank Azaria’s Thai accent is unfortunate, as is the restaurant owner character he plays. (Though I did get a kick out of the phrase “drunken jock-ocracy”.) The door hanger gags let the animators run wild a bit, but don’t have much to them beyond that. (Though I did get a kick out of Bart reflexively hanging one on Lisa’s accusatory finger.) There’s a few modest gems here and there, but for the most part, it’s a pointless wind-up.
Still, once the main story begins, things pick up. Lisa having a crush on an eco activist is very much on brand for her, and the way she combines her own stab at activism with an attempt to impress a cute boy makes you root for her, while also remembering what it’s like to be a kid with a crush. Not every gag is a winner, but they come at a quick clip, and there’s even some nice setups and callbacks (Wiggum’s “flaming toilet paper” line that comes to fruition when Lisa enters the cell block, and the Thai restaurant owner showing up at Quimby’s tree auction.)
Lisa choosing to hole up in the town’s oldest tree in order to protect it is a nice homage to the similar thing that happened in real life. And I like the heart of where it goes from there. Bart’s “care bucket” note to Lisa is sweet, and Lisa wanting to return to the warmth of home and family is endearing.
Of course, she has to pay for it. It’s a little convenient that the tree gets struck by lightning and collapses while she’s at home, but I’m willing to forgive it given the interesting dilemma that follows. Lisa feels guilty about leaving her post, but then flattered when the world thinks she died for her cause and everyone (including “Eco-Hunk” Jesse Grass) treats her like an icon, and then committed to the lie when it seems to change the hearts and minds of the logging company, and then willing to out herself to put the kibosh on Rich Texan’s craven scheme.
Not all of it makes complete sense. (It’s minor, but I get a kick out of the fact that Mayor Quimby apparently knows who Milhouse is.) But there’s some nice character moments in all of it, with tough decisions for Lisa that reveal her both as a person of principle and a little girl who doesn’t mind the adoration. And the bits with Homer and Bart trying to take advantage of
Of course, from there it goes nuts with Rich Texan trying to build a theme park with a giant Lisa head on the log, only for Jesse’s activism to lead the log to rampage through downtown Springfield and go off in the distance. It’s the usual Scully era third act lunacy. But god help me, the “This Log Is Your Log” outro wins me over. You win this round, post-classic Simpsons!
Overall, this one stands out in my memory as one of the better episodes from this stretch, and it lives up to the billing despite a rocky start and a wacky trajectory. Lisa-focused episodes tend to be a cut above, and while this one is far from perfect, it’s also no exception.