15x04 The Regina Monologues

[6.6/10 on a post-classic Simpsons scale] Ehhhhh. The thing about this episode is that there’s some solid laughs here. Though a cheesy celebrity cameo, the family’s interactions with Ian McKellen over a certain Scottish play and the ensuing gags have a layered, twisty quality that feels like slightly cartoonier classic Simpsons humor. Bits like Lisa asking Marge why she let Homer represent himself, and Marge asking what harm it could do since “he hit the friggin’ queen,” or Lisa’s sardonic tone in response to Bart’s remarks that the worst place for Homer’s would be “an elephant’s butt” have a knowing, deadpan quality that made me laugh.

But man, this episode is just a grabbag of random plots and gags that don’t really go anywhere or particularly connect. There’s Bart’s interlude with the 1,000 bill and museum. There’s whether he should use it to take Marge on a trip. There’s Grampa’s lost British love. There’s Homer crashing into the queen’s carriage. And of course, there’s just The Simpsons screwing around London.

Some of these bits are individually good, if undercooked. The thread of sentiment in Lisa encouraging Bart to do something nice for Marge, and in Grampa searching for an old flame are decent. But the humor here is mild to say the least, and doesn't even feel especially attuned to trenchant or even good observations about England. There’s some random history gags mixed in that are worth a chuckle, but there’s not the same kind of specific if not necessarily accurate humor of the show’s trips to places like Australia, Japan, or Brazil.

Overall, there’s enough here to keep your attention through the half hour, and even some really solid gags, but it never quite coalesces into a coherent or consistent episode.