3x05 Homer Defined

[7.3/10] “Homer Defined” may be the platonic ideal of the “perfectly cromulent” Simpsons episode. It’s well built, with complete A- and B-stories. The humor is there, with some of the show’s wry sensibility in place. And there’s even a touch of heart, to buoy the cynical gags with something sweeter. But there’s nothing it really excels at or which marks it as one of the great outing in the series’ canon.

That is no sin! It’s still a charming, amusing, eminently watchable installment of the show. I find it funny, though, how the expectations we place on the classic era of The Greatest Show Ever:tm: take a completely solid, endearing, chuckle-worthy outing and go “ho-hum” in response.

Still, like I said, both stories work here. The arrival of a potential nuclear meltdown in Springfield is a good chance for the show to play on some “The end is near” humor! Marge promising not to donate old lima beans to canned drives and Barney declaring that he’s led a rich fulfilling life are both good laughs. Honestly, Barney’s a great source of comedy in this one, from his satisfaction with life, to his tirade about carnies, to his excitement over finding a pretzel. And the emergency gives Mr. Burns an opportunity for some amusing spin, between him describing the potential catastrophe as an “unrequested fission surplus” to Kent Brockman promising to be “more trusting and less vigilant” in the future.

But the star of the show is Homer, and I appreciate how they make him seem like a real person despite the extraordinary circumstances. It’s a little silly, admittedly, how him pushing one button can solve this problem. But his panic over what to do and the realization that his usual sloth and laziness might get everyone killed humanizes him in a tough moment even as he blames a rubik’s cube for his trouble.

The real fun comes when he saves the plant by accident (a game of “eenie meenie minie moe”, naturally) and feels guilty over all the adulation he receives. We don’t normally see Homer feeling unworthy, so watching how his family, coworkers, and even Magic Johnson unduly lauding him for his “heroics” only makes him feel worse makes us sympathize with the guy. It also leads to some of the episode’s best lines, including an indignant, “Look, I get enough admiration and respect at work. I don't need it here at home.” and Homer’s grim description of his celebratory ham tasting “so bitter, it’s like ashes in my mouth” only for Marge to blithely retort, “It’s actually more of a honey glaze.”

The conclusion of the bit is a little silly, with Homer being stuck in the same scenario at another plant, and being exposed when he offers the same nursery rhyme solution. But the throughline of Homer picturing what his legacy will be in the dictionary, and entering the lexecon as a signifier of “succeeding despite idiocy” helps provide the whole thing with some thematic connective tissue.

The B-story is even better. Mrs. Van Houten forbidding Millhouse from being Bart’s friends leads to some solid humor but also some relatable emotions from the kids and the moms. It’s undeniable that Bart is a bad influence. Some of the success of the subplot comes from the plain tension between the fact that Luanne is clearly correct about Bart, and yet you still feel bad for the ten-year-olds, and a little affronted, that she would separate them. Bart mentioning how many times he’s told Millhouse not to listen to her, or their magic act turned hospital visit, or a prelude to their reunion beginning with the cocking of a B.B. gun all contrast the sweetness and sadness with the comical recognition that, yeah, Bart’s pretty bad.

But the sweetness comes from Marge sticking up for her special little guy. Her speech to Luanne about the “spark” within her son, and that whatever their kids’ faults, at such a tender and bully-attracting age, all they really have is one another is the highlight of the episode. The fact that it works, and that Bart knows his mom stood up for him because “Who else would?” warms the hearts of even crusty old cynics like yours truly.

Along the way, there’s tons of character even apart from the major players of the A- and B-plots. Lisa’s quiet admiration of her dad is a cute running bit. Peering into Smithers’ life and his resentment of Homer add color to the A-story. And even Barney feels like a person whose existence stretches beyond the plot du jour in this one. You forget how well-sketched everyone seems in these early episodes, where the wackiness may be toned down, but the personality is a bit deeper to compensate.

Overall, I may have talked myself into this one. It doesn’t do anything amazing or incredibly memorable. But it delivers a roundly enjoyable, quietly heartwarming, eminently worthy entry into the Simpsons pantheon.