[7.3/10] This one gets an “E” for “effort.” I’d be lying if I said I didn’t roll my eyes a little at yet another Homer-Marge relationship drama episode, but credit where credit is due -- “I’m Dancing as Fat as I Can” lays out a clear decision for Homer, has him stumble and suffer consequences, and then put in time and effort to make up for it and prove his love. I can’t say this episode left me entranced from beginning to end, but it’s sound and sturdy in its emotional trajectory, which is more than you can say for a lot of sitcoms generally.
The A-story stuff was solid. Homer trying not to binge a thin Stranger Things equivalent has the tinge of relatability to it, and the gags around him straining to avoid spoilers and temptation while everyone else is enthralled are light but amusing. The Netflix/Ted Sarandos bits are a pretty mild, but again, enough to elicit smiles if not quite laughs. Homer’s escapades at the dance studio are pretty hacky. And the final gets a lot of good will from the score and Homer’s sweet gesture, but the warm fuzzies the show is going for feel a little unearned, and the episode overplays its hand a bit with Lisa’s reaction.
The B-story is pretty forgettable, with Bart competing in a Krusty Show contest for a shopping spree. I suppose it has a beginning, middle, and end, which is something, and a minor twist involving Lisa, but the jokes are middling and it’s easy to forget about this subplot.
Overall, the lack of good gags in this one holds it back a lot, and the rehash of a Marge/Homer relationship story lacks novelty, but there’s at least a clarity to the storytelling and characters here that helps buoy this one.
Review by Andrew BloomVIP 9BlockedParentSpoilers2019-02-14T23:25:34Z
[7.3/10] This one gets an “E” for “effort.” I’d be lying if I said I didn’t roll my eyes a little at yet another Homer-Marge relationship drama episode, but credit where credit is due -- “I’m Dancing as Fat as I Can” lays out a clear decision for Homer, has him stumble and suffer consequences, and then put in time and effort to make up for it and prove his love. I can’t say this episode left me entranced from beginning to end, but it’s sound and sturdy in its emotional trajectory, which is more than you can say for a lot of sitcoms generally.
The A-story stuff was solid. Homer trying not to binge a thin Stranger Things equivalent has the tinge of relatability to it, and the gags around him straining to avoid spoilers and temptation while everyone else is enthralled are light but amusing. The Netflix/Ted Sarandos bits are a pretty mild, but again, enough to elicit smiles if not quite laughs. Homer’s escapades at the dance studio are pretty hacky. And the final gets a lot of good will from the score and Homer’s sweet gesture, but the warm fuzzies the show is going for feel a little unearned, and the episode overplays its hand a bit with Lisa’s reaction.
The B-story is pretty forgettable, with Bart competing in a Krusty Show contest for a shopping spree. I suppose it has a beginning, middle, and end, which is something, and a minor twist involving Lisa, but the jokes are middling and it’s easy to forget about this subplot.
Overall, the lack of good gags in this one holds it back a lot, and the rehash of a Marge/Homer relationship story lacks novelty, but there’s at least a clarity to the storytelling and characters here that helps buoy this one.