Being a triple dog owner (frack - I did it, too) who has worked occasionally for animal welfare I really liked this episode. Throw in me also being a Cate Blanchett fan and this was easily the best Simpsons episode in a long time.
Great episode for Santas Little Helper.
Review by Andrew BloomVIP 9BlockedParentSpoilers2020-05-20T19:21:37Z
[7.6/10 on a post-classic Simpsons scale] This one took a while to kick into gear, but I definitely enjoyed it once it did. The central mystery of what’s ailing Santa’s Little Helper not only made for a good spine to build the episode’s plot around, but created a good emotional throughline for the family to fret over their beloved family dog.
I especially enjoyed Cate Blanchett’s turn on the show as a canine psychologist. (Though I could have sworn it was Paget Brewster when I first heard the voice!) She brought a fun dryly comic tone to the character, and her slow bond with SLH and wry asides were a winning combination. It’s often tough to find stand-outs in terms of late-era guest appearances, but Blanchett got the time and the writing to do her thing in a quite funny and memorable fashion.
I also appreciated the family’s response to it all. While the “one bite = we have to put him down” situation felt a little contrived in setting the stakes, the whole Simpson clan worrying over the dog’s fate, each wanting to say goodbye in their own (oft goofy) way, and even coming together to pray for him was alternately amusing and sweet.
I enjoyed the answer to the mystery as well. The reveal that SLH was pining for his mother (who’s name is, sigh, She-Biscuit), is a good one, with a nice visual connection drawn between the stain on the Simpsons’ cabinets and SLH’s memories of weaning. The worn santa hat that sets him off is a nice callback to the series’ very first episode, and the idea that SLH is in such a state after memories of being taken away from his mom is a strong one.
The stuff at the margins is a mixed bag. The humor picks up as the episode goes on, but is pretty weak in the early going. The gags about everyone slapping the dog trainer who originally owned SLH is a good one, but gets driven into the ground. And the cuteness of seeing SLH as a puppy is self-justifying, but you can see the seams of the show’s attempts to tug at your heartstrings in places.
Still, overall this is a winning way to close out the season, with an episode that centers on the family and its affections for their canine companions, features a great guest star performance, and ably answers its big mystery.