[6.9/10 on a post-classic Simpsons scale] This is one of those episodes where, in the A-story at least, the show is going for some cool central ideas and themes, but can’t find clever, let alone funny, ways to dramatize them.
I really like the idea of Bart realizing he’s a follower, or even a coward, when it comes to social pressures. He’ll be cruel to those lower on the totem pole than he is so that he’s not on the bottom, even when it goes against how he really feels. Illustrating that through him joining in the bullying of Martin on a forced hike is a good tack.
I also like that we get a closer look at Martin for the first time in ages. The reveal that the chipper dork bullies have been wailing on for ages is, in fact, an ver-pressured, oer-medicated kid with “scary problems” gives him added shading. And Grey Delisle, channeling just a bit of her performance as Azula, does outstanding work in Martin’s crowning rant, which touches on some genuine stuff.
But the whole forced hike is a non-starter, without any good gags or meaningful, organic conflicts along the way. You can see the shape of it from the beginning, and while the faux-Scotland backdrop is nice to look at, it doesn’t actually add anything to the story. Likewise, the appearance of a murder cult is random and odd, and the reveal that they’re film students is cheap, especially when they’re seemingly willing to let elementary school kids die for their film? Again, the central themes here is good but the writers have trouble coming up with sharp ways to turn them into an actual story.
All that said, I love the B-story in this one, which is basically the antithesis of the A-story. Lisa wondering what it would be like to be an only child and bask in her parents’ love and attention is a plot so good I’m shocked it hasn’t been done before now. The adventures of “Jules” playing horsey, suffragette monopoly, and otherwise trying to pack a lifetime of fun into one weekend is both funny and relatable. I particularly like the resolution, where Lisa overdoes it, but finds herself content to be looked after and get to be the “middle spoon” with her parents when not feeling well. It’s a down-to-earth storyline that goes to amusingly silly places and lands someplace with a lot of heart.
Overall, the good central aims of the A-story and the success of the B-story almost bump this one up to “good” territory, but it can’t quite go the distance.
Review by Andrew BloomVIP 9BlockedParentSpoilers2022-03-30T16:05:00Z
[6.9/10 on a post-classic Simpsons scale] This is one of those episodes where, in the A-story at least, the show is going for some cool central ideas and themes, but can’t find clever, let alone funny, ways to dramatize them.
I really like the idea of Bart realizing he’s a follower, or even a coward, when it comes to social pressures. He’ll be cruel to those lower on the totem pole than he is so that he’s not on the bottom, even when it goes against how he really feels. Illustrating that through him joining in the bullying of Martin on a forced hike is a good tack.
I also like that we get a closer look at Martin for the first time in ages. The reveal that the chipper dork bullies have been wailing on for ages is, in fact, an ver-pressured, oer-medicated kid with “scary problems” gives him added shading. And Grey Delisle, channeling just a bit of her performance as Azula, does outstanding work in Martin’s crowning rant, which touches on some genuine stuff.
But the whole forced hike is a non-starter, without any good gags or meaningful, organic conflicts along the way. You can see the shape of it from the beginning, and while the faux-Scotland backdrop is nice to look at, it doesn’t actually add anything to the story. Likewise, the appearance of a murder cult is random and odd, and the reveal that they’re film students is cheap, especially when they’re seemingly willing to let elementary school kids die for their film? Again, the central themes here is good but the writers have trouble coming up with sharp ways to turn them into an actual story.
All that said, I love the B-story in this one, which is basically the antithesis of the A-story. Lisa wondering what it would be like to be an only child and bask in her parents’ love and attention is a plot so good I’m shocked it hasn’t been done before now. The adventures of “Jules” playing horsey, suffragette monopoly, and otherwise trying to pack a lifetime of fun into one weekend is both funny and relatable. I particularly like the resolution, where Lisa overdoes it, but finds herself content to be looked after and get to be the “middle spoon” with her parents when not feeling well. It’s a down-to-earth storyline that goes to amusingly silly places and lands someplace with a lot of heart.
Overall, the good central aims of the A-story and the success of the B-story almost bump this one up to “good” territory, but it can’t quite go the distance.