[7.8/10] This episode deserves more than this mini-review, if only because it’s one of the last gasps of *The Simpsons*s golden years. But sadly,, this will have to suffice for now. You can see both the things that made the show great: its layered jokes, its character-based stories, it’s heartening family relationships and particular brand of cynical optimism. On the other hand, you can also see the things that showed the cracks developing in the foundation: the cartooniness of Homer being trapped on a runaway cherry-picker and getting his head stuck in a drawbridge, and the questionable moral of “remember to take stupid risks.”
Still, in the balance, this is still a pretty great episode. Putting things in Lisa’s perspective is a canny choice, because it gives you that sense of overconfidence, concern, and eventual resignation as a kid trying something a little beyond your years and capabilities. The show excellently finds the humor in both being excited and being lost as a child. Lisa’s enthusiasm for the mundane proceedings of the bus, and then her inability to find her way due to unhelpful bus drivers, hilariously confused geese, and a bewildering Russian district are all great.
The B-story, featuring Bart’s novelty adventure, is mostly there for jokes, but they’re good jokes! His misadventures at the novelty shop are nicely silly. Marge’s line about this being an unusual situation “or it would be for most families” is a real keeper. The whole setup with Dr. Hibbert and “terror sweat” makes no sense but is too funny to care. And Bart’s one-way conversation with Lisa is the peak of comedy in this episode.
I also like how we get Homer’s perspective in this one. He makes a nice yin to Lisa’s yang, as the nominally capable adult worried about his resourceful but overmatched little girl as opposed to being the confident little girl who finds herslef in over her head and wishing she had a parent. His interactions with Lenny and Carl are definitely laugh-worthy, and his eventual reunion with Lisa is pretty sweet.
Granted, the whole loony bit with the cherry picker is pretty out there; breaking into the museum is an odd set piece to layer on top of it, and the whole “live life to the fullest no matter how dumb your ideas” message is, while well intentioned, a pretty bad lesson overall. Still, it’s founded on a sweetness and understanding between Lisa and Homer, which is never a bad thing to rest your episode on.
Overall, this one has some noted flaws, flaws that would only get worse during Mike Scully’s tenure as showrunner. But for now, there was still enough that golden years sheen to make for a very nice episode.
Shout by Caleb PetersBlockedParent2022-05-20T04:41:05Z
I didn't think it was possible for Lisa to not be a condescending douche in an episode focusing on her, but I'll be damned - she's not like that this time around.