Laughed harder at this than I have at a Simpsons episode in a while. They've had some really strong episodes the last few years since the showrunner shift, and more consistently so and people are starting to take notice. However, nostalgia blinds a lot of people, as well as self-loathing they project onto the Simpsons instead. I really think had South Park made a similar episode, it would get at least a 7.2 on IMDB. Never trust IMDB ratings when it comes to The Simpsons. Its a shame to see how polarized and delusional ratings have become over time - but everything moves towards entropy. Sooner you accept that, the sooner you can get more out of life again and enjoy when things *are* working - like this episode of The Simpsons. I'd say episodes 5-9 of this season had me concerned it was losing steam writing-wise again, but I was quite happy with this one.
Modern Simpsons has tended to shine the most doing very emotional plots, or very unconventional story formats or parodies to shake things up. However, to do a 'standard' plot this well is a nice change - a very lean & focused episode peppered full of strange, quick jokes and visuals that would've felt at home in the classic seasons. Millhouse's bad interrupted poem about the Oregon Trail or Cletus wondering if they'll all be friends after being a mob come to mind, as well as the electric car turned back to gas, the Tofu Tobacco sign and that they keep winning BBQ broilers at each contest. All quick, not belaboured jokes that got a big laugh out of me - allowed to stand on their own without adding too many jokes on a joke thats already stronger on its own, which Al Jean seasons can be guilty of.
I also like how 'cheating' is kept light by having the things Bart & Homer cheat at be pitiful sports, and be an excuse to bond. While the premise is a bit surreal, it itself is a fun jab at how sports networks will televise & try to legitimize anything, which itself is a bit of a scam - and helps us still root for Bart & Homer.
Whats especially great about this episode, is besides one visual gag of Bart running after a four wheeler, everything about this episode was justified; even Lisa's admission being obviously doctored was explained, as USC prefers blantant liars they can mould. At that point, it becomes a very clever criticism of lying as a whole, but also how America celebrates liars, as capitalism doesn't seem to care how you get ahead as long as you're stimulating the economy more than you're hurting it. Only once it can't be ignored anymore do you get your ass handed to you, and so it makes an odd sort of sense that USC can take explicit pride in Sam Bankman-Fried. Both converging plots deal brilliantly with the struggle to get ahead.
I can see how the third act maybe feels too talky for some as the action is largely contained in act 2, but it didn't bother me. I pretty much knew where it was headed, but they made the road to get there very fun - including great animation of Lisa struggling to leave the USC.
And the capper of Bart teaching the class at the end feels like a really classic ending. Marge was also closer to the Marge we know and love - sometimes Julie's voice falls more into a Selma territory these days.
Interestingly, there's no extra animation during the credits this time, first time in a long time that's been the case. I liked that, to be honest - again, trimming fat. Sometimes the credits animations add nothing, and might even take away impact from the final actual lines of the episode and make it feel its overstayed its welcome.
The 'Get Our Cheat On' song was clever & funny, and appropriately modern country-themed.
Best exchange:
Marge: We need to talk.
Homer: Aw, I like when we talk, I don't like when we need to talk.
17 out of 22 found this helpful.
Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
