My Favourite Simpsons Episode

Recently YouTuber Patrick H Willems made a video discussing his favourite episode of The Simpsons (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWVKDPRYwg8&t=1321s) and encouraged other people to discuss their's. Naturally being as big a Simpsons fan as anyone can expect, it inspired me to delve into the subject matter and discuss what is and always has been my personal favourite episode of The Simpsons, season 7 episode 8 Mother Simpson. Directed by David Silverman and written by Richard Appel.

Much like Patrick’s video I’m going to focus on the storytelling structure of the episode and the elements at play that make this an incredibly tight plot with poignant character development and subtle foreshadowing. If you haven’t seen the episode in a while here is a recap on the episode’s events: Our story begins with Homer in an attempt to get out of doing mandatory litter pick-up with work, fakes his death to enjoy his weekend. Eventually Homer is forced to make his way to city hall to confirm he is alive, while there he learns his mother Mona Simpson is also still listed as alive, going to visit the grave in which he thinks she’s buried, he meets her there fully alive. Reunited, he introduces Mona to his family, after initially bonding with everyone she reveals her story. Back in the 60s Mona was a political activist who sabotaged one of Mr Burns environment destroying facilities, being the only identified figure, she had to go on the run to avoid prosecution. Returning to the present, Mr Burns learns of her return and informs the FBI, in order to avoid capture Homer helps her go on the run yet again, finally getting to say goodbye properly this time.

It’s amazing how in just a simple 21 minutes the writers were able to fill the story with so much set-up and pay off and no story element goes underutilised while also never being glaringly obvious in its purpose and still having such comedic irony to it all. For example, the episode opens with Homer faking his death to prevent helping Mr Burns clean up the environment, while Mona initially faked her death to prevent Mr Burns from damaging the environment. Another great example being Patty & Selma having a tombstone ready and made for Homer’s death, which is certainly in character for them but also ends up being the plot device that reunites Homer & Mona while they’re both at the graveyard, and then later on being what separates them again after the FBI are investigating the matter. Finally it being Mona’s actions in the past that cured Chief Wiggum of his asthma, and so he’s the one that helps them escape at the end of the episode.

Then there is the matter of having to develop a believable connection between Mona and The Simpsons family to get both them and us the audience invested in her, and they take advantage of what’s at hand. Mona’s big crime was being an environment activist, meaning she both cares about the environment like Lisa, while also having a rebellious nature like Bart. There’s also a joke about Maggie also embracing the rebellious nature of the hippies, which considering last season she tries to kill Mr Burns, isn’t out of character for her. When Mona is first introduced to the family Bart’s first reaction is to try and guilt her into paying him, and later on he finds her fake IDs while rummaging through her purse, he learns of Mona’s criminal activities by he himself committing a criminal activity, and she’s shown to be intellectually stimulating for Lisa and developing an instant rapport.

None of this is to say the show doesn’t offer a fulfilling relationship between Homer and Mona, with Homer it’s a different story as she doesn’t have to win him over, he already loves her and instead regresses to a childlike state to catch up on time lost. This is until we get to the end of the episode, where they finally get to say their goodbyes, and Mona bangs her head on the door shouting “D’oh!”, which is the only time the line is used in the episode, establishing it as her initial trait that was passed on down to Homer, solidifying their connection. I never would have thought a “D’oh!” could have such emotional weight to it.

Speaking of the ending of the episode, this is the moment that settles this episode as my favourite, as it contains the most emotionally intelligent and artistic frame in The Simpsons history. After saying their goodbyes, we transition from evening to night as the credits role, we’re treated to Homer sat on his car, all alone just looking up at the stars as Alf Clausen’s beautiful score plays over it. Never before or since has Homer been given such a simple moment of reflection, being on his own just to think of his emotions and without us even being able to see his face or even suggest what he might be thinking of feeling, it entirely being left to the audiences interpretation, it’s a moment filled with such nuance, I cannot think of a time where Homer has been treated with such emotional dignity.

This is not the first time The Simpsons has told deeply emotional stories. Other episodes such as Lisa’s Substitute, Bart Gets An F or The Way We Was have all done this before and are fantastic episodes in their own right, but what this episode has over them is I think it is equally as funny as it is emotional. Now analysing comedy is difficult to do, especially in The Simpsons where it can easily dissolve into just simply listing all the good jokes because they’re so good they don’t need explaining and to do so would just spoil the humour…but I’m still gonna do it.

“Damn you Walt Whitman! Leaves of Grass my ass!” – A perfect blend of expectations being both met and broken. Homer knowing who Walt Whitman was is unexpected, but his critical review being “Leaves of Grass my ass!” is very much in character.

Moleman being buried alive – Moleman suffering is always funny, him being too polite to mention being buried alive makes it even funnier.

A Pelican vomits a fish into Homer’s pants – Speaks for itself

FBI Agent Joe Friday – Half of the comedy in The Simpsons comes from the incredibly talented voice cast. Harry Shearer delivering such a monotone yet no nonsense fast talking Noir Pastiche makes every line this character says quotable and hilarious.

It is in my opinon Mother Simpson is the only episode of The Simpsons that strikes a perfect balance between great comedy and great drama, while being an incredibly tight script and artistically beautiful, and it is my favourite episode of The Simpsons.

-Danny