Reviewing one of the best Simpsons episodes of the past 20 years. Music Selections: 0:00 "abstractions of rain" (Super Dodge Ball) by posu yan • Bad Dudes - Super Dodg...
That's very true. Lisa has had a few episodes but they've always hinged on her relationship with another character such as getting lost with Bart on the school field trip or even going up the tree for her Vegan crush. Hell even when it's not the wilderness going to the museum alone or doing the sensory deprivation has her connected with other characters more often than not. Would be interesting to see a solo Lisa episode or even pairing her with someone like Maggie I think would be interesting as a full episode.
Kind of hard to say since most of the episodes centered on them previous to that point were about them having marital problems. Although they did solve each and every single one of them, so I guess that means they do really love each other
Season 33 is the best season in years, it’s honestly shocking the radical improvement that’s taken place in terms of quality, so glad for you to be analysing this realjims!
I feel the same way. As someone brought up on classic Simpsons, I legitimately feel they're hitting their stride again with the humor and real character driven episodes that feel just as sentimental as the episodes of old!
Agreed - probably the strongest overall season since somewhere around seasons 9- 12 - it's excellent because we see more heart from Homer (and less Jerk Ass Homer)
I loved Homer shouting for Marge to run then after checking her. She says she's okay then he says she's not because she's missing her shoe then he puts it on. Genuinely tearjerking. The love is real in this episode. Probably one of my favorite episodes.
Dan absolutely killed it when he yelled "MAAAAAAARGE!" For a brief moment, I actually thought the show might kill her off right there. That yell was so raw.
@@MissAshley42 the way Homer's lines are delivered in this episode compared to most other modern Simpsons episodes makes me think he still has the passion ans range as long as the script deserves it
That opening line is one of the truest things ever spoken. I actually started tearing up because the screenshots started reminding me of how I felt when I first watched this episode. It's easily the most beautiful and well-informed in Simpsons history. I _know_ happy couples just like Homer and Marge during the home half. That couch rug joke came from a _real_ place. The restraint on display is especially noteworthy. It zagged so many times when most modern Simpsons episodes would've zigged. We got real, natural danger, but no easy or comedic out. We got hesitance to leave, but no big fight. We got deer together, but no Bambi joke. And the silence. So much mood-setting silence. Finally, the back half works wonderfully as a metaphor for new couples building their relationship. That wolverine wasn't just a wolverine. It was a car accident, a lost job, an eviction notice. . .It was any number of sudden catastrophes that threaten to shatter bonds. And Homer and Marge handled it just as they've handled every other difficulty in their life: awkwardly, but together.
I haven't seen a modern simpsons episode in years. I took your advice and watched it before continuing with the review, and my God, it was absolutely wonderful. As a fan of survival shows and the simpsons, this was a match made in heaven. No metajokes, just Homer and Marge trying to survive. Great stuff!
To this episode, I say Phooey to Lisa! You don't know everything! Homer and Marge have finally gotten to a point where they know each other! No arguments! No desperate attempt to question their relationship. They just work and its so awesome that finally after all these years!
That seems realistic. Kids rarely see their parents as the people who became parents, just the authority figures who have to love and raise them. Sometimes even into adulthood, your parents are psychologically JUST your parents. That's the thing about watching the show as a kid for Bart and Lisa's exploits, and then watching the show as an adult, you get both perspectives. You go from, look at these dumb adults to holy crap, now I'M the dumb adult.
i do like that they played the wolverine as an actual threat, you don't get to see a lot of animals acting like actual animals on the simpsons too often anymore.
I LOVED this episode. It shocked me how personal it felt compared to previous episodes in the series. I hope to see more stories like this for other characters.
This is genuinely one of my favorite episodes EVER. This is what I've been missing with Homer and Marge for years. Like they had this twister Family Guy kind of resentment for a while and I hated it. That love we saw in the first 3 seasons suddenly feels like it's back
When you recommended Season 33 in a recent video, that made me decide to watch it, and I was extraordinarily surprised by this episode. The interactions between Homer and Marge felt so genuine it became my favorite and most memorable episode of modern Simpsons.
There’s something about Homer’s fight or flight protectiveness of Marge-the way he careens down from the tree to chase the Wolverine, and especially the way he’s still yelling “RUN MARGE RUN!” with each blow of the club. Man this episode made me tear up over and over again.
This episode is genuinely georgeous and I am not ashamed to admit that I actually got a bit teary eyed during the last five minutes. The music, the visuals, the very real love Homer and Marge feel for each other, I love this episode so much.
Honestly the whole “Julie Kavner’s voice is gravelly” thing is a big reason why I fear for this show’s future. Not that it’s gonna end (realistically speaking, they’ll just move it to Hulu or ABC if that becomes a serious threat), but more that any one of the main cast can kick the bucket any day, and considering how Julie’s been torturing herself by voicing Marge (on top of Patty & Selma) for 34 seasons now, she could very well be the first to die
Honestly, moving it to a streaming exclusive might do the opposite of moving it to a quieter range. Who actually watches shows on networks as they air anymore? If they want to help it vanish quietly, leaving it on Fox and setting a bunch of arbitrary streaming restrictions (like only making 5 episodes at a time available) seems like the smartest option.
Was I the only one waiting for a final twist - like someone popping out and congratulating them for getting through what turned out to be the retreat after all? So many bits and pieces made me anticipate them “accidentally” being dropped into the scenario designed to make them rediscover their relationship dynamics
Definitely a good one of the recent seasons. Watching it, I really felt they had taken a leaf out of the Bob's Burger book of showing the relationship between the characters rather than fabricating conflict between them to generate interaction - without it feeling like a cheap rip off. Nicely done. Also I was SHOCKED by the wolverine being real, I thought it was a robot and we were going to get a bizarre fake-out third act where it turned out to be reality TV show prank (again). I remember the TV bit and thinking 'Wow, really unconvincing that is just a robot doing that' and nope, it was a real wolverine. A good choice of animal - dangerous but small enough to kill.
Not a good choice of animal. Real wolverines are at most half the size of the one in the episode and avoid humans as much as they can. There isn't a single recorded instance of a wolverine attacking a human. They're really not dangerous at all. A rabid wolf would've fit the scene better.
I paused the video to go watch the episode before watching the review, and I'm so glad I did. This was a touching story of two people that love each other so dearly, it's honestly a modern Simpsons treasure.
I just watched this episode last week and the only reason I think it doesn’t get much love is how late in the series it is. It has become my favorite Homer and Marge episode simply because it shows the two actually enjoying spending time together… BEFORE the wacky hijinks, i the opening with their “boring” lives is underrated because THAT’s what a real happy couple is like. Both happy with their routine. And they didn’t change to make the other person happy but they grew together. As someone who hates shows who say “they’re soulmates” because they’re the main characters this was an interesting “let’s see Homer and Marge hanging out and enjoying each other for 22 minutes”
Due to where I grew up I love the references to the old Poconos honeymoon destinations which advertised champagne glass hot tubs, etc., and several of which were in ruins (and others demolished) by the time this aired.
I honestly feel like the Simpsons is a show that really need those less commedy more charm and heartfelt episodes once in awhile to remind us why we care about these characters, that's something early Simpsons had in spades. Bart gets an F isn't my favorite episode for it's comedy I can point several episodes funnier than that one, that's my favorite episode because of how much I connect with it emotionally and personally, is good that this show have some episodes to remind us that the Simpsons isn't JUST another comedy show, but a great show with great characters that we get to explore from time to time
I watched this episode after you mentioned it in the last video. I havent seen any 'new' simpsons in the last 10 years or so. It was definantly interesting to see how things have changed (especially marge's voice) and was looking forward to your extra seconds about it. I was thinking exactly what you said in the last few minutes of the video, how you talked it up; but I ended up just saying to myself 'eh that was ok.' But it was really nice to see what simpsons have become after so many years. Thanks pal.
I think part of the appeal is how "earned" it feels. We've seen so many episodes where we get a marriage crisis or a family dysfunction or even just Marge and Homer acknowledging but not addressing relationship problems. Something like this where the two are shown as in sync with each other to this agree in all three acts might've been overdue.
I just love seeing old married couple being wholesome and loving, instead of them constantly on the brink of a divorce. It gives hope that maybe there's something good that lasts forever. We sadly lack such goodness thesedays.
Thrilled to see you covering this episode - it's a modern masterpiece, plain and simple and I hope you making a video on it convinces people who maybe aren't up on modern Simpsons to check it out. It's up there with Life on the Fast Lane in terms of best Homer/Marge episodes for me - an episode from season 1 and an episode from season 33! How about that, huh?
My brother hates new simpsons, I used this video in a desperate attempt to get him to watch this episode, Not sure if he will but he did decide he likes your videos so that's a win, been telling him about your channel for a while.
I randomly caught this one when it aired, and I was genuinely blown away by it from that first watch. It's legitimately a beautiful and captivating tale, with solid humor to boot.
This episode for the first time in an extremely long time was a Homer and Marge episode that wasn't nails on a chalkboard rehashing on the same marriage problem plot we've seen 50 times and it was so refreshing to see Homer and Marge happy and content with being with each other. No mad cap schemes, no Jerkass bickering, none of that. this episode so easily could have fallen off the rails into the usual tropes/bad jokes that kill the pacing but no, they somehow manage to thread the needle and came out a winner. Homer killing the Wolverine being played Straight was way more intense than I thought it'd be.
Another one here who was persuaded to watch it after your glowing intro. And what a sweet and surprising episode it was. You rarely get episodes that feel this character-driven and down-to-earth (despite the fact that they're surviving the wild) at all. I think this is one of the most mature episdoes they've pulled off in quite some time - narratively, aesthetically (beautifully animated - love the pink colour palette) and in terms of characterisation. The couple's dynamic wouldn't feel nearly as satisfying without the full weight of their thirty-something year history. It really is a tribute to what this relationship is at its heart. The outcome in front of the sunset (a great callback to two earlier references, and an impressive reminder that the show can still play it straight/sentimental) feels genuinley earned, and true to their characters. The last couple of scenes could have easily undermined the charm, but I like how they committed to the lower-key mood. Such a lyrical and well-realised ending. I think that the involvement of a wild external threat prevents the episode from reaching next-level greatness, but I get that you need a certain amount of action in every Simpsons episode. I thought there were enough jokes (more 'knowing smile jokes' than laugh-out-loud gags, admittedly) to keep things light-hearted. I agree that the voice performances were on-point. I'm glad you recommended this. It really is something of a minor miracle, especially considering the show's reputation in recent years. Not I'm tempted to check some other episodes from modern seasons.
I love this episode SO much. (Something I don't think I have ever said about an episode about a post season 9 episode) This is very much a hidden gem of the modern era and the best Homer Marge relationship story in the history of the series. What I love so much is that it is true "romance" it is not one character trying to win the other character over with a big romantic gesture, or another character 'realizing' how the other person was person they were looking for all the time. There is actually NO conflict to between the two characters, they are actually happy with their relationship at the start of the episode. The episode is about the two of them having new experiences and getting out of their routine, but it isn't even trying to say the routine is bad... it actually saves the day a few times. This is what romance movies should be about, a health romance isn't a series of will they won't they, love triangles and affairs, it's too people who enjoy each other and work together to live their best life. Seriously I love this episode so much.
The voice actors in this episode really put in their effort! Multiple times this episode I thought to myself how great the delivery of the line was, only to have it confirmed once again the next line! Beautiful episode, obsessed with it and it just shows that even though the shows been on a decline, there's still heart and love for these characters. Cried a lot watching
I’ve heard nothing but good things about Season 33 all year, which has made me anxious that it’s been severely overhyped. But just looking at stills of Pixelated and Afraid makes me want to watch it.
Ok, you really sold this episode for me. Especially with the fact that this is an episode with Homer and Marge without the 2 bickering with each other. Seems like a really good change of pace.
The last act of this episode made sob my eyes out, it was so beautiful to see two (normally very flawed people) love and support each other even in a dire situation. I remember immediately rewinding the whole episode and watching it again after I saw it for the first time, and I cried again at the end.
I saw this episode for the first time a few weeks ago while just looking for something to watch on TV while my Internet was down. And yea, this episode was a banger :D
I took your advice to just go and watch it, and I'm bloody glad I did. I hate modern Simpsons a lot so I went into this with a dismissive low expectations attitude but boy did this episode deliver, I loved it. Personally I found that there was comedic moments in the latter half, for example Homer smacking his phone with a rock and the battery exploding made me laugh shocking hard, that is something the Simpsons hasn't do for me in YEARS. This is the best HD era episode, hands down.
I have to say, this is a bold take on an episode premise that I legitimately would not have expected from modern-Simpsons... I think you may have sold me on trying to watch some newer episodes (when I have the time).
I paused this in the beginning so I could go watch it and I'm glad I did! Seeing Marge and Homer just on the same page and in love is so good! Seeing them as a team is way better than them arguing
When I first watched this episode I just thought it was just going be jokes about reality TV(Such as the spoof of the title of episode.) But I'm glad there was more to it. The Homer and Marge just being a cute and why they are a perfect match along with the great art and everything else. This became one of my favorite Simpsons episodes after I watched it. I also agree that the Simpsons team doing these experimental episodes is great since they get to be flexible and fresh. I really enjoy the review and keep up the good work Jims.
No but I absolutely agree with you, I loved that episode when I watched it. It's the most honest portrayal of love I've ever seen on television, in particular the scene at the end with them watching the sunset and sharing a bag of chips.
When you said it was so good that you didn't want to review it, I decided to pause your video and go and watch it. Honestly, it was really great. The high points of Homer and Marge's relationship often takes a backseat to Jerkass Husband comedy, but I genuinely love when Homer gets to prove why he's such a good husband.
great video! i wouldn't mind seeing more reviews of episodes u dislike and why they dont work. kidney trouble was another great video. keep up the great work!
I love this episode. The normalcy and mundane happiness when they're at home reminded me so much of my parents. They spend their evenings watching cooking shows or a Breaking Bad-esque drama before going to bed.
honestly, you did a good job of talking about this ep, i watched it just after finishing the video and I can confirm it's excellent. i could be biased because the last time someone talked up a season 33 ep (mothers and other strangers) i was deeply disappointed by the therapist app gimmick and was perhaps bracing for a similar impact with this. it truly made me observe that while yes, them trying hard to be modern and relatable can hinder them greatly, stuff like this is only possible because it is being made nowadays. they are allowed to break sitcom format, they are allowed to break their own format and do deeper explorations of relationship dynamics that would have perhaps been too risky back when this wasn't the normal on tv (it still isn't) i think modern Simpsons can make a lot out of themselves whenever they're not trying so hard to say WHOAAAAA WE'RE IN (CURRENT YEAR) AINT THAT WACKY????? thank you for reviewing this so thoroughly, i deeply enjoyed it
so ive been dealing with a cold, so to pass the time ive been bindging simpsons/family guy compilations on youtube and sorta tune myself out, but this episode came on and i was so surprised, it wasn't just a rare not braindead episode it was actually stellar, crazy stuff; if the writers could keep up with anything near this quality in future seasons these long dead shows could be resurrected
This is simply an excellent episode, I wholeheartedly agree with your praise. It's a 'genuine' Homer, who really cares about Marge, but there's still tons of excitement, humour, and its fully 'new' in every sense! It's remarkable! Thanks for giving more attention to this rare diamond in the rough that constitutes The Simpsons 2003-2022.
This episode is phenomenal and I rank it as high as some of the most legendary and unforgettable episodes of the classical era ("Cape Feare", "Rosebud", "And Maggie Makes Three", to name a few)
I'm home sick in bed and decided to catch up on some of these later seasons. I've been enjoying season 32 and 33 a lot more than the last time i decided to binge some seasons in in the 20's. But this episode really made me pause. It reminded me of their relationship in the early seasons, when it wasnt just Homer screwing up and Marge trying to remember why she put up with him. When they laughed and cried together more, the homer that boght Lisa her saxophone, the Marge who was mostly happy. And when they were both willing to die to save each other, I was really caught up in the tension of the scene. But even more so after Homer kills the wolverine, and he's frantic and in pieces making sure Marge is ok, putting her sho back on. Thats the kind of moment that makes you understand why they have three kids together. For a bald fat idiot, his pure devotion was kinda hot. Which I feel really weird admitting. Again, that's the Homer of earlier seasons. The one willing to do anything, work to death to gice his loved ones what they need. I'm glad to see that side of the character again.
The episode as a whole isn’t very funny, but that moment when they’re walking through a field of flowers and it turns it to be a million bugs had me laughing harder than anything Simpsons related in the past few years. Maybe because the walking through nature montage was so beautiful and played straight that that sudden jolt of GAH! made me laugh my ass off 😂
I adored this episode. I love that the Simpsons have made this evolution that we can get episodes like this. Charming, sweet and adorable. Character driven storytelling at its finest.
I didn’t want to watch this review until I saw the episode for myself. And my god was it worth the wait. It’s a beautiful episode and I hope to have what Homer and Marge has in the future
I love this episode. The second half was so gripping and intense despite knowing that they would obviously get out of the situation. When going into this one I was not expecting it to be so good but was pleasantly surprised.
Does anyone else find the concept of “Dan and Julie” weird? Like, I’ve thought of Homer and Marge, of Dan AS Homer or Julie AS Marge, but I’ve never thought about “Dan and Julie” creating this TV Couple together until Jims specifically said “Dan and Julie.”
I watched this at your recommendation, and I have mixed feelings. It's a sweet episode for sure, and I'm glad they focused on the love between Homer and Marge. Like you, I was worried when it looked like they were going to go with "Homer lies to Marge" and I'm glad they didn't. That said, I'm not sure the characterization makes sense, especially the opening. Since when has Marge been content to sit on the couch watching reality TV all day? That's a rhetorical question since I haven't really kept up with the show over the last two decades. But in the classic era, Marge was always straining to break out of her suburban doldrums, by joining a play, becoming a cop, hosting a dinner party, taking up painting, etc. To me, the set-up of "our lives are boring but I still love it because we're together" feels less like Homer and Marge than Bob and Linda. This all just supports my feeling that The Simpsons doesn't really have an identity anymore. It can be zany like South Park, mean-spirited like Family Guy, or wholesome like Bob's Burgers depending on what the writers are in the mood for. Despite all of this, I still think it was a pretty good episode once it gets past the first act and they're in the woods together. I guess I accept that the show has to change with the times, and being more like how it was in the 90's wouldn't necessarily make it better. But it feels like the characters and the show no longer have any real consistency, they feel like they're chasing trends. Does any of what I'm saying make sense?
I certainly agree that having Marge loafing around in front of the TV doesn't fit well. But, then again, you could say that Homer not being a crappy husband most of the time goes against his characterisation, albeit this has definitely changed in recent years. I do think the show does take liberties with its characters (their changes to Bleedin' Gums's a disgrace), so it's really a question of the extent to which this's done.
In Season 33, he manages to be a posthumous superstar (which's incredibly cheesy, if you didn't figure) & have a son that he brought up (I think up until his death). In other words, it takes an absolute shit on the episodes in which he was alive. Thinking about it, it's a (much) worse sudden status quo change than what The Principal and the Pauper offers (albeit of a much less significant character, though this 1 still cheeses me off much more (see what I did there?)). Also, The Principal and the Pauper manages to be self-aware & for the revealing of the status quo change to be acknowledged as part of the plot, but the Season 33 episode just 'acts' like nothing's up.
i guess after years of episodes with them having marital problems, future set episodes suggesting theyre not meant for each other, this is a good change of pace
I'll admit, I haven't caught a new episode of the Simpsons in well over a decade now. But it's nice to know, once every blue moon it IS capable of putting out something like the good ol days. I might actually watch this episode now.
My interpretation of the episode is that, I think people tend to overdramatize what love looks like, but in reality it is really simple You might think Homer and Marge in the wild would be a dramatization of what they expected from their shows, but in reality it’s more just what they had before but with higher stakes. I feel like it puts in perspective on how little people need to survive
Okay, this got me to actually check the episode out, and it got one genuine laugh out of me (possible SPOILER: it was the crotchless pantihose joke). On the dramatic side of things, the intensity was decent, if quite different compared to the earliest seasons. Not too bad, which is better than what I can say for the past 18 seasons.
This episode was a nice change on homer and marge. I think it's kind of pointless that episodes in the newer seasons have marge finally realizing that she can do better than homer but never really go anywhere with it.
its great to finally see Homer and Marge not constantly mad at each other when things go awry, but it does feel really contrived to have them both equally helpful and lazy, it feels like they became completely different characters for a whole episode to sell this one story
This episode is definitely a classic! Every season, just about, The Simpsons has one or two of these episodes which remind longtime viewers of why the show is still enjoyable. Season 33 had more than a few eps that fit this mold.
I enjoyed that their love of reality TV is actually important to the plot and actually helps in surviving their predicament. Also, I like that the titular situation isn't really the bulk of the episode. We just get a couple of scenes of naked Homer and Marge and they find shelter and clothing.
What can be said about this episode. It's one of the best to come out of the current run of the show. They told a soild Homer and Marge story without any of the usual shtick. It feels like a breath of fresh air.
It’s so refreshing to have a solid Marge and Homer episode where they work together and actually love each other. The teen seasons were full of boring ‘marriage in crisis’ episodes (and Jerk-Arse Homer) for a cheap ratings boost.
No I totally agree, this is the best episode in the HD era right next to the high lands episode in Scotland, first time I’ve watched and actually really enjoyed the Simpsons in a long time, if you haven’t seen it go watch it I promise he isn’t over hyping it up it’s really that good.
