3.1-3.3
I'm now very close to the generally accepted "golden age" of The Simpsons. Firstly, I'm surprised by how good in parts Season 2 was. The last episode ("Blood Feud") and the episode with the comic book especially have some genuine belly laughs (Comic Book Guy's first appearances, particularly laughing at the squabbling kids). But they really did step up their game with Season 3, which doesn't start off as strong as it ends up - the softball episode approaches, and I would consider that one of the funniest 20 mins of TV).
Biggest laugh of the season so far - Homer's infatuation with Reader Digest ending as soon as it disappoints him just once. That looks like it doesn't translate well, but Homer's reaction really tickled me. "Bart the Murderer", the first Fat Tony episode is up next, which I recall being excellent, though I think I might be forgetting parts of it in favour of the episode with the chowder.
Wednesday 23 March 2011
Friday 18 March 2011
The Simpsons #3
1.11-1.13
Marge's behaviour in Season 1 is at times downright unreasonable. She seems far more willing to forgive herself than to forgive Homer - as I recall this changes later as Homer becomes less put upon and more jerkish. But by the end of Season 1, we've been given at least two episodes in which Marge flies off the handle for some of Homer's milder antics. Case in point - the Bellydancer episode in which Homer boogies with a dancer at his friend's bachelor party. ONE episode prior, Marge genuinely considered cheating on Homer, and actually began the journey to he cuckolder's apartment before changing her mind at a convenient crossroads. Maybe it's her guilt over this earlier incident that leads her to react so strongly to a pretty innocent act on Homer's part, or maybe she just holds Homer to higher standards than she does himself. Maybe she thinks Homer is so lucky to have her that he shouldn't even consider a glance at another woman. In the last episode of the season (and one of the best), she is easily swayed by Dr Marvin Monroe that Homer is the cause of all of her woes, and is all ready to ball him out when he gets home - but for what? Season One Homer is nothing but a doting father, husband and mild buffoon.
I'm about to start Season Two. Looking at the episodes, it contains some pretty great Early Simpsons, including the one where Bart, Milhouse and Martin buy the comic book together and the Ringo Starr cameo. It's really not too long until Classic Simpsons territory now. I was trying to think of the golden age episodes I was most looking forward to, and at the moment the fear of flying episode tops the list, if mostly for the Homer-centric opening act, and the Cheers cameos.
Marge's behaviour in Season 1 is at times downright unreasonable. She seems far more willing to forgive herself than to forgive Homer - as I recall this changes later as Homer becomes less put upon and more jerkish. But by the end of Season 1, we've been given at least two episodes in which Marge flies off the handle for some of Homer's milder antics. Case in point - the Bellydancer episode in which Homer boogies with a dancer at his friend's bachelor party. ONE episode prior, Marge genuinely considered cheating on Homer, and actually began the journey to he cuckolder's apartment before changing her mind at a convenient crossroads. Maybe it's her guilt over this earlier incident that leads her to react so strongly to a pretty innocent act on Homer's part, or maybe she just holds Homer to higher standards than she does himself. Maybe she thinks Homer is so lucky to have her that he shouldn't even consider a glance at another woman. In the last episode of the season (and one of the best), she is easily swayed by Dr Marvin Monroe that Homer is the cause of all of her woes, and is all ready to ball him out when he gets home - but for what? Season One Homer is nothing but a doting father, husband and mild buffoon.
I'm about to start Season Two. Looking at the episodes, it contains some pretty great Early Simpsons, including the one where Bart, Milhouse and Martin buy the comic book together and the Ringo Starr cameo. It's really not too long until Classic Simpsons territory now. I was trying to think of the golden age episodes I was most looking forward to, and at the moment the fear of flying episode tops the list, if mostly for the Homer-centric opening act, and the Cheers cameos.
Wednesday 16 March 2011
The Simpsons #2
1.4-1.10
Surprisingly high quality already. The bowling episode (I forgot how close Marge gets to cheating on Homer) and the Statue of Jebadiah Springfield episode in particular are pretty funny in parts. Apart from the animation and odd voices, a lot of people complain that the early ones are generally light on laughs, and they're kind of right - the gag ratio really rockets in two seasons or so. But the thing is, and it's probably just because The Simpsons is so large a part of a lot people's youths, they're never not charming. I can pretty much happily watch any episode of the Simpsons. It's never a chore, an opinion that will hopefully last for the next 21 seasons.
Surprisingly high quality already. The bowling episode (I forgot how close Marge gets to cheating on Homer) and the Statue of Jebadiah Springfield episode in particular are pretty funny in parts. Apart from the animation and odd voices, a lot of people complain that the early ones are generally light on laughs, and they're kind of right - the gag ratio really rockets in two seasons or so. But the thing is, and it's probably just because The Simpsons is so large a part of a lot people's youths, they're never not charming. I can pretty much happily watch any episode of the Simpsons. It's never a chore, an opinion that will hopefully last for the next 21 seasons.
Tuesday 15 March 2011
The Simpsons #1
1.1-1.3
It's easy to forget after 22 seasons that in the third ever episode, Homer Simpson tries to kill himself. His character, along with Black Smithers, is probably what sets it apart from later, greater Simpsons episodes. Early Homer is already somewhat characterised - dumb, oafish, (incredibly) quick to anger - but is far more dialed back. His zaniest, most Classic Homer-like moments are offset by the recurring themes of dedication to his family and to being the breadwinner. He's far from lazy, dedicating himself wholeheartedly to causes. It's like someone along the way had concerns about the occasionally downright prickish Modern Homer being at all likeable, especially in the show's early days. In the first three episodes we don't see too much Bart, which is good because the early Bart episodes tend towards the supremely annoying; I can just see kids wanting to be this pretty obnoxious tearaway icon. I don't think I was one of them, but for all I know I could've been. It's also noteable that three episodes in, Lisa is essentially not a character. Every episode she'll say one clever thing to show what they're going for, but she's a sketch at this stage.
It's easy to forget after 22 seasons that in the third ever episode, Homer Simpson tries to kill himself. His character, along with Black Smithers, is probably what sets it apart from later, greater Simpsons episodes. Early Homer is already somewhat characterised - dumb, oafish, (incredibly) quick to anger - but is far more dialed back. His zaniest, most Classic Homer-like moments are offset by the recurring themes of dedication to his family and to being the breadwinner. He's far from lazy, dedicating himself wholeheartedly to causes. It's like someone along the way had concerns about the occasionally downright prickish Modern Homer being at all likeable, especially in the show's early days. In the first three episodes we don't see too much Bart, which is good because the early Bart episodes tend towards the supremely annoying; I can just see kids wanting to be this pretty obnoxious tearaway icon. I don't think I was one of them, but for all I know I could've been. It's also noteable that three episodes in, Lisa is essentially not a character. Every episode she'll say one clever thing to show what they're going for, but she's a sketch at this stage.
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