Episode 17 - American History X-cellent
12 April 2010
Review
Synopsis: Mr Burns is arrested for stealing art and puts Smithers in charge of the power plant. Smithers is initially kind but soon learns why Burns didn't trust his employees. One of Burns' new prison mates is determined to save him from evil. Meanwhile Lisa and Bart fall out and then bond over her ant farm.
The Good: This was a rare opportunity and sadly it was fluffed. We haven't actually seen Smithers in charge of the plant before and there was a chance to tell a brand new story. The story could have presented him turning into Mr Burns (which is the direction it was headed) and gaining some kind of insight into the old monster. Or indeed it could have switched their dispositions with Burns returning from prison preaching moderation while Smithers had turned into a slave driver.
Even though that chance wasn't taken there were quite a few moments to enjoy on the way. Homer and company's descent into Burns' wine cellar bypassed ever more terrifying looking beasts beheaded and displayed concluding with "Trespasser" and a skeleton clutching a wine bottle. Homer is then delighted to find a bottle of wine worth his yearly salary. In one of those silly jokes which Homer makes work through his grudging delivery, Lenny points out that actually some of Homer's salary disappears as income tax. So Homer muttering all the way pours some of the wine onto the floor.
As Burns is about to enter prison he comments to Smithers "So ironic, after all my years of stock jobbing, gun running, attempted murder, successful murder and tom peepery they get me on a petty multimillion dollar art theft!" Then once inside a Prison guard amusingly declares that Mr Burns possessions include an empty envelope labelled "Bribes" while he pockets its contents. True to his Yale routes he is then outraged to be locked up with a Dartmouth man.
Back at the plant Smithers accidentally falls down Burns' trap door which was an easy laugh. I liked Homer's reaction to Smithers' kindness too. Smithers smilingly declared that his workers happiness was important because "Happy workers are productive workers." With disgust Homer seethed "There's always a catch!" It was good to see Homer and co taking advantage of Smithers' kindness. Their laziness and selfishness demanded they ruin the chance to have a more sympathetic boss.
Homer's happiness at Patty and Selma's apparent death is always a fun note to play.
The Bad: The story however didn't have a clear direction. Smithers descent into Burns-like behaviour was barely touched on and quickly forgotten once Burns returned. Meanwhile Burns went through a lame Green Mile parody in prison. Instead of actually exploring the consequences of either man's change of attitude the writing wasted time by focussing on Homer and co breaking Burns out of jail. There is no plausibility to them doing that or to the extraction of evil which Burns went through. The whole thing was a waste of time, capped off by Burns walking out jail with no explanation for how he escaped his charges.
Along the way there were a few jokes which plumbed the depths of lameness. Burns insisting one of his employees actually break their own leg was an unworthy exaggeration and the Wardens addiction to Helium was equally silly.
Bart and Lisa's plot was entirely superfluous to proceedings and the time could easily have been better spent on fleshing out the A plot.
Best Joke: Though to be fair it did provide the best joke. Santa's Little Helper licked away all of Lisa's ants in that way dogs do when food lurks beneath little bugs. Only one ant survived and Lisa and Bart lovingly took care of "Annie" before finally releasing her into the wild. As they said their sad goodbyes Santa's Little Helper walked up and licked her off the dirt too. A pretty perfect punch line to a needless story.
The Bottom Line: There was plenty to enjoy here but what stays in the memory most is a rare fresh plot being squandered.
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