Episode 7 - Mypods and Boomsticks
29 March 2012
Synopsis: Lisa is given a mypod but runs up a huge bill downloading music. Bart befriends a new Muslim boy called Bashir. Moe encourages Homer to question Bashir’s family to see if they are terrorists. Homer offends them over dinner and Marge forces him to apologise. He becomes convinced that they are going to blow up the Springfield mall, not realising that Bashir’s father is a demolition expert.
The Good: Two very topical topics ripe for satire lead to some nice obvious jokes. The typical Simpsons cynicism is in full effect as Christmas decorations are torn down at the mall complete with deer being stuffed into shredders. The mall is of course busy exploiting the next holiday with a Dr King ready to replace Santa. Similarly the Apple store (“It’s so sterile!” Lisa says in awe) is mocked with Bart announcing that Steve Jobs invested all his money in Microsoft and Lisa buying Myphonies – white head phones so that people will believe she has an Ipod.
There are less good jokes surrounding Muslim prejudices (see Best Joke though) though it is hard not to laugh at Homer’s girlish giggling when Bashir flatters him. Bart informing Bashir of what to call the teachers has a nice childish line “We call Skinner – Skinrash, Mr Wiener is Mr Whiner…”
The Bad: There is not enough room here to satirise American-Islamic relations and Apple all in one episode. The Islam story ought to be given a whole episode to develop and be explored such as the treatment illegal immigrants were given in "Much Apu About Nothing" (723). Instead Homer goes from friendly to suspicious in two seconds and doesn’t really learn any important lessons about tolerance along the way.
Instead we get the most basic misunderstanding story and jokes which ruin the point that should be being made. Homer claims he actually put poison in a cake he made for Bashir’s family which is ridiculous. Almost as bad as him swimming down a river to rescue Duff beer leaving Hans Moleman to drown. The writers would clearly rather make jokes which have no basis in reality rather than do some real good for American-Islamic relations. Similarly Apple’s underwater headquarters is a needlessly silly idea and doesn’t tell us anything interesting about them or Lisa as a result.
Best Joke: There’s nothing quite like Grandpa Simpson being confused. Homer brings a cake in the design of the American flag out and taunts Bashir’s parents with it. Bart stands up for them but Bashir’s father says “Young man you do not respect us by disrespecting your father.” Liking the sound of this “respect your elders” dialogue Grandpa announces “I like the way you Italians think.”
The Bottom Line: A classic modern Simpsons episode where the writing is more concerned with being relevant and modern than it is with writing a good story. It’s a shame and a waste of time when you know what the show was once capable of. In general the jokes and stories are passable fare though.
Feedback
Add your comments on this episode below. They may be included in the weekly podcasts.
|
)