Episode 19 - Waverly Hills 9-0-2-1-D'oh
27 March 2012
Synopsis: Marge sees how terrible Springfield Elementary really is and Lisa wishes that she could go to school in Waverly Hills. Marge suggests they rent a small apartment there in order to get access to the schools system. But Homer has to live in the tiny bachelor pad until the inspector makes his surprise visit. He and Marge begin courting as if they are back in college while Bart becomes popular at school. Lisa fails to be popular or get As so Bart steps in and spreads the rumour that Lisa is friends with teenage star Alaska Nebraska. When Lisa’s new friends push her for backstage passes she makes a desperate plea to Alaska who doesn’t help her. So the whole family return to their house in Springfield.
The Good: This is a proper Simpsons plot where the family’s world changes for a good reason and then changes back to normal because things couldn’t work out. As the plot makes sense the story rolls out more enjoyably. As do the jokes.
Marge’s idea to fool the school system is a clever idea and because it’s for her children’s benefit the immorality is understandable. Lisa yearns to be at a school where “special doesn’t always mean bad.” Bart asks reasonably what will happen to his friends at Springfield Elementary which leads Homer to ruthlessly but amusingly mock Bart for thinking that his friends from Elementary school will still be his friends later in life.
Homer goes apartment hunting which was pretty fun as he comes up with more and more spurious reasons to reject horrible apartments as being too good. “I can’t afford this place, it’s way too fancy, sometimes there isn’t a train going by.” Then “Four walls!?” he asks incredulously followed by “I’m looking at a lot of murder sites right now.” Once in Waverley Hills we get treated to an adapted cover of Weezer’s song “Beverley Hills” and meet the City Inspector who is a parody of Javier Bardem’s character in No Country for Old Men. Even if you haven’t seen the movie, it’s a clear threat forcing Homer to actually live in the tiny apartment.
The scenes where Homer seduces Marge, college style were really fun (see Best Joke) and set up their deteriorating romance really nicely. Marge soon takes over Homer’s bachelor pad leading him to conclude “You know you’re starting to remind me a lot of my first wife.” Soon the small apartment is too small and Homer and Marge look forward to going back to a house in the suburbs which was a nice conclusion. I also enjoyed Homer trying to justify his chatter during movies “Why do you watch comedies if you don’t want to hear more jokes?”
Bart and Lisa’s story is less entertaining but Alaska Nebraska is a nice reworking of Hannah Montana. Their story also threw up a few nice throwaway jokes like the Springfield Phone Company overloading, the anti-Willie groundskeeper at the new school and Milhouse hiding for three weeks.
The Bad: This story is somewhat similar to the James Bond parody episode “You only move twice” (802). But then like so many older Simpsons episodes, they covered all the bases. Lisa, Bart and Marge all had compelling reasons to want to return to Springfield then. Here Bart and Lisa’s story is much less developed. In fact Lisa’s doesn’t seem to fit her character very well. After being challenged and getting B’s instead of A’s her story shifts from academics to popularity. But she was never popular in Springfield, so her lack of popularity doesn’t seem like such a big deal.
I know no one else will care but it bothers me that Chief Wiggum opens fire on Bart. The Simpsons is a family show and even a silly police officer shouldn’t be shooting apparently live ammo at a nuisance child.
Best Joke: As Homer shows Marge off to his new college aged friends they ask if he she has a sister. “Two actually. Twins” he says to their excitement. Soon when they meet Patty and Selma, one of them asks “So were you two in the same accident or what?” Marge and Homer have college style love on the floor and the next day he amuses himself by suggesting “How about you, me and my wife have a two-way?” It was a fun sequence.
The Bottom Line: A fun episode with a nice story and some enjoyable cultural references.
Feedback
Add your comments on this episode below. They may be included in the weekly podcasts.
)