Episode 2 - Simpson and Delilah
27 March 2012
Synopsis: Homer sees a commercial for Dimoxinil a miracle cure for baldness. He can't afford it and so puts it on his work's health insurance. He is delirious when his hair returns and is soon promoted at work because of his new look. He hires a strapping assistant called Karl who pushes him toward greater success. Smithers is unhappy with his new rival and discovers the insurance fraud. Karl takes the blame for Homer but without his hair Homer is soon demoted.
The Good: The argument that people judge baldness as some kind of character defect is driven home very thoroughly. Once Homer's hair returns everyone from his family to his boss begins attributing positive qualities to his unchanged personality. Then once the hair is gone his good ideas are dismissed because of his bald head. The story doesn't go so far as to imply baldness is some kind of disease holding otherwise brilliant people back. Smithers points out that Homer's promotion has taken him away from tasks he was otherwise bad at and of course Karl covers for his general lack of ability.
In the end the sentiment of the episode is firmly in place once Homer is rejected by his new executive co-workers. Mr Burns sympathises greatly because of his own baldness and Marge singing "You are so beautiful to me" was unfailingly sweet.
The Bad: I'm not sure though what the episode's motive was. Karl's arrival on the scene rather deviates the story from one just about baldness. Being bald clearly has a negative effect on Homer but with no Karl he would have failed anyway. Karl's selflessness and apparent homosexuality are interesting choices but don't make much of a point or much of a joke.
In general the jokes are the typical exaggerations with Burns' implausibly magnificent executive washroom and Homer's amazing range of haircuts. None really hits the funny bone.
Best Joke: One exaggeration was so on the nose it makes you smile. Smithers announces that Homer has been promoted over the loud speaker: "Take three minutes to say goodbye to your former friends and report to Room 503 for reassignment to a better life."Â
The Bottom Line: A decent engaging story but without the jokes or overall theme to turn it into a classic.
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