6.1/10 on a post-classic Simpsons scale. The real highlight of the episode was the Elf on a Shelf-inspired B-story with Maggie. I don't know why, but Maggie's segments in the show since "The Longest Daycare" have been a consistent treat. Maybe it's because the writing on the show has suffered, but turning Maggie into a silent film star brings out the creative side of the writer's room and leans into the strength of the show's animation. The episode captured both the creepiness of the whole Elf on a Shelf concept, but also perfectly depicted that childlike fear from weird superstitions and nightmares imparted by well-meaning parents. Her efforts to rid herself of the gnome were fun, and the dream sequence in particular was the most inventive element of the episode.
The A-story, on the other hand, was a big wad of nothing. As usual, there's juice to the idea behind them -- Krusty attempting to convert to show his daughter he's serious and Rev. Lovejoy trying to find a convert to shore up his dwindling position at the church. But the way it was done was very rushed and haphazard, and above all lacking in laughs. Krusty's attempt to turn his visit to The Simpsons' home into a X-mas special and his conversion and near-death experience just led to a bunch of easy gags without any real emotional catharsis. And as amusing as it is to hear Hank Azaria's Bing Crosby impression, there didn't end up being much to Rev. Lovejoy's story either, despite him literally saving Krusty (the fisherman line was a nice reference though).
What's frustrating is that there's a great story to be told about Krusty trying to use religion to be closer to his daughter and of Reverend Lovejoy initially being craven in his conversion attempts but then going above and beyond as clergyman (See also: "In Marge We Trust") but this episode squanders that (not to mention another cameo from Jackie Mason as Rabbi Krustofski) for a series of cheap gags and stop-and-start storytelling.
And then there's the little, stickler things that bother me. Drew Barrymore may have been busy, but replacing the voice of Sophie Krustofski, especially when this is the first time we've seen her in ages (possibly since her debut) was distracting, and she was basically a prop to motivate Krusty rather than any sort of real character. (And why was she playing the french horn instead of the violin? The change served zero purpose in the story.) What's more, Krusty being Jewish has been an essential part of his character since the episode that introduced Rabbi Krustofski. Having him so quickly become a true believer Christian, even if motivated by disappointing his daughter, felt really cheap and even mildly offensive, and the lazy reversal of it at the end of the episode just showed how little the episode got it.
Otherwise, the quick-hit pagan gags were mildly funny; religious Itchy and Scratchy felt like a rehash of "Itchy & Scratchy & Marge," and the show totally recycled the "scary strings....wait it's just someone playing the violin" gag from an earlier episode.
Overall, this episode was two or three drafts away from being good (save for Maggie's part of it), and in some ways that makes it more frustrating than a truly awful episode.
Review by Andrew BloomVIP 9BlockedParent2016-12-14T06:40:39Z
6.1/10 on a post-classic Simpsons scale. The real highlight of the episode was the Elf on a Shelf-inspired B-story with Maggie. I don't know why, but Maggie's segments in the show since "The Longest Daycare" have been a consistent treat. Maybe it's because the writing on the show has suffered, but turning Maggie into a silent film star brings out the creative side of the writer's room and leans into the strength of the show's animation. The episode captured both the creepiness of the whole Elf on a Shelf concept, but also perfectly depicted that childlike fear from weird superstitions and nightmares imparted by well-meaning parents. Her efforts to rid herself of the gnome were fun, and the dream sequence in particular was the most inventive element of the episode.
The A-story, on the other hand, was a big wad of nothing. As usual, there's juice to the idea behind them -- Krusty attempting to convert to show his daughter he's serious and Rev. Lovejoy trying to find a convert to shore up his dwindling position at the church. But the way it was done was very rushed and haphazard, and above all lacking in laughs. Krusty's attempt to turn his visit to The Simpsons' home into a X-mas special and his conversion and near-death experience just led to a bunch of easy gags without any real emotional catharsis. And as amusing as it is to hear Hank Azaria's Bing Crosby impression, there didn't end up being much to Rev. Lovejoy's story either, despite him literally saving Krusty (the fisherman line was a nice reference though).
What's frustrating is that there's a great story to be told about Krusty trying to use religion to be closer to his daughter and of Reverend Lovejoy initially being craven in his conversion attempts but then going above and beyond as clergyman (See also: "In Marge We Trust") but this episode squanders that (not to mention another cameo from Jackie Mason as Rabbi Krustofski) for a series of cheap gags and stop-and-start storytelling.
And then there's the little, stickler things that bother me. Drew Barrymore may have been busy, but replacing the voice of Sophie Krustofski, especially when this is the first time we've seen her in ages (possibly since her debut) was distracting, and she was basically a prop to motivate Krusty rather than any sort of real character. (And why was she playing the french horn instead of the violin? The change served zero purpose in the story.) What's more, Krusty being Jewish has been an essential part of his character since the episode that introduced Rabbi Krustofski. Having him so quickly become a true believer Christian, even if motivated by disappointing his daughter, felt really cheap and even mildly offensive, and the lazy reversal of it at the end of the episode just showed how little the episode got it.
Otherwise, the quick-hit pagan gags were mildly funny; religious Itchy and Scratchy felt like a rehash of "Itchy & Scratchy & Marge," and the show totally recycled the "scary strings....wait it's just someone playing the violin" gag from an earlier episode.
Overall, this episode was two or three drafts away from being good (save for Maggie's part of it), and in some ways that makes it more frustrating than a truly awful episode.