29x01 The Serfsons

[6.3/10 on a post-classic Simpsons scale] This was basically a Treehouse of Horror segment extended to full-episode length, and it felt like it. This was basically reference stew, with Game of Thrones making for the biggest ingredient, and bits of Lord of the Rings and The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe and even World of Warcraft and The Smurfs thrown in for good measure. That gives it the fleeting fun of recognition, but the show rarely had much of a take on any of this material, coasting on the charm of the setting and the ephemeral thrills of the audience getting what’s been parodied.

The episode was pretty thin all around. There were a few good throughlines, like Our Favorite Family being serfs, with Homer grateful for serfdom and Lisa true to her usual agitating ways, only for Homer to change his tune when Lisa is captured. And there’s some solid emotional material with Marge having to come to terms with her mother’s death (though ironically Julie Kavner has trouble doing Jacquie Bouvier’s voice these days) and different ideas about the afterlife.

But everything feels underdeveloped and shaggy. The main story ends and then there’s another three minutes of riffing and rambling, and the guest appearances are quick and pointless. There’s some good background gags here, and a lot of creativity in the animation and design (Aslan in particular had a distinct fluidity to him) but in terms of writing and humor, this was a feeble way to start the new season.