[6.3/10 on a post-classic Simpsons scale] This is another episode where the root of the storytelling is sound, but the episode is just kind of boring. I like the idea that Marge is worried about how people, including her own daughter, see her, particularly the idea that they see her as dull. There’s something meta-textual about that which a longtime fan (and Marge-supporter) can appreciate. I also like that Marge takes up something new and fulfilling to help improve her sense of herself. It’s not like we haven’t done this with Marge before (see also: becoming a cop, becoming a real estate agent, becoming a pretzel franchise owner), but it’s a solid foundation to keep returning to.
I just struggled to care about this episode’s execution of that. Marge taking up lumberjack competitions is esoteric enough to engender a few laughs and story beats, but most of them left me cold. None are embarrassing or outright bad. Instead, everything’s just kind of there, with mild chuckles at best and sturdy but stock story beats.
That’s before Homer worries that he’s losing Marge to her trainer and partner, a gay woman from Portland. The ensuing Portland gags are the funniest part of the episode, which is appropriate given that it’s Matt Groening’s home, but even they feel a little perfunctory. But Homer’s jealousy and worry that he’s lost Marge is just the most rote thing in the world at this point. It’s fine to repeat stories, and “Marge the Lumberjill” at least has the decency to add in the wrinkle of who Marge’s imagined rival suitor is to add the slightest bid of difference to it, but it’s the same kind of thing Simpsons fans have seen a million times by now. The emotional estrangement and reunion provoke no response anymore, and timber jokes and Stephen A. Smith parodies don’t paper over the dullness very well.
Overall, there’s nothing objectionable here. The premise is decent enough. The episode just can’t do anything to rise above that.
Review by Andrew BloomVIP 9BlockedParentSpoilers2019-11-12T23:46:03Z
[6.3/10 on a post-classic Simpsons scale] This is another episode where the root of the storytelling is sound, but the episode is just kind of boring. I like the idea that Marge is worried about how people, including her own daughter, see her, particularly the idea that they see her as dull. There’s something meta-textual about that which a longtime fan (and Marge-supporter) can appreciate. I also like that Marge takes up something new and fulfilling to help improve her sense of herself. It’s not like we haven’t done this with Marge before (see also: becoming a cop, becoming a real estate agent, becoming a pretzel franchise owner), but it’s a solid foundation to keep returning to.
I just struggled to care about this episode’s execution of that. Marge taking up lumberjack competitions is esoteric enough to engender a few laughs and story beats, but most of them left me cold. None are embarrassing or outright bad. Instead, everything’s just kind of there, with mild chuckles at best and sturdy but stock story beats.
That’s before Homer worries that he’s losing Marge to her trainer and partner, a gay woman from Portland. The ensuing Portland gags are the funniest part of the episode, which is appropriate given that it’s Matt Groening’s home, but even they feel a little perfunctory. But Homer’s jealousy and worry that he’s lost Marge is just the most rote thing in the world at this point. It’s fine to repeat stories, and “Marge the Lumberjill” at least has the decency to add in the wrinkle of who Marge’s imagined rival suitor is to add the slightest bid of difference to it, but it’s the same kind of thing Simpsons fans have seen a million times by now. The emotional estrangement and reunion provoke no response anymore, and timber jokes and Stephen A. Smith parodies don’t paper over the dullness very well.
Overall, there’s nothing objectionable here. The premise is decent enough. The episode just can’t do anything to rise above that.