[7.4/10 on a post-classic Simpsons scale] There’s a lot to like about this one. I’m a sucker for the grab bag of Roman gags, from “Bartigula” to “et tu, Pee Guy?” to the very title of the episode. Few of them are truly deep cuts, and most of them are a hodgepodge of different eras and bits. But it’s a new coat of paint on the old Simpsons setups, which helps things feel a little fresh and gives the show an easy avenue for jokes in a pinch.
I also like the structure. Giving us Homer (sorry, “Obesius”) as a young and hungry gladiator, as the more traditional Homer-shaped laundromat proprietor, and as a king-size senator helps make the tale feel a little more epic and give us a little visual difference from act to act. It helps organize each segment around the theme of ambition -- gladiator to business owner, business owner to senator, senator to...uh....regret -- and gives the episode a bit of shape.
That said, this one is a little ungainly at times. The threads of Homer being influenced by Marge’s ambition, and by him mistreating the slave friends he promised to help free, don’t have terribly satisfying payoffs. The current political commentary is pretty glancing, and the kids don’t have much character or purpose in the story.
Still, this is a fun Roman era comic riff, and the scenes in the present day museum for the frame story have some good laughs as well. Overall, another good and somewhat unique entry for season 32!
Review by Andrew BloomVIP 9BlockedParentSpoilers2020-10-08T02:08:08Z
[7.4/10 on a post-classic Simpsons scale] There’s a lot to like about this one. I’m a sucker for the grab bag of Roman gags, from “Bartigula” to “et tu, Pee Guy?” to the very title of the episode. Few of them are truly deep cuts, and most of them are a hodgepodge of different eras and bits. But it’s a new coat of paint on the old Simpsons setups, which helps things feel a little fresh and gives the show an easy avenue for jokes in a pinch.
I also like the structure. Giving us Homer (sorry, “Obesius”) as a young and hungry gladiator, as the more traditional Homer-shaped laundromat proprietor, and as a king-size senator helps make the tale feel a little more epic and give us a little visual difference from act to act. It helps organize each segment around the theme of ambition -- gladiator to business owner, business owner to senator, senator to...uh....regret -- and gives the episode a bit of shape.
That said, this one is a little ungainly at times. The threads of Homer being influenced by Marge’s ambition, and by him mistreating the slave friends he promised to help free, don’t have terribly satisfying payoffs. The current political commentary is pretty glancing, and the kids don’t have much character or purpose in the story.
Still, this is a fun Roman era comic riff, and the scenes in the present day museum for the frame story have some good laughs as well. Overall, another good and somewhat unique entry for season 32!