[7.7/10 on a post-classic Simpsons scale] I revisited this episode after watching Bridge to Terabithia, a movie that also explores a pair of kids inventing their own magical world to escape their troubles. I can’t tell whether The Simpsons was referencing the movie directly here, but there’s a few striking similarities that suggest as much.
Either way, it’s a premise that works well for Lisa. It’s not the first time she’s run into someone who seems to share her passions only to disappear, but Juliet (Emily Blunt) makes a nice match for Lisa and plays into some nice best friend excitement for both Lisa and Marge. (Marge’s “woohoo” in particular is pretty cute.) It’s always nice to see Lisa overcoming her social ostracism and finding a kindred spirit.
As for “Equalia,” it’s a fun setup that reflects the imagination of Lisa and Juliet, while also rooting them squarely in the daydreams of little girls. The conflict, that Homer and Marge are worried about Lisa getting too lost in her imaginary world, does what it needs to do to push the story along, and the bully threat is a bit contrived but provides a nice grace note for the land dreamed up by Lisa and Juliet.
Unfortunately, there’s little in the episode that’s laugh out loud funny, but there’s a number of cute bits (many of them centering around Clam-a-lot for whatever reason) and few, if any outright duds.
Overall, it’s a very pleasant story, if not overwhelmingly so, that makes good use of Lisa’s typical friendlessness and her imagination.
Shout by KevibVIP 3BlockedParent2023-12-13T17:35:40Z
I'm mild about it, Homer as a funky ogre or whatever was funny tho. First mention of Facebook?