[7.4/10 on a post-classic Simpsons scale] I really admire what the show is going for here. It’s ambitious to try to deal with a child losing his faith after wondering why his mother was taken away from it. And drawing a line between Todd’s grief and disbelief and Homer losing his own mother...repeatedly...is the kind of connection I never would have thought of, but which adds depth and commiseration to the episode.
The problem is that the episode has trouble knowing where to go with that idea. There’s some great conflict between father and son with the Flanderses, some great solace and efforts to understand and explain (and annoy) with Todd and the Simpsons, and Todd himself gets arguably the most characterization he’s ever had.
But the resolution is really off. Ned and Homer going to Heaven feels too contrived and otherworldly for even for the elastic reality of the show (at least as the major centerpiece of the third act). I’ll admit, Homer getting to reconcile with his mom in Heaven is really damn sweet (though since when is she not a hugger?), but it feels like a shortcut.
The same especially goes for Todd’s story. I like the idea that he learns prayer can be an earnest plea, rather than a specific transactional request, even if you’re not sure someone’s there, but him resolving his whole crisis of faith through his dad waking up feels like it doesn't really answer the question that Todd was asking in the first place. I guess it works as a confirmation that someone is listening, and it’s too much to expect even a great half-hour sitcom to resolve some of the trickiest questions in all of theology, but that ending feels awfully neat for starting in such an admirably messy and complex place.
Still, it’s largely an enjoyable episode. The Flanders-y twist on the opening is a neat little monotony breaker, and while the show goes to the “choir sings something funny” well too often, it’s a good gag. Lisa’s efforts to convert Todd to Buddhism are a good running gag, and smaller touches like Bart genuinely wanting his dad back and admitting he loves him are really nice. The shtick with Homer and Large trying to snuggle despite Todd’s trained ears is a bit hacky, and Ned casting out Todd feels a hair out of character, but both are within acceptable tolerances.
Overall, I just respect the kind of big swing the show is taking with this episode. It’s fraught territory, and the execution isn’t perfect, but the show’s really going for something incisive and meaningful here, which was a trademark of the show’s classic years and largely fell off afterwards. Even if the results aren’t perfect, I like to see the showing going bold or going home like this.
Review by Andrew BloomVIP 9BlockedParentSpoilers2019-12-03T22:18:48Z
[7.4/10 on a post-classic Simpsons scale] I really admire what the show is going for here. It’s ambitious to try to deal with a child losing his faith after wondering why his mother was taken away from it. And drawing a line between Todd’s grief and disbelief and Homer losing his own mother...repeatedly...is the kind of connection I never would have thought of, but which adds depth and commiseration to the episode.
The problem is that the episode has trouble knowing where to go with that idea. There’s some great conflict between father and son with the Flanderses, some great solace and efforts to understand and explain (and annoy) with Todd and the Simpsons, and Todd himself gets arguably the most characterization he’s ever had.
But the resolution is really off. Ned and Homer going to Heaven feels too contrived and otherworldly for even for the elastic reality of the show (at least as the major centerpiece of the third act). I’ll admit, Homer getting to reconcile with his mom in Heaven is really damn sweet (though since when is she not a hugger?), but it feels like a shortcut.
The same especially goes for Todd’s story. I like the idea that he learns prayer can be an earnest plea, rather than a specific transactional request, even if you’re not sure someone’s there, but him resolving his whole crisis of faith through his dad waking up feels like it doesn't really answer the question that Todd was asking in the first place. I guess it works as a confirmation that someone is listening, and it’s too much to expect even a great half-hour sitcom to resolve some of the trickiest questions in all of theology, but that ending feels awfully neat for starting in such an admirably messy and complex place.
Still, it’s largely an enjoyable episode. The Flanders-y twist on the opening is a neat little monotony breaker, and while the show goes to the “choir sings something funny” well too often, it’s a good gag. Lisa’s efforts to convert Todd to Buddhism are a good running gag, and smaller touches like Bart genuinely wanting his dad back and admitting he loves him are really nice. The shtick with Homer and Large trying to snuggle despite Todd’s trained ears is a bit hacky, and Ned casting out Todd feels a hair out of character, but both are within acceptable tolerances.
Overall, I just respect the kind of big swing the show is taking with this episode. It’s fraught territory, and the execution isn’t perfect, but the show’s really going for something incisive and meaningful here, which was a trademark of the show’s classic years and largely fell off afterwards. Even if the results aren’t perfect, I like to see the showing going bold or going home like this.