"Homer and Apu" is a pretty good episode that sees Apu stay with the Simpsons after Homer gets him fired for selling tainted meat. While this episode has some solid off the wall gags, with a great song and a memorable cameo in James Woods, I felt the ending was a little too tidy and convenient. They could have come up with something far better and funnier.
Overall, pretty solid, minus the ending.
The Master knows all except combination to safe
Review by Andrew BloomVIP 9BlockedParentSpoilers2021-08-17T03:53:43Z
[8.3/10] What a hilarious episode. Like a lot of episodes under David Mirkin’s tenure, this one has some pretty out there gags. The cranberry wave at the Monstromart, the Himalayan Kwik-E-Mart where the CEO/guru resides, and Apu acting like a hummingbird are all pretty loony bits. But this one is so funny from stem to stern that it’s tough to care.
That said, it’s worth noting that this is not the most culturally sensitive episode of The Simpsons there’s ever been. In large part, Apu is treated like a decent man, one whose expired food shenanigans are merely keeping with “standard procedures” and who brightens the lives of all of the Simpsons with his charm, insight, and mere presence. But gags about Indian musical instruments or cuisine, while amusing to Western audiences, play on cultural stereotypes. And I’m sure the actual visit to India isn’t exactly true-to-life in its depiction. I’m not in a good position to judge these things, but it’s worth listening to the people who are.
With that caveat, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t laugh my rear end off here. The first act featuring Homer’s spoiled meat products extravaganza is a hoot. His stupidity in returning to the meat again and again, the barking Channel 6 news mascot, and the farce of an attempt at a sting all bring the yuks in a big way.
The middle act is where the real humor and heart is, though. Apu living with the Simpsons is a great setup, as Apu’s retail knowledge and conscientiousness is used to improve Our Favorite Family’s lives. The friendship he and the family develop is wholesome as all get out, and “Who Needs the Kwik-E-Mart?” is a top tier Simpsons musical number.
I nearly forgot about the James Woods B-story, which would be a crime! I’ll admit, this one’s a little tougher to enjoy knowing that in real life, Woods is a human garbage bag. But the jokes about him working at the Kwik-E-Mart as a method actor, and him using futuristic technology to research roles, are all very funny. Woods in particular brings a different energy to The Simpsons than most characters, which makes him stand out for his patter alone. The real James Woods is a terrible person, but this fictionalized version is a boon.
The resolution to the situation is a little tidy and convenient, but it’s rooted in Apu facing his demons and demonstrating his talent for the job. I particularly appreciate the fourth wall-winking comments from Homer, noting that things wrapped up “much quicker than usual” and that there’s more time left in the episode, so they can hug Apu again. It’s those little nods to the sitcom form that made The Simpsons so adept at meta humor.
Overall, this is a strong spotlight episode for Apu with more laughs than you can shake a squishee at. There’s some questionable inclusions here to be sure, but the core of the episode is good, and the humor is out in full force.