Episode Title: The War of the Simpsons
Episode Number: 33
Original Air Date: May 2, 1991
Plot Synopsis: At Marge's insistence, the Simpsons invite just about everyone they know over for a nice party. Because Homer also lives there, the party quickly turns into a bit of a mess when Homer gets loaded and makes a giant fool of himself. He runs around being obnoxious, looks down Maude Flanders' dress and generally just really, really embarrasses Marge. It gets so bad that Marge makes them to go a weekend marriage counseling retreat hosted by Reverend Lovejoy.
When Homer and Marge get to the retreat, it's quickly very clear that theirs is the only marriage that is suffering from any real problems. Meanwhile, Grandpa is babysitting Bart and Lisa, who quickly figure out how to take advantage of the old timer. They manipulate him into letting them do whatever they want and even end up throwing a party that wrecks the house.
Back at the lake, Homer tries to go fishing secretly but Marge catches him. Marge is mad, and Homer fakes like he understands and tries to go for a walk, but really he just tries to sneak in some fishing. There's a local giant catfish called General Sherman that Homer really wants to catch. Homer ends up kind of sort of accidentally catching General Sherman, who drags him in a boat all around the lake. Marge ends up attending that day's counseling sessions alone.
Bart and Lisa see Grandpa crying over how messed up the house is after the party and feel really bad about it, so they do their best to clean the house before their parents come home. Marge confronts Homer over his desire to go fishing and he releases General Sherman back into the lake without hesitation. Homer is shocked by this, and realizes that he only did it because he loves Marge so much. The two go home to a clean house as happy as can be, where it is quickly revealed that Grandpa totally tricked Bart and Lisa into cleaning the house. The episode ends with a local bait store clerk recounting the legend of "that one time that guy caught that fish," and describing Homer as "seven feet tall" with "arms like tree trunks" and "red hair like the fires of Hell."
When Homer and Marge get to the retreat, it's quickly very clear that theirs is the only marriage that is suffering from any real problems. Meanwhile, Grandpa is babysitting Bart and Lisa, who quickly figure out how to take advantage of the old timer. They manipulate him into letting them do whatever they want and even end up throwing a party that wrecks the house.
Back at the lake, Homer tries to go fishing secretly but Marge catches him. Marge is mad, and Homer fakes like he understands and tries to go for a walk, but really he just tries to sneak in some fishing. There's a local giant catfish called General Sherman that Homer really wants to catch. Homer ends up kind of sort of accidentally catching General Sherman, who drags him in a boat all around the lake. Marge ends up attending that day's counseling sessions alone.
Bart and Lisa see Grandpa crying over how messed up the house is after the party and feel really bad about it, so they do their best to clean the house before their parents come home. Marge confronts Homer over his desire to go fishing and he releases General Sherman back into the lake without hesitation. Homer is shocked by this, and realizes that he only did it because he loves Marge so much. The two go home to a clean house as happy as can be, where it is quickly revealed that Grandpa totally tricked Bart and Lisa into cleaning the house. The episode ends with a local bait store clerk recounting the legend of "that one time that guy caught that fish," and describing Homer as "seven feet tall" with "arms like tree trunks" and "red hair like the fires of Hell."
Overall Thoughts: This episode covers a lot of the same ground as season one's "Homer's Night Out," albeit in a completely fresh and interesting way. After I finished this episode I couldn't help but think how crazy it must have been to see animated characters treated with this level of importance and sincerity in 1991. Then, a second later, I realized how crazy that concept still is in 2012.
What Works: This episode has lots of really funny lines, especially at the opening party. Two of my favorite bits from this sequence include Patty (or Selma) macing Barney and Homer's flashback sequence to how he thinks he acted when in reality he just turned into a drunken mess.
This episode is another successful "Homer and Marge have a troubled marriage" episode. It's interesting to see what everyone in town thinks of Homer. Not only does Dr. Hibbert basically tell Marge how to kill Homer if she wants, Reverend Lovejoy also kind of hints that she should divorce him. It's a very sweet examination of their relationship, though: Homer and Marge desperately want to make their marriage work, but Homer's personality and general behavior keeps getting in the way time and again.
The image of Homer beating a fish to death with a oar will never not make me laugh.
Grandpa Simpson also gets a bunch of great moments in this episode. My favorite, though, is the reveal that he completely manipulated Bart and Lisa into cleaning the house after their wild party. Don't count Grandpa Simpson out. He's a feisty one.
I really like that the episode ends with Homer essentially becoming a local legend, and it's even better that the "legend" in no way matches up with the reality of the events we just watched.
This episode is another successful "Homer and Marge have a troubled marriage" episode. It's interesting to see what everyone in town thinks of Homer. Not only does Dr. Hibbert basically tell Marge how to kill Homer if she wants, Reverend Lovejoy also kind of hints that she should divorce him. It's a very sweet examination of their relationship, though: Homer and Marge desperately want to make their marriage work, but Homer's personality and general behavior keeps getting in the way time and again.
The image of Homer beating a fish to death with a oar will never not make me laugh.
Grandpa Simpson also gets a bunch of great moments in this episode. My favorite, though, is the reveal that he completely manipulated Bart and Lisa into cleaning the house after their wild party. Don't count Grandpa Simpson out. He's a feisty one.
I really like that the episode ends with Homer essentially becoming a local legend, and it's even better that the "legend" in no way matches up with the reality of the events we just watched.
What Doesn't Work: Nothing here really stands out as egregious, to be totally honest.
Closing Thoughts: This is just a super funny and somewhat touching John Swartzwelder episode from beginning to end. One thing that you need to keep in mind is that the show is still super, super young at this point. This is only the 33rd episode aired, and it's the third that dealt head on with Marge and Homer's marital problems. It's great to see these writers treating the Simpsons as if they're real people with real problems, even if (in my opinion) they only have a 66.6% success rate with this particular topic.
Flanders still likes alcohol, as evidenced by his insistence at being the bartender for the Simpsons party. Am I completely misremembering that at some point he becomes a staunch anti-drinker?
Also: a guy who looks exactly like Hitler goes to church with the Simpsons, which is super weird weird.
Final Grade (out of 10): 9Flanders still likes alcohol, as evidenced by his insistence at being the bartender for the Simpsons party. Am I completely misremembering that at some point he becomes a staunch anti-drinker?
Also: a guy who looks exactly like Hitler goes to church with the Simpsons, which is super weird weird.
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