Rate & Review: Make Room For Lisa

[Voodoo Monkey]

I have to give this episode 4/5. The bizarre cycle that saw Homer end up back at the new-age shop was odd, but it did give us some great insights into Lisa's character.

[prince jafar allah]

I don't know who this episode involved, but it sure as hell wasn't Homer Simpson and Lisa Simpson. C-

[doyle]

i think this episode is painful to watch. one of my worst ever.

[Wezzo]

It's just strange. Sorta funny............ but VERY strange. C+.

[Simpson Purist]

4/10

This episode was very fucked up to say the least. Very odd characterization of the Simpson family. Also, some of the worst examples of Jerkass Homer are in full play here.

[eddie]

I need some insight into this episode, everyone.

Because the first time I watched it I thought it was a good episode, and I continued to like it for a few years. Then I found out that most people here really hate the episode, but I'm still not seeing what you guys are seeing. I've tried very hard to find what was brutally wrong with it, and I'm still not getting it. Enlighten me, please! :D

So as of right now, 6/10

[HomertheGreat]

worst Lisa episode ever, which is very hard to do because Lisa episodes are usually very good. C

[George Cauldron]

The characterization is off for OFF, particularly a very whiny Lisa and a very irritating Homer. I quite enjoyed Homer's journey in the...sensory deprivation tank, although it got rather far-fetched. It's nothing special, but then not one of the worst ever.

[Mike Scully]

Originally posted by George Cauldron
The characterization is off for OFF, particularly a very whiny Lisa and a very irritating Homer. I quite enjoyed Homer's journey in the...sensory deprivation tank, although it got rather far-fetched. It's nothing special, but then not one of the worst ever.

Agreed. For all the bad rap this episode gets, I do feel parts of the third act involving the sensory deprivation tanks were well written. Grade: C

[Crotis Jivefunk]

3/5 There were some funny jokes, but it was uneven, and Homer seemed like a charicature of Scully himself.

[brentmoney]

4/5

I never really get why people say this episode is so bad..I really enjoy it, especially the hallucination parts. Definitely not anything amazing, but solid and enjoyable.

[Dr Zaius]

*flashback*

I first got a chance to watch MRFL about a year and a half ago. But at that point something came up and I couldn't watch it. I was excited about this episode all day as I read the description and it sounded real cool. Lisa and Bart being forced to share a room? Sounds good.
It would be almost an entire month till I got to see this again and I was disapointed. Homer was being a penis and Lisa was being bitchy. They barely ran with the Bart/Lisa plot, instead giving us all that sentimental crap. What a waste.

[Mike Scully]

Originally posted by ComixFan
I need some insight into this episode, everyone.

Because the first time I watched it I thought it was a good episode, and I continued to like it for a few years. Then I found out that most people here really hate the episode, but I'm still not seeing what you guys are seeing. I've tried very hard to find what was brutally wrong with it, and I'm still not getting it. Enlighten me, please! :D

So as of right now, 6/10

The biggest issue is this episode is, not only does Homer act like a complete braindead asshole, the writers are justifying his behavior. He gives away Lisa's room and constantly annoys her throughout, yet it's Lisa who ends up apologizing :uhh: ! Lisa forgives Homer for taking her places, yet in the beginning, Homer clearly only goes to the museum because it's Lisa's turn and Marge forces him to. The only genuinely emotional parts are the end of the second act and the final scene at the demolition derby, but it's not enough to make up for the unlikable characters and lack of meaning.

And there wasn't too much to laugh at either. The second act in particular is mostly unfunny, just Homer and Bart annoying Lisa, but without the wit we saw in the similar episode My Sister My Sitter.

I did enjoy the Marge subplot, though some would consider it tasteless. The first act had some good satire on corporate ownership, though most Lindsay Naegle-haters on this board probably despised it. The third act had some intelligently-written scenes involving Lisa's hallucinations.

So, a couple of the individual scenes were funny, but it's largely a pointless bland episode. So I give it a C.

[FalloutBoy0724]

4/5. I enjoyed this episode.

[Channel Surfer]

Grade: D

What Mike Scully said, but I'm not nearly as nice. The basic idea behind the episode was that Lisa should appreciate her father because he does stuff with her that he doesn't want. OK, but Homer was in full-throttle jerkass mode, and his characterization is not only annoying, but it completely destroys whatever meaning the episode was trying to build with the Homer and Lisa relationship. He was the one who gave away her room, forced her to take the harsh antacids, forced her to deal with Bart, and helped Bart annoy her with the pen cap race; and there was little to nothing redeeming about him either. Lisa's more then just selfless by identifying with Homer, she's suffering from Stockholm Syndrome by the episode's end! Not to mention that not a lick of the Homer/Bart annoys Lisa humor is funny, nor is the slapstickish tangent with Homer's trip in the sensory deprivation tank. The beginning is alright though, and the Marge/Bart subplot is a bit better than the main plot (even if its another "Marge bored at home" season 10 plot), but that's not enough to even make it tolerable.

[prince jafar allah]

Originally posted by Channel Surfer
she's suffering from Stockholm Syndrome by the episode's end!

Wonderful observation...

And yes, I would agree. This episode does not in any way apply as a study of the relationship between Homer & Lisa, as the characters involved are nothing like the Homer & Lisa of Lisa's Sub, Lisa The Greek, etc. The entire episode seems to be a misguided, badly judged attempt by the writers to "excuse" Homer being a Jerkass. And despite the fact that Lisa had a justification for being whiny and miserable in this episode (Homer's behaviour) she is still far from being the sweet, emotional little girl she was a couple of seasons earlier (her behaviour when Homer offers to watch TV with her annoys me greatly, for example).

[Steve Allen]

I should say both C+ and 3/5

[Channel Surfer]

Originally posted by Mohammed Jafar
The entire episode seems to be a misguided, badly judged attempt by the writers to "excuse" Homer being a Jerkass.

Unfortunately, that's what it comes off to be. It's almost like, "Hey, if Lisa can accept jerkass Homer, then certainly you, the viewer can too".

I'll agree too that Lisa wasn't exactly in character either, even if not nearly as badly as Homer's. Of course, had her characterization been sweeter, or more sensitive to Homer's complete and utter disregard of her, it would've been that much harder to swallow his antics throughout.

[Wezzo]

Originally posted by Channel Surfer
I'll agree too that Lisa wasn't exactly in character either, even if not nearly as badly as Homer's. Of course, had her characterization been sweeter, or more sensitive to Homer's complete and utter disregard of her, it would've been that much harder to swallow his antics throughout.

I agree too. Lisa saves the ep, really.

[Channel Surfer]

Originally posted by Wezzo
I agree too. Lisa saves the ep, really.

Your statement contradicts what you're agreeing with. I'm saying that Lisa is out of character too, along with Homer. Even if Homer is worse, neither are good characterizations. My only point is that if Lisa had been more likeable, i.e. better characterized, Homer would've been even more unlikable because of her likeability.

[Wezzo]

Originally posted by Channel Surfer
My only point is that if Lisa had been more likeable, i.e. better characterized, Homer would've been even more unlikable because of her likeability.

That's what I was agreeing with. I should have put, "Lisa saves Homer's characterization", but oh well.

[pat]

Definitely one of the worst Homer & Lisa episodes. Just some usual run of the mill crap. Basically, I just don't like this episode. 1/5

[Wezzo]

Originally posted by Glayvin
I just don't like this episode

A good way to put it :)

[Channel Surfer]

Originally posted by Wezzo
That's what I was agreeing with. I should have put, "Lisa saves Homer's characterization", but oh well.

I still don't think you understand what I'm saying, or I'm wording it very poorly, or something. I don't think Lisa saves Homer's characterization. Homer is extremely annoying throughout. And Lisa isn't very good either. But if Lisa's characterization had been better, it would've made Homer's already annoying behavior that much worse.

But it doesn't make the episode better to have both characters poorly characterized. And sense Lisa is poorly characterized, she doesn't save the episode (for me anyway). It makes her defining moment at the end even worse. Her characterization is poor and uninteresting, just like the episode.

[brentmoney]

I think Homer was in jerkass mode, but I think the episode was still fun and enjoyable..and it's definitely not in my top list of "Homer being annoying" episodes.

[Wezzo]

Channel Surfer, i'm just bad with words. Trust me, I understand :)

[chiefdan]

4.5/5. Good second act and great third act had made me forget all about the crappy first act.

[Channel Surfer]

Originally posted by Wezzo
Channel Surfer, i'm just bad with words. Trust me, I understand :)

Alright, I'll trust ya. ;)

[Wezzo]

Yay! :D

[Clarence]

3/5 not really that good , but some of it was entertaining ... I suppose.

[Rest your giant head]

Another very underrated episode. Once again, Homer isn't acting like himself (I really wonder why did writers make Homer so stupid in this season), but there are a lot of emotional situations and some of the most unique moments in the history of The Simpsons - hallucinations.

The begining cracked me up, with Homer dissapearing from work to go partying, then in a very next scene he's waking up drunk on the road. The scenes in the exhibit were pretty solid, especialy with Homer licking the chocolate of the Bill of Rights. The result of his stupidity was sudden and strange, but it worked for me.

The subplot with Marge listening to other people's phone conversations brought many funny gags and I absolutely loved it. Bart's prank at the end made it even better. Meanwhile, we get in the whole stupid Homer story that annoyed me a bit, but the episode got back on track as Homer realized he's wrong.

Finaly, we have the third act I really enjoyed, especialy Lisa's hallucinations. The adventure of Homer's tank wasn't very realistic, but it was entertaining. The ending was really beautiful in my opinion, with Homer and Lisa watching the demolition derby at the end.

B+

[Moe Nopoly]

really funny and entertaining episode.
The story is hilarious, especially what kind of trouble Homer gets Lisa and himself into (especially Lisa).
Also nice to see more with Homer/Lisa in the episode.

B+

[Fox Executive]

Same reasons, same grade.
Good job, Homerniac:D

[qwertyuio]

Another very underrated episode. Once again, Homer isn't acting like himself (I really wonder why did writers make Homer so stupid in this season)

I don't agree. When does Homer start acting as other character? Although he is irritating, I think that he doesn't contradict his characterization. His selfish side is improved in this episode, but just because that's the reason of his conflict with Lisa.



The subplot with Marge listening to other people's phone conversations brought many funny gags and I absolutely loved it. Bart's prank at the end made it even better. Meanwhile, we get in the whole stupid Homer story that annoyed me a bit, but the episode got back on track as Homer realized he's wrong.

I agree this. That subplot is probably the best on 10th Season, hilarious and well-finished.

I also agree that the third act was the most solid at all, though the other two weren't as bad as people say. It's one of the last great episodes about the relationship between two members of the family, with a simple plot. I like it though it could be more enjoyable. 9/10.

[D'ohmer]

I think this episode is very underrated. I find the plot to be interesting with some decent laughs. I also like the third act with the tanks. The subplot may have been out of character, especially Marge saying that Bart should take the blame, but I still enjoyed it. 4/5


Cut scene from "Make Room for Lisa":
(Lisa and Bart are standing over a drawer with a baby in it)
Lisa: Mom and dad must never know about this.


PS: If that gag was not cut, it would be my least favorite episode ever. I'm actually shivering after just recently finding out about this. If there are any typos in this post, this is why.

Edit: Since the only proof I have of this is from another member, I assume it's fake.

[Le Jake]

PS: If that gag was not cut, it would be my least favorite episode ever. I'm actually shivering after just recently finding out about this. If there are any typos in this post, this is why.

Scully also said he wanted to do an episode where "Ned fucks Marge" but sounded upset when they "couldn't do it."

[Rembrandt Q Einstein]

I thought the episode was really good, I like when they build on Lisa and Homers relationship.

[joe miller]

1/5 pure garbage... i love this show but this episode i can rarely finish.

[TriforceBun]

Scully also said he wanted to do an episode where "Ned fucks Marge" but sounded upset when they "couldn't do it."
You got a source with that info? That sounds abysmal.

[joe miller]

1/5 pure garbage... i love this show but this episode i can rarely finish.

reasons:

-I find it really boring.
-Homer and Bart (especially Homer) are in FULL annoying mode throughout the whole thing, and I don't enjoy it.
- I find it dumb how Lisa apologizes, it's basically IMO saying "Dad, I'm sorry for being myself." Homer should've apologized because he was annoying for no reason, Lisa apologizing was stupid IMO
- Subplot was entertaining, but the resolution was too quick I thought

I only laughed at one thing and that was the magician thing on TV (which wasn't even that funny...). I think saying it's one of the worst of the series, as I originally did, is a bit extreme; I dislike it a lot but I don't know if I would go that far. I will go as far as too say it is one of the season's weakest, if not the weakest, IMO.

[Bella Drape 'er]

I really like this episode, the third act in particular is very sweet and good-natured.

In retrospect, the subplot is ok but like the doorbell one in Sunday Cruddy Sunday - it's fairly pointless and annoying.

3/5

[joe miller]

In retrospect, the subplot is ok but like the doorbell one in Sunday Cruddy Sunday - it's fairly pointless and annoying.


that was the vincent price egg thing, the doorbell one was in Maximum Homerdrive

[Bella Drape 'er]

that was the vincent price egg thing, the doorbell one was in Maximum Homerdrive
ohk

You see how bland they are, that I don't even remember which one was in which s10 episode. ;)

[El Duderino]

Typical 'Homer is an stupid jerk to Lisa' episode but Homer's adventure in the tank-thing and the Marge/Bart subplot always somehow manage to leave a silly grin on my face. 3/5

[tom cody]

I originally rated this a 4/5, now I have to decrease that to a 3/5. Still enjoy the episode but it's not as good as a 4/5 rating would indicate

[bartyboy]

1st half of the episode was sorta decent, but everything after that fell flat. A rather weak Homer/Lisa "emotional" episode.

2/5

[Semaj]

It's been a while since I saw this. But how does this episode expect us to side with Homer when he turned Lisa's bedroom into a basement for their new computer equipment?

[Financial Panther]

A pretty good episode that I always enjoy. It's got some heartfelt emotion in it. 4/5.

[captainwacky]

:suicide: :facemelt: 0/5 WORST. EPISODE. EVER. Whatever humor might have slipped through the cracks was destroyed by the worst characterization of Homer ever to grace the show. And Lisa apologizing at the end was the dumbest ever "Oh look, Homer really is a good dad" plot device the writers pulled.











But other than that it was pretty good.

[Riviera]

I'm in two minds about this episode. On one hand, some parts were really sweet Lisa/Homer moments, and the episode had some laughs in it. On the other hand, some parts were really dull and Jerkass Homer was prominent here. I'll give it a 3/5, because I liked some parts and disliked others.

[Solachinx]

My opinion is going to be slightly biased because I'm a sucker for New Age stuff. That being said, this episode started out with Jerkass Homer but ends with Classic Homer. This first act has a myriad ammount of implausibility (The Isolated Sensory part is not as implausible as such things do exist and people have been said to experience such sensations (it more plausible than having a cell-phone tower in your house)) and the jokes aren't as funny as they should be. The jokes may be weak, but the plot after act 1 excluding the b-story is very interesting and character developing for both Lisa and Homer (character development in MAH Scully Era?) and, in the end, entertained me.

4/5, or a B

[lovedartsandsimpsons]

A good episode. 4/5.

[worstcomicbookguyever]

just meh for me i loved the marge storyline milhouse getting knocked still gets me i found it somewhat amuseing when homer sang witch doctor and the pen clicking battle but thats about it for the A-story its one of thoose homer and lisa episodes that just didint have that it factor for me but had momemts so
3/5 nuff said mike

[The Wiggs]

"Sensory deprivation kicks ass!" 4/5

[Semaj]

Some funny parts, but incredibly mean to Lisa.

Homer's spontaneity was justified before in "Lost Our Lisa", which although different from the norm, was done much more satisfactorily. It also setup the "wacky adventure" template that would prevail throughout Scully's tenure.

The resolution here would've worked only if the rest of the episode agreed with it. Instead, there appeared to be some bit of unwarranted hatred towards Lisa. Sure, she twisted some fingers before with her self-righteousness, but what did she do here to deserve having her room stolen from her? And being endlessly ignored and tormented by Homer and Bart? Marge was too busy eavesdropping to address Lisa's problem, which made it all the worse.

The usual quick-paced humor is displayed, particularly thru Homer's wild ride in the sensory deprivation tub. But the notion that Homer was the good guy and Lisa was the bad guy was completely backwards. Instead, it felt like innocence had succumbed to mindless evil.

2.0/5

[Le Jake]

"Sensory deprivation kicks ass!" 4/5

"Sensory Deprivation" is this episode.

[Oh, that's raspberry!]

Season 10 continues when Lisa's room is taken away. After Homer gets drunk and passes out while holding up traffic Marge reminds him it is Saturday and he must spend time with Bart and Lisa. Bart sells his turn to Lisa to decide where the three will spend the day and she decides to go to a Smithsonian Exhibit in town. Homer causes a scene and is arrested and charged with a ten thousand dollar restoration fee. To pay it he allows a cell phone tower to be built in Lisa's room, forcing her to move in with Bart.

Lisa is continually annoyed by Bart and Homer while Marge begins to pick up conversations from Maggie's baby monitor because of the tower. Eventually Lisa has to see Dr. Hibbert who says she is too stressed. Homer takes her to a New Age store where the two go into sensory deprivation tanks. Meanwhile Bart and Milhouse notice Marge using the baby monitor and decide to play a prank on her. Homer's tank is repossessed and he goes on a wild ride while Lisa sees what its like to be her dad, gaining a new appreciation for him. The two attend a demolition derby together as we end the episode.

I remember for a while after I first saw this episode I proclaimed it to be my favorite ever. Keep in mind I was 10 and apparently pretty stupid as now I can only view this one as average at best. The main problem I have here is the one I have with many Scully Era Homer plots. They make Homer come off as too unlikable. They try and make him merely ignorant and point out that he isn't trying to be mean to his daughter, rather the two just have too many differences. This is fine in theory but it just doesn't work here. Homer's behavior throughout act 2 in particular is pretty bad, although I have to admit I still like him singing The Odd Couple theme. I feel bad for Lisa throughout this one though and her revelation at the end that her dad does lots of things he hates for her just doesn't work for me. Maybe if Homer were handled better throughout the episode it would as it is a legitimate point but it just comes off as meh. The only parts of the episode I really liked are in the last act. I love Bart and Milhouse's prank on Marge and how it turns out and much of Homer's adventure in the tank. Plus it was cool to see Lisa's experiences even if the message at the end of them felt hollow. The other thing about this one is that I just didn't laugh at it very much and it just comes off as boring too often. There are many better Homer/Lisa episodes than this one, which I don't like admitting because a part of me still remembers how much I liked it when I was young. The third act was always my favorite part though and that hasn't changed. Still, I'm only gonna give this a 2.5/5, rounded up to a 3.

[Le Jake]

You put more effort in your "too nice" review than the writers did making it.

[Nebuchanezzar]

They try and make him merely ignorant and point out that he isn't trying to be mean to his daughter, rather the two just have too many differences. This is fine in theory but it just doesn't work here.

indeed. and like you say, the problem is all in the execution. the premise of the episode is identical to (the ending of) lisa's wedding, which is a fantastic episode, but this one comes across as a brasher, louder, and angrier version of that one, albeit in the present. i think i get what you mean about the episode seeming hollow as well. lisa's 'realisation' about homer comes about in a damn sensory deprivation tank, ffs. it's the plot equivalent of bart magically learning french in the crepes of wrath, or santa's little helper suddenly knowing how to behave in bart's dog gets an 'f'. this one is also similar to barts dog gets an 'f', in that the emotional payoff comes about only because the writers ignored a character's usual behaviour (in this case, homer) to get the episode moving along. it's hard to become invested in the episode, and to enjoy the payoff, when you feel like homer was acting like a dick and lisa was acting like a bitch.

it's not a bad episode, it's just a really poorly constructed one that could have been way better.

[Oh, that's raspberry!]

I think I'd agree with that. By the way out of curiosity does my name just read as raspberry to others now or did you shorten it? I don't care if you did, just surprised you'd take the effort.

And Jake maybe so but I'm a lenient grader.

[SpeedwaySquad]

This had so much potential to be great but they frittered it away. There were some nice moments, for example, Homer saying "Oh, I'll never let that happen" actually felt like a nice way to end the act, as I felt it would make Homer sweeter and more understanding and sweet throughout the rest of the episode, sorta justifying his jerkiness, alas though, it did not. Homer remained fairly intolerable a lot of the time. Bart too, was too much of a brat. What's even more stupid is that they completely ignore the conflict created initially (Homer and Lisa aren't alike), putting Homer in the wrong, then they flip it around and suddenly make the conflict "Lisa doesn't appreciate Homer" -which makes next to no sense in relation to the plot - and make Lisa apologise, which really ruined the episode further. It all just becomes very weird with the sensory deprivation thing being buried and what not, when this episode could have been a great emotional one. Some scenes were funny though, admittedly ("watch out you'll pop it""I'm just saying I can get through life without a tooth-BRUSH"), but it didn't save the episode from feeling very odd and well, off.

C-