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.

[mohammed jafar]

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.

[brentholomew]

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.

[mohammed jafar]

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.

[brentholomew]

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

[Morris Szyslak]

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.