R&R "One Fish, Two Fisb, Blowfish, Bluefish"

[kevin]

An underrated season 2 episode that deserves more credit than it gets. Also one of the series' more emotional episodes. A highlight of the series. 5/5

[bmac]

One of my personal favorites, great emotion, good story, 10/10

[Eggy]

Excellent. One of my favourite episodes of all time.

5/5

[squishee lady]

Very good. A-.

[Charmy]

A personal favorite as well. 5/5.
...
...
I'd be more specific but I'm feeling rather lazy today.

[doyle]

Boner. A+

[TheBigHurtBEGOOD]

PROBABLY the best eposides in season 2 4/5

[y2dave2004]

good but not great 3/5

[pat]

Definitely underrated. The humor and emotion were both there, and the episode was just great. 5/5

[George Cauldron]

A very good episode in my opinion. It's interesting to see how much Homer can cram into his last day on Earth and how he goes about it. The best part has to be where Homer teaches Bart to shave. Brilliant. Unfortunately, having seen this episode countless times, the novelty is wearing off. Not that this is a fault in the episode itself, but rather, the fact I keep watching it because it's too damn good.

[Butters]

Great stuff. 5/5

[simplysimpsons]

Underrated! This episode offers some great emotion - Homer trying desperately to do everything he wanted in his last day. Some great bonding moments with the family too. Great humour throughout - the gags at the Japanese' expense were a lot better than 30 mins over Tokyo. Homer trying to find something interesting in the Bible tape was hilarious. Just goes to show: Season 2 was an excellent season! A+

[The Foot]

A solid episode with a lot of emotion. The funniest parts were the Gypsies Tramps and Thieves song at the Happy Sumo and Homer teaching Bart how to shave. The ending is a bit depressing.

This episode gets an 8/10 on the laugh-o-meter. Grade B+

[Crotis Jivefunk]

Originally posted by George Cauldron
Unfortunately, having seen this episode countless times, the novelty is wearing off. Not that this is a fault in the episode itself, but rather, the fact I keep watching it because it's too damn good.

I feel that same way. I also feel that way about many of other season 2 episodes and many Jean's episodes, like Moe Baby Blues and Special Edna.

[prince jafar allah]

A++. Literally perfect.

[Lady_Loofah]

10/5! This ep was utterly perfect!

[General Jack D. Ripper]

OMg, recently rewatched this and...and...wow. Just fantastic in every aspect. Easily a top 25 if not top 10 episode. One of the things this episode does flawlessly is to easily transition between emotion and humor. i.e. Grampa. A true heartfelt moment when they say they love eachother and hug, and then a moment ten seconds later where he is very clingy and love starved that I can't help but laugh at. Excellent first act at the sushi place and great emotion, great characterization, great humor, believable behavior, and a well told story. A+

[Sniper Squirrel]

Great season 2 episode, really showed us there was a lot more to Homer than what we saw in the previous season

[Rest your giant head]

One of the darkest episodes in the show. Top 15 material for sure,and my favorite from season 2. It's beautiful,nothing much to say. 5/5

[Philip Cheesesteak]

I don't know why, but I found nearly all the humor in this episode to be extremely dated, as if I'd heard it hundreds of times before, meaning I probably have. Jokes such as the shaving part, Homer with his father, and especially the Japanese stereotypes all work against the overall impression, plus it's filled with all the kinds of cliches that a Simpsons episode needs to avoid and just doesn't care about a decent wrap-up. The emotion went unfelt and forced like other poorly-written Season 2 episodes (Principal Charming, Old Money). Larry King's Bible on Tape was one of the few highlights, but this episode is too much of a shoddy Season 1 premise executed in a shoddy Season 1 style - D+

[SpringShield]

Old Money is one of the best written Simpsons episodes of all time. The subtle character humour is just sublime.

As for this episode - A+

[-Bart-]

not that great 4/5

[coltonwiggum]

5/5

[bart_rulez]

:nonono: :nonono: :nonono: :nonono: :nonono: :nonono: :nonono: :nonono: DON'T SAY motherfucker ON HERE THERE MIGHT BE PPL ON HERE THAT ARE 12 AND UNDER!!!!:nonono: :nonono: :nonono: :nonono: :nonono: :nonono: :nonono::nonono:

[bart_rulez]

ANY1 GONNA ANSWER?????

[SpringShield]

lol

[Jeff]

Probably my favorite of season 2.

[TheForbiddenDonut]

Overrated. It's funny, but the outcome is so unbearably predictable and cliched. Even though the focus is Homer's and his family's reaction to the ordeal, not even that was handled very well. Marge's response felt unnatural, as it alternated from sad to nonchalant and then back to sad. Homer is far too comedic and light-hearted given it's his supposed final day on Earth, and a lot of his behavior was sort of unbelievable. I've also always been annoyed that the family gets dressed up for dinner for one Bart/Marge exchanged, and then suddenly it's incredibly late and Marge and Homer have to go off to bed. What happened to dinner? Anyway, it's funny, and parts of it are quite sad, but overall, it's a bit below average. B-, which still manages a 4/5.

[Cerpin Taxt]

5/5. I think it's really underrated, emotional, sweet, and ultimately one that will continue to be overlooked but that will be a gem when most people discover (or rediscover) it.

[Upgrayedd]

It's a pretty good episode from the beginning years of the show. Really great satire, and the mixing of comedy and political thriller was spot-on.

(A)

[Lardlad!]

I'm going to agree with most people here, this is a very good episode. It's got a lot of emotion which most episodes don't have. The things on Homer's list are very good although I'd rather have seen him do 1 thing with his Dad so he could do all of the others and yelling "eat my shorts" to Mr.Burns was funny. All in all it's a very good episode A-

[Philip Cheesesteak]

It's a pretty good episode from the beginning years of the show. Really great satire, and the mixing of comedy and political thriller was spot-on.

(A)

I think you have this confused with "Two Cars In Every Garage and Three Eyes on Every Fish".

[CousinMerl]

One of the best episodes from the second season, if not the best.
5/5

[moonwalker69]

Dark, poignant, touching and simple with some nice light-hearted humour - 5/5. One of my all-time favourites.

[Moe Nopoly]

It's a good episode from season 2, but not really one of my favorite episodes. I think it's a interesting story with Homer, but not so many gags. 3.5/5

[Starman]

Really good episode. Surprisingly emotional as well.

A

[homer2121]

A vary entertaining and emotional episode.

5/5

[TheForbiddenDonut]

I find this episode personally to be horribly manipulative and not the least bit insightful. The outcome was obviously predictable, Homer and Marge could have been replaced by any loving couple and it would have had the same effect, and the only thing we learned was that Marge loves Homer and that Homer loves his family. I don't like it.

3/5

[Kiyosuki]

If one saw this episode when they were rather young, like many of us did here, then it's one of those episodes thats basically unforgettable. If coming from a standpoint of having seen a lot of the series...especially the later ones, then yes it is a bit predictable because of course you know Homer's not going to die. However back when this aired many of us didn't know that, this series was very new and very much unlike anything else on TV so anything could have gone at that point.

I think even if you did see it coming though to an extent it's still a very good episode. Those looking for more of a comedic, satiristic style of episodes from 5 and on even I understand may be put off by it since its not what they'd expect, the humor is more natural and without much of a satirical bite or agenda and for the most part it's also a very serious episode compared to the rest of the series even from this point in time. This is very much the kind of episode you'll only find in the first two..maybe three or four seasons. They'll never make them like this again.

In fact I think the episode is generally very..."normal" feeling for a reason because it's all about cherishing the time you have since it'll never come again. It's a message we've seen a lot (though really it shouldn't go down in poignancy) but I think it was particularly poignant here because this is Homer we're talking about, at first glance the epitome the kind of person who doesn't live every second to the fullest. When seeing this as a kid I liked Homer but to an extent he was still one of the "grown up" characters, but this episode is another one of those episodes that didn't treat him like that but rather showed a very human side to him and established how memorable and in some ways how deep a character he is. It was pretty impactful to watch as a 9-10 year old. Its a good testament to the emotional core this series is capable of.

Even watching it later though as an adult it still holds up, though now I can particularly enjoy the sardonically humorous end...where Homer says after he ends up not dying that he'll live every life to the fullest but then ends up just watching TV with some potato chips. lol I can appreaciate it because well...we all kind of know we should live our lives in every second, especially as we get more and more into our adult years, but at the end of the day do we really go through with it much of the time?

Can't hate, or blame Homer though after all that. 5

[Drumstick]

Great episode almost perfect and one of the most emotional episodes of all time.Homer is great in this episode and if you watch this then a season 18 episode there is an obvious difference between Homer in one and the other.The things on Homer's list are great and how he goes about them are funny.A serious greatest episode of all time contender.5/5

[Tamaki Suoh]

I used to think this was one of season 2's poorer offerings and it still isn't perfect, but I think it was a very nicely-done and highly enjoyable episode. It's true that the conflict is generic and there wasn't much that was definitively Simpsons about it, but I still enjoyed a lot, especially the last two acts (the first was a bit scattered and unfunny).

The humor was subtle but funny, the characterizations were great, and the pacing was flawless. Some say that the episode didn't conclude properly, but I think the ending was perfect: we all knew that Homer wasn't going to die, so they didn't need to spend a lot of time covering that obvious cessation.

The other usual complaint is that it was emotionally-manipulative, and I agree with this to some extent, but I think it's mainly manipulative and odd through Marge's see-saw characterization. The other parts with Homer and his family seemed genuine and sad to me, and even some of the parts with Marge were done pretty well.

Overall, a very good and memorable episode, albeit less starkly unique than most Simpsons episodes. A-

[D'ohmer]

This is actually one of my favorite season 2 episodes. It has a great plot that becomes very dramatic near the end. The biggest problem I have with this episode is that Homer is alive at the end with no real explanation, but I would rather have that ending than have him die, so it's easy to overlook. 5/5

[PreciousBodilyFluids]

Possibly the worst episode of it's season.
C

[Fox Executive]

5/5

[TerwilligerBob]

A really, really good episode. Very emotional and sincere. The only thing I can complain about is that unlike some other emotional episodes, this one really could've used more humor. However, this only occured to me after I had seen it several times, so it's a very minor point. And there were plenty of really funny bits (the "Nobody's hooooooome!" answering machine is one of the funniest gags ever!) The emotional depth was very touching, especially between Marge and Homer. Am I the only one who was brought to tears by Marge's poem? 5/5

[You Only Move Thrice]

5/5, I like it more and more each time I watch it

[Jye]

One of my all-time favs. 5/5.

[qwertyuio]

I cried the last two minutes... and didn't stop laughing the first nineteen. This is an absolute perfect episode at all. 10/10.

[erpistria]

Maybe my favorite and the first episode I ever watched !
EXCELLENT! A+

[sconer]

Very good episode. Some funny scenes with the master chef making out with Mrs. Krabappel. Sad though as Marge prepares for Homer's death and Homer does his 'last things' on Earth. But, ending was still good. 5/5

[ThatAsianGuy]

ending a bit predictable but eh, 4/5

[qwertyuio]

I find this episode personally to be horribly manipulative and not the least bit insightful. The outcome was obviously predictable, Homer and Marge could have been replaced by any loving couple and it would have had the same effect, and the only thing we learned was that Marge loves Homer and that Homer loves his family. I don't like it.

3/5
I didn't see this post. Well, it's obvious that the episode is manipulative: the writers are trying to create a feeling to the audience, so they make a story with a strong emotional charge. It would be unfair, I think, to criticize the series because of that.
About the outcome, I agree it's predictable, but I think that the writers' intention wasn't to surprise us, but showing Homer's attitude faced with a situation in which he is sure that he is going to die. That situation develops a emotional environment about him.
About Homer and Marge, I agree they could have been replaced by other couple, by they probably would never achieve their empathy levels, and we don't learn anything special about Homer's attitude towards his family: we know from other episodes that he loves them and he and Marge are very close.

[joe miller]

5/5, it was emotional when he was saying goodbye to everyone, and teaching Bart to shave was good

[hughes]

It has some very, very good moments, true--but it also had some very big problems. First of all, what the fuck was the deal with Bart and Lisa singing that song? Stupid and unfunny (maybe it was funny in 1990, I dunno. I wasn't even conceived yet and don't know what it references. The great thing about most Simpsons pop culture references is that they're still funny even if you don't know what the hell they're talking about). Also, it's so obvious from the beginning Homer isn't going to die, even though the episode makes a valiant effort to make you feel worried about him, I'm really not. I used to think the "5 stages of death" joke was funny, but now it kind of annoys me. That being said, most of Homer's last day was pretty good, but the parts with Homer in jail were unfunny and unnecessary. I especially liked "Haha, joke's on him--tomorrow I'll be dead!" I wish they'd kept the ending they talked about in the commentary. I know I've basically done nothing but complain, but this is still a decent, but unspectacular Season 2 offering. 11/15

[The Robot Devil]

5/5. Why? Well because for one it has a great set-up, you feel sorry for Homer even though he is a jerk. You actually think he might die. And the solution and explanation is pure genius. Homer doing deeds and things was great and made you feel even more sorry for him. I just really love this episode the whole way through. Definatley in my top thirtys.

[bartyboy]

4/5. A great episode, with an unexplainable ending.

[Nauru-1]

Love the idea of Homer's things to do before I die list. The humour is very nice in a number of places as well. A high 4/5.

[Duffless]

I give it an A-, it was underrated

[Richard Nixon]

7/10 good episode with both emotion and humor, and an awesome ending

[H-o-m-e-r]

5/5 One of my top 10 episodes of all time.

[Little Nellie Kelly]

First of all, I'll say this: this episode has to have the best opening ever, which is of course:

http://springfieldx2.co.uk/media/framegrabs/season2/s02e12/s02e12_10.jpg

This episode has very big emotional strength, probably the best of all of the episodes in the entire series. As if it wasn't obvious enough that Homer wasn't going to die, but it still doesn't lesser the emotional build. I first had believed that Homer was going to die, when I had first watched this episode in 1991, as it first aired. What are you going to do, I was at the gullible age of two. Enough of my pre-watch overlook of the episode, I'll begin with my complete review of "One Fish, Two Fish, Blowfish, Blue Fish."

All the kids run to get the meatloaf while it is unbelievably hot, and after Lisa says that she doesn't enjoy their average meals every single week, Marge suggests that they could go to the new sushi restaurant, The Happy Sumo. Homer, sickened at a new idea, doesn't want to go, but he is eventually won over after the nags. I loved the design of The Happy Sumo, it was hilarious and original at the same time. "HELLO!" Homer screams at the chefs, after the hostess tells him that their yells meant hello.

Homer, originally worried at what the food will taste like, loves it and tries to eat everything on the menu. He then learns of another dish, Fugu, which he ultimately wants. The waiter, Akira, is worried at telling the inexperienced chef to make it, as the head chef (whom usually prepares the Fugu) is having intercourse with Edna Krabappel. Homer enjoys his meal and all is well...until the head chef comes in and discovers the Fugu, which he believes was prepared improperly, so that Homer ate the poisonous liver. Homer rushes to the hospital with his family, and it is discovered by Dr. Hibbert that Homer has 24 hours to live (actually 22, as he was waiting so long).

Homer makes a bucket list, where he lists 13 things he needs to do before he dies. He finishes "Make a List," and then falls asleep, saying that he will wake up at 6AM with his wife to spend his last earthly day with her. Homer shuts off his alarm at 6AM, and oversleeps until 11AM.

http://springfieldx2.co.uk/media/framegrabs/season2/s02e12/s02e12_107.jpg

He scolds Marge for not waking him, but she didn't because he seemed so peaceful. He then rushes to do everything, beginning with "Have a Man-to-Man Talk with Bart." He teaches him the three most important words that will get you through life: "Cover for me," "Good idea, boss!" and "It was like that when I got here." After saying that, he teaches Bart how to shave, where Bart breaks the bottle of aftershave, which he says: "It was like that when I got here!" which instantly cools Homer's mood.

http://springfieldx2.co.uk/media/framegrabs/season2/s02e12/s02e12_126.jpg

Homer then asks Lisa to play her sax for him, but then starts to sob after hearing a bluesy tune. Lisa then transforms it into "When The Saints Go Marching In," which Homer says as: "Oh, I want to be in that rumba, when the saints go over there! Go over there!"

http://springfieldx2.co.uk/media/framegrabs/season2/s02e12/s02e12_133.jpg

Homer then has to go to Flanders to get a video camera to make a future video for Maggie, and is annoyed by Flanders asking if he would like to go to a barbecue. He then says yes, saying he'll bring the thickest, juiciest T-bones he's ever had. After walking out the door, he chuckles, saying that he'll be dead by then.

http://springfieldx2.co.uk/media/framegrabs/season2/s02e12/s02e12_145.jpg

Making his future video for Maggie, Homer starts out sincere, but then the telephone rings. He answers it, and then scratches his bum while the camera is in view, yelling for Bart to talk to Milhouse.

http://springfieldx2.co.uk/media/framegrabs/season2/s02e12/s02e12_152.jpg

Next on his list is to make peace with his father, Abraham. After trying as hard as he can, he finally does, and then they play together as father and son. However, it takes up Homer's time, which makes Homer annoyed, and leaving his father. "The old guy's a little love-starved." Homer retorts.

http://springfieldx2.co.uk/media/framegrabs/season2/s02e12/s02e12_167.jpg

Homer is then stopped by Eddie and Lou for speeding, and demands for them to just give him a ticket. Taking no-nonsense, Eddie and Lou arrest him. Eddie tells Homer that he has one phone call, and deciding that he can't call Marge due to this being his last day on earth, he calls...no not Lenny, Carl, or Ned...but Barney!

http://springfieldx2.co.uk/media/framegrabs/season2/s02e12/s02e12_185.jpg

Barney hurries up and bails out Homer. He then asks why Homer wouldn't stop at Moe's for a last beer with his buddies, to which Homer replies that it was on his list, but he had a lot of things on there that he wasn't able to do. Seeing Mr. Burns, he decides to do something he really wanted to do: "Tell off boss." He tells him off, saying "Eat My Shorts!"

http://springfieldx2.co.uk/media/framegrabs/season2/s02e12/s02e12_199.jpg

Barney decides to take Homer to Moe's for one last beer, leaving his family at home, wondering where he is. Homer drinks his last beer, and then hurries out with Barney. However, the tire blows out, so Homer decides to run home to be "intamit" with Marge.

http://springfieldx2.co.uk/media/framegrabs/season2/s02e12/s02e12_217.jpg

He returns home, and becomes intimate with Marge. Marge reads him a poem that she had written, which is as follows:

"The blackened clouds are forming, soon the rain will fall, my dear one is departing, but first please heed this call: that always I will love you, my one, my love, my all."

Homer and Marge kiss, and then Homer wakes up in the morning, deciding to read the Good Book, read by Larry King. As it ends and the sun rises, Homer "dies." Marge wakes up later, and goes downstairs to discover Homer's lifeless body.

http://springfieldx2.co.uk/media/framegrabs/season2/s02e12/s02e12_244.jpg

Marge hugs him, and then discovers warm spit on his mouth. She wakes him up, happily, saying that he is alive. Homer wakes up, glad that he is alive, and kisses Marge, saying he is going to live life to it's fullest.

http://springfieldx2.co.uk/media/framegrabs/season2/s02e12/s02e12_251.jpg

My post-watch review is this: this episode is utterly fantastic. Not a bad moment in this episode, it is emotional and hilarious all at the same time. Watching it now almost brings me to tears as it did in 1991, as it has a big emotional depth, bigger than any cartoon that I have seen in my days.

A+

[Bella Drape 'er]

A lightly handled accomplishment of an episode in terms of story, humour and emotion.

Essentially it's really just "The Life and Death of Homer J Simpson" whilst the other characters are played off in bit parts in a few scenes (except from the very rememorable scene where Bart and Lisa sing along to Shaft).

All in all, probably one of season 2's best, and a definite credit to the Simpson back catalogue.

[cinco]

Is there a better way to begin the episode with meatloaf in the oven after a realistic couch-gag?
(trivia: When exactly did they start with the crazy unrealistic couch-gags?)

I knew about "The Graduate"-references in Lisa's Substitute and Lady Bouvier's Lover,
but I totally missed the one in this episode during my initial views.
Hereby, that is corrected.

So this is season 2 and Barney is still Homer's go-to friend when he is in trouble.
No Lenny, no Carl... Barney!

http://download.lardlad.com/framegrabs/7F11/128.jpg

There's the dated remark about the answering machine.
There's that poster in Barney's room with a man in a coat smoking a cigarette and first I
thought it was Humphrey Bogart, but now I think it's just publicity for cigarettes.
Yeah, I don't know either why Barney would hang such a poster in his living room.
(living? seems more like something died over there)

So what else is there? A lot of genuine emotion, a to-do list and a shaven Homer.
Not seen very often since Some Enchanted Evening.

And a little disturbing: Edna's different poses with that fat sushi-chef in the car.
Did both of them follow a quick kamasutra-studygroup or what?
This in contrast with the tender Homer-Marge snuggling.

http://download.lardlad.com/framegrabs/7F11/58.jpghttp://download.lardlad.com/framegrabs/7F11/153.jpg

Yeah, people always say they are going to change their lifestyle after having a near-death experience,
but in fact they just pick up where they left after a few weeks including all the bad habits.
So the episode ends the way it begins. With food and a couch.

http://download.lardlad.com/framegrabs/7F11/137.jpg

By the way, this is a good episode to show to people if you want to prove The Simpsons is more than just a cartoon.

[Comicshow MolemanBob]

One Fish Two Fish Blue Fish Blow Fish: A-, 4.5/5, 9/10, Outstanding

[Alone With My Art]

5/5. Completely underrated, and, yes, despite the predictable ending, I found it to be emotional and funny.

I've watched it multiple times, and I'm happy to find that I enjoy just as much as the first. A few scenes that particularly struck me was when Homer wanted to get up early and complete his list, and ended up sleeping until noon, and going through all 5 stages of grief within a minute. Terrific episode, one of my favorites.

[Bleedin' Gums Murphy]

This episode is incredibly underated and arguably the greatest episode ever created. Hilarious, heart warming, well executed storyline, fine characterisation and just genius...10/10 and 20/20, whoever rates it anything less than a A - or 3/5 or below is just a dark human being with no sense of humour or no taste in quality programming.

[Blobulle]

Excellent episode, I think I'll write a complete review later. 4.5/5 rounded up to 5.

[Riviera]

Fantastic episode. The perfect mix of heart and humour. Without a doubt a 5/5.

[Handsome B. Wonderful]

whoever rates it anything less than a A - or 3/5 or below is just a dark human being with no sense of humour or no taste in quality programming.
Must you talk down to people who have other opinions? Please stop.