Rate and Review: Trilogy of Error
 

I hope there isn't one for this ep already. If it is, then by all means close it. Anyways, this is my all-time favorite. I love the 123 Fake Street gag. The overall plot was great IMO.

3/5 meh! But it was not horrible.

Gosh, I haven't seen this episode in a couple years, but I remember how blown away I was by this one. Very creative and original episode done in an era which is the epitome of the word "crap." It feels like I'm reviewing an episode from season 4 or 5, but it's from season 12. Great plot, great gags, and as I mentioned, the originality pushed it over the top. Seemed to be missing a little something to make it a perfect episode, but still it was season 12's best. A.

Easily the (very)highlight of season 12, this episode is possibly the most well-written episode to date, with a simply brilliant story, great humour, and for a change, wackiness used well. A++

An experimental episode which paid off! It often feels like the writing and direction were really concentrated on this episode but forgotten about for the rest of the episodes in the same season. The multiple plotlines work especially well here, and there is some fantastic linking and interlocking of storylines where one event relates to another (eg: The gun firing that Lisa hears over the police radio later turns out to be fireworks exploding where Bart is, etcetera, etcetera). A good homage to the movie Run Lola Run, and every loose end is neatly tied up at the very end. I have to point out some obvious flaws, seeing as no episode is perfect and I prefer to give balanced views. So here we go: The wackiness is rightly kept to a minimum but some silliness does emerge, notably with Mr Teeny the monkey being able to act humanly, for example, driving a car, and talking. It's a little hard to swallow that there are two almost identical schools: Springfield Elementary, and West Springfield Elementary. Finally, Frankie Muniz delivers a very flat, lifeless performance as Thelonious, Lisa's match and brief lover for a few moments in the episode. Aside from this, the episode is pretty much a masterpiece and is surely up there with the best of The Simpsons.

the best season 12 episode. 9/10

Really good and well written experimental episode. 5/5

This is somewhat overrated imo, but still a top 50 episode and easily the best of season 12.

Close to being top 10 IMO. A+

Somewhat overated, I wouldn't give it a perfect score, but it's close. Like GC said, it pays off.

"Hey, Chief. Can I hold my gun sideways? It looks so cool."
"Hehe. Whatever you want, birthday boy."

What I notice about this (and, to a greater extent, "Behind the Laughter) is that it doesn't seem to hold up that well on repeated viewings. Since it first aired my mark has gone down from an A+ to an A to an A-. My theory on the matter is that a lot of the entertainment value of the episode is derived from it's gimmick, and because the gimmick eventually gets old with repeat viewings my grade for the episode drops.

Does that make any sense?

A-

Yes, it makes plenty of sense. The second time you watch the episode, you notice how each story is linked to the other, how the episode pans out, why events happened when they happened, so it loses a lot of its novelty value on subsequent airings. This type of episode is always best viewed the first time because of the element of surprise and unfamiliarity with what is going on. It's intentionally designed to be a little confusing, with everything fitting together at the end like a jigsaw puzzle.

Definitely the best of season 12; like Patman, I've always been blown away by this one. It has all the characteristics of a Classic-era episode (probably season 6 or 7-ish), and that's what makes it so great. This is probably the one experimental episode that ended up being great, and in Scully's-era, of all times. I'm sure that it takes a lot of talent to write the same story from three different viewpoints, but the writers pulled it off. There were some great jokes, all three stories were well-written, and the originality only adds to the sheer brilliance of the episode (this is probably one of only 3 or 4 Scully episodes that can be described using the word "brilliant", by the way). A+

Oh, and Charmy, like GC said, your grade changes can be attributed to the fact that the novelty eventually wears off. What I've noticed about many season 11 and 12 episodes is that they may have seemed great at the time they aired, but, when compared to subsequent seasons, they aren't as good as I originally tought. That's due to the fact that, when compared to a lot of the rest of season 12, an episode like "Trilogy of Error" is great. But, when compared to something from season 15, such as "T'is the Fifteenth Season", it loses something. You realize that a lot of the brilliance is derived merely from the fact that the episode was surrounded by crap, making it look good in comparison.

I'm sure that that made no sense at all, but...

I thank both of you for explaning back to me the point I made, as if I were unable to grasp my own ideas. :)

I'd reference my signature right about now, but since it was destroyed in the great upgrade of '04 I'll just have to tell you that I'm joking. But still, it's basically what I said in expanded form- the episode is gimmick based, and eventually the novelty wears off. Thanks for elaborating for all those listners out there in radioland.

Your welcome, all you listeners out there ;). This is Gorky signing out.

I was going to say everything Cauldron and Zaius said. I watched it a few weeks ago, and didn't enjoy it as much as I had. I was impressed by the animation and direction though. Still, the best of the season.

One of the best double digit episodes, a mastpiece, A+.

4/5, good stuff

Top 50 material. A+

5/5
Very decent episode, not a flaw in it.
For "best episode of season #12" it has to compete with "A Tale Of Two Springfields", "Simpson Tall Tales" and "Simpson Safari", although "New kids on the Bleech" is a real winner as well.

Are you living in backwards land or something?

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probably, yes
I just like "New Kids On The Bleech" very much because of the boat act (and the scene when the luitenant has his hippie-illusion again - one of the best minutes in tv-comedy history)
"Simpson Safari" is a pretty funny episode, IMO

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whatever, let's go back to "Trilogy Of Error"
This episode has a similar set-up as "22 Short Films", or as some Tarantino movies, which doesn't make it very original, but DAMN, its funny!

Let´s say 4/5. Quite funny and well written, but there were some weird things. Homer´s plot is very funny but also a little stupid and disgusting (I dislike most of the scenes involving gore or blood). Lisa´s robot, Linguo, is funny but it seems a little weird for me that Lisa could make such a perfect invention. It looks more like a toy she could find in a shop or like a Prof. Frink´s invention. And well, I like it, it´s funny and original but in my opinion there are lots of better episodes before this one.

The final resolution with one of the maphia guys being a doctor and helping both Homer and Lisa is o.k. but looksa little like a Deus ex machina.

I don't think is SO good, but yes, is good. 4/5.

A. Not quite A+ because of all the blood and screaming but a very original and innovative idea for an episode that paid off very well.