Rate and Review Saturdays Of Thunder

[Sniper Squirrel]

Very good episode, nice touching Father/son moments, a little lower on the laughs, but still damn good, 4/5

[LionelBrockman13]

God, I love this episode and love this season. Such a tight plot with nothing wasted, as every single element contributes to the overall narrative. Also very funny, particularly for a Season 3 episode:

- Homer: If stuff starts flying, just turn your head.

- The entire Reineer Wolfcastle part is, with the possible exception of his segment in LETS, his finest moment in the entire series. "MEN-DO-ZA!!!!"

- Homer: [watching 'Football's Greatest Injuries'] Oh, you made me miss Joe Theismann!

- Homer describing one of Bart's friends as "that little weiner kid, you know the one who always has his hands in his pockets" is hilarious and surpisingly dirty at the same time. At least that's how I interpreted it, maybe I just have a twisted mind.

- Bart: [upon watching his father getting taken away] Maybe it's for the best.

- The reverse psychology bit was well executed I thought and fits perfectly with Homer's character, as he doesn't even realize he's being manipulated (by himself, of all people).

- Of course, Martin's crash was great.

And is this the episode where "Wind beneath my wings" plays in the background at the end, or am I thinking of something else entirely?

Either way, great ep. A

[Imperciph]

As a Homer/Bart episode, I like Saturdays Of Thunder.

It starts on a great note with the opening tv parody with Troy Mclure and Dr. Nick which does a great job of lampooning infomercials. From then, the episode does a good job with building up Homer's hilarious incompetence as a father as demonstrated by his indifference to Bart using dangerous power tools, his attempts to get off doing something with his children as cheaply and quickly as possible, his refusal to rent Lisa what she wants.

Once the main conflict goes going the episode continues its high quality. I found Homer's bonding scenes with Bart to be very well-done and touching though I realise it may come off as sappy and manipulative. While some may complain that Homer's reason to get that upset is unbelievable and contrived I would argue that it was perfectly logical : he was using the car as a means of bonding with his son and he was upset at the fact that his son chose to win rather working with him. The true reason Homer got that upset was the fact that Bart failed to realise that the project meant more to him than just a car and didn't fully appreciate Homer's intentions. Homer interpreted Bart's inability to realise his intentions also as a failure of himself as a father. And the ending scene with Homer sitting in Lil' Lightnin', which soon falls apart under his weight is strangely sad and poignant. Who knows, perhaps the falling apart of the car symbolises the unravelled relationship between father and son.

Humorwise its on par with almost all of Season 3; particular standouts include the Mcbain parody (which easily is one of most LOL moments in the show's history) "Bill Cosby, you've saved the simpsons", footballs greatest injuries, Patty and Selma as Mary Tyler Moore and how Homer passes the fatherhood test.

I particularly like the the ending scenes. When Bart wins and both Bart and Homer taunt Nelson, it is the Simpsons-esque twist on the standard "you earned the respect of your opponent" plot device and is touching at the same time as it is great to see the father and son get back their smarmy attitudes. And the ending with the song playing in the background with Bart and Homer hugging each other is quite an emotional moment but I am aware that it may come off as being sappy and manipulative. I, however, like it.

I give this one an A-

[coltonwiggum]

5/5, I love it.

[Homerpalooza]

I give it a 4.5/5 this is one of my favorite episodes ever.

[Fox Executive]

4/5. Ben hur with bart and nelson

[tom cody]

5/5- Terrific episode. An episode that greatly examines Bart and Homer's relationship. I recently bought Season 3 of the show on DVD and can't wait to watch this episode.

[Moe Nopoly]

it's more an average episode for me.
Nothing really stands out for me from this story.
Not bad, but could have been sometimes a little bit more funny.

3.5/5

[sconer]

A really good episode. Helped make season 3 one of the best. 5/5

[ThatAsianGuy]

nice use of martin in an early episode. 5/5

[sri16v]

One of my favorite episodes of season 3. So many great jokes,the fatherhood institute part, homer: "what boy" (when talking to dave of the institute). The mcbain scene, the reverse physcology part. Homer being taken away in the wood paneled station wagon and bart just says " maybe its for the best".

I watched a reasonably new episode of the simpsons today and homer just doesnt compare to what he used to be, not even funny and his stupidity doesnt seem believable.

[qwertyuio]

I overrated this episode, because it was between two masterpieces, but in the last reviews it has slightly disappointed me.
No doubt it's good, with a great Homer-Bart interaction, but it lacks some humour and the story about the soap box derby doesn't fit with Bart very well. 9/10, I still like it, but not as much as I used to.

[Mr Black]

Classic, the scene in the video store was great

[Jesse Pinkman]

5/5, great episode

[bartyboy]

5/5. Classic.

[Nauru-1]

The story idea in itself isn't that original, but they sure made it a pretty fun episode. 4/5

[Bella Drape 'er]

This seemed very season 2-ish to me, the whole idea of the race seemed reasonably developed but it really felt like a Saturday morning cartoon, rather than a relatable show - Nelson's childish voice and his cronies are quite evident of that.

Although I like the Spartacus reference, this gets a mild 3/5 from me.

[alex_on_ice]

What a wonderful episode! There are so many great episodes in Season 3, I really don't know where this episode ranks if I were to compare it to other episodes in season 3. However I can assure you it's right up at the Top of my Season 3 list. This episode has wonderful scenes, jokes etc. (you name it).

I think that Martin comes in and peps up the episode a lot. Martin is probably at his best in this episode. If you want to know more about Martin's personality, this episode is for you. He's absolutely hilarious (especially in that scene where his rocket is out of control and he's screaming his head off). I think the part where Martin catches on fire is one of the moments where I've laughed the hardest in the entire show. Yeah, I'm a big fan of Martin!!

The idea of having Homer learn how to be a good father in this episode is wonderful (using reverse psychology, knowing the name of your sons best friend etc.). And that scene at the video store where Homer's watching a McBain film is well done.

The ending is very entertaining and I love the whole thing where Bart and Homer brag about having won in front of Nelson.

[HMS pinafore]

\ I think the part where Martin catches on fire is one of the moments where I've laughed the hardest in the entire show. Yeah, I'm a big fan of Martin!!

You are a horriable person

Also I wish they would do more McBain clips, they were always good for a laugh but I think they haven't been seen since about season 9, also the I can't believe they invented it show was also funny(But I guess they would not work without Mclure and also I think they killed off Dr nick as well)

[Nebuchanezzar]

i gotta admit it. i hate the ending.

[Financial Panther]

What, Bart winning? Or is there something else? (I haven't watched this in a while.)