R&R Who Shot Mr Burns part Two

[Jesse Pinkman]

I think you're right. I wouldn't have been nearly as annoyed if they were just back-to-back weekly episodes like that.

it's funny you mention King of the Hill in the bottom portion of this post, because I was thinking about the episode where that chick at Strickland Propane shot herself (Debbie, I believe her name was). that was a 2-part episode, and part one aired one week and part 2 aired one week after. I don't hear people complain about that (maybe they thought it was a good episode, I dunno), but I have a feeling if part one was a season finale and part 2 was a season opener, people wouldn't have liked the resolution a lot. I mean, you're waiting 4 months or so to find out who the killer was, only to have it be the girl herself; in The Simpsons, you wait 4 months only to find out it was the baby. That's why I don't think it bothered me a whole lot; I knew it was Maggie by reading people's reviews of it. And, even though it was Maggie, and the resolution could have been better, I still like the episode as a whole because of the gags in it; it's not one of their funniest episodes of course, but there are some pretty funny parts.

Having it be a season finale with the long layover was designed to increase the suspense, and they just promoted the hell out of it at the time as being a big deal. So it kind of raises your expectations that you're really going to get an amazing solution to the mystery.

I was only like one when this originally aired, and thus, suffice to say, I did not watch Simpsons. So I do not know how hyped this was. I assume it was hyped as such because it was the first Simpsons cliffhanger (Still is the only one to this day, unless you were to count Ned/Edna at the end of Ned-Liest Catch), and they wanted viewers. I know back then, they had good ratings and whatnot, but hyping this up for as long as they did, probably helped in terms of ratings for the season 7 opener. I mean, I imagine being disappointed by the outcome itself (oh it was maggie), but I think the episode as a whole has enough humor that the end doesn't drag the episode down a lot.

I mean, I laughed numerous times in this episode; Wiggum's dream sequence, Speedway Squad! In color, "D'oh!" "That's what they all say. They all say d'oh", Moe's ever popular lie detector scene, etc. Sure, the conclusion of having it be Maggie might not be the best resolution, but it didn't drag the episode down for me (and it seems for some people this is the case). This episode might not be as good as part one (I certainly do not think it is), but it is still pretty decent (not that anyone really is disagreeing with this... i don't think anyway).

By the way, speaking of the contest, what was it? I remember briefly reading that they were having a contest because of publicity, but what was the winner supposed to get? Furthermore, wasn't there like one person who actually guessed Maggie, but they did not get the prize for being right for whatever reason?

[Zombies Rise from the Sea]

By the way, speaking of the contest, what was it? I remember briefly reading that they were having a contest because of publicity, but what was the winner supposed to get? Furthermore, wasn't there like one person who actually guessed Maggie, but they did not get the prize for being right for whatever reason?

If my memory serves me correctly, the winner was supposed to be animated in an episode of The Simpsons. Basically like a later contest, except for real.

[The Governor]

To the people who say this episode is average- why don't you write a better Simpsons episode?

Because having an opinion isn't a pay-or-play venture.

[Oh, that's raspberry!]

If my memory serves me correctly, the winner was supposed to be animated in an episode of The Simpsons. Basically like a later contest, except for real.

This is basically correct, but the problem was FOX only let them pick from I think 100 random guesses and they were all wrong, so they just picked one incorrect answer and bribed that person out of the episode cameo prize...or something like that the details are all on the audio commentary for one of the parts but I haven't listened to it in awhile so...

[Prune Tracy]

I admit there's an element of obviousness to Smithers being the shooter, but who, if they were the shooter, (other than Maggie) couldn't have been said to look "obvious"? Moe had a good reason and had a shotgun. Barney could've done it. Anyone in the Simpson family doing it would've seemed unlikely, I guess, but no moreso than Maggie.

Also, let's remember that we're looking at the episode many years after the fact. Did the bit about the sundial look as obvious then as it does now? I think it's Part Two itself that makes Smithers look like the most obvious suspect. All Part 1 really did was establish that Smithers wasn't going along with Burns anymore.

Yeah, I'm not sure why Smithers sticks out like a sore thumb to me; I'm guessing it's because he's the closest to Mr. Burns. When I think of Mr. Burns, I don't automatically associate him with Moe, Barney or even Homer; I think of Smithers. Of course, being the closest to him doesn't truly make him any more likely a suspect, but because of his association with Mr. Burns, more people might turn to him.

And yeah, I guess the second episode played a part in my thought process. But when I watched them for the first time, I watched them one right after the other on my box sets, so the suspense didn't last as long.

[bhartman36]

Yeah, I'm not sure why Smithers sticks out like a sore thumb to me; I'm guessing it's because he's the closest to Mr. Burns. When I think of Mr. Burns, I don't automatically associate him with Moe, Barney or even Homer; I think of Smithers. Of course, being the closest to him doesn't truly make him any more likely a suspect, but because of his association with Mr. Burns, more people might turn to him.

It's natural, I guess, that more people would turn to Smithers, but if you look at it, I think Smithers was one of the people who didn't threaten Burns with violence. He just quit. It was in the second part, when he woke up with a hangover and a gun, that people had a reason to make him a more serious suspect.

[Bleedin' Gums Murphy]

Not as good as the first episode but it's still fantastic by any standards. 5/5, 10/10, A+

[Financial Panther]

Better and more memorable and funny than part one, 5/5.

[Lionel Hutz]

Along with Part 1, this is the peak of the show. The suspense carries over quite well from Part 1, and the gags are all top notch.

I thought the ending was great. It was unexpected, but perfectly feasible given the evidence.

Best Quotes:
Mr. Burns: That's right, the year is 1965, and you and I are undercover detectives on the hot-rod circuit. Now, lets burn rubber Baby!

Homer: Kids, kids, kids, as far as Daddy's concerned, you're both potential murderers.

Grampa: ..now where's my hat? I'm going to the outhouse.
Lisa: We don't have an outhouse.
Homer: Ahh! My tool shed! Oh, dad! (later we see Homer hosing down his tool shed)

Jasper: You shot who in the what now?

Grampa: I never thought I could shoot down a German plane, but last year I proved myself wrong.

Wiggum: OK, OK, I believe you're innocent. Gee, I hope all our suspects are this much fun. (cut to Skinner)
(...)
Wiggum: So, Superintendant Chalmers can vouch for your whereabouts?
Skinner: Oh, yes. But anything else he tells you is a filthy lie.

Willie: ..I got it from Space Invaders in 1977.
Wiggum: Oh yeah, that was a pretty addictive video game.
Willie: Video game?

Moe: Good, cause I got a hot date tonight (buzz), a date (buzz), dinner with friends (buzz), dinner alone (buzz), watching TV alone (buzz). Alright, I'm gonna sit at home and ogle the ladies in the Victoria's Secret catalogue (buzz) Sears catalogue (ding)
Now would you unhook this, already please. I don't deserve this kind of shabby treatment (buzz).

Wiggum: Yeah, that's what they all say. They all say Doh.

Wiggum: No jury in the world's going to convict a baby .. maybe Texas.

Highlights include Speedway Squad (in Color), Dr. Colossus, Barts chocolate ice cream, Tito Puente's "revenge" (great song, by the way), Skinner's alibi, Moe's lie detector test, Basic Instinct reference (This is your last warning about that), Twin Peaks scene (did you have the same backwards talking dream with the flaming cards? I'll drive.), the police ransacking the house, and the brief, but hilarious Fugitive reference.

[Septimus Singus]

=

[bomberswarm2]

5/5, I prefer this over Part 1. Nothing like the lie detector

[AngusCastle]

Just watched this. Really good and I loved the intense ending, part one is better IMO. 5/5

[Ernie]

I don't want to review this part-by-part, so it'll be a briefing of both parts combined in one.

Part of what impresses me about the ending would be the show's ability to retain suspense in an episode. Who would've thought that Maggie would be the one to shoot Mr. Burns? Come to think of it, this episode really leaves a permanent impression on Maggie; whether she did it accidentally or not, we now see Maggie as an unpredictable character while her non-talkative behavior also contributes to it. Kudos to giving a different character vibe to Maggie, really (I'd even say that this episode takes quite a radical path). Moreover, there was also a good and suitable atmosphere of mystery, crime, and justice.

I loved the characterization here because it really takes there traits to the extreme. Mr. Burns becoming the electricity overlord of the town was quite memorable, while the other citizens of Springfield also follow understandable human nature of denial-- or more suspense. That being said, the antagonism in traits is really your ideal foundations for a solid foundations and a feed for suspense. This is also an interesting psychological play in animation; many sentiments are quite subtle in this episode.

With this briefing done, I felt like this episode was a 9/10, or up to 5/5 in the polls. I really liked hook and suspense in this episode!

[R41]

5/5 - Terrific. Just as good as part one.