NHC Weekly Episode Club (Simpsons Spin-off Showcase)

[the secret code]

As basically everyone so far has said, this episode is very under-rated, and it really shouldn't be because it is a fantastic episode.

Previous people have mentioned how well all the plot devices come together, and this is one of the most brilliant things about the episode. The way that such insignificant things can become such an enormous part of the plot is a real credit to the writers.

This episode is full of gags, from the Antique Cans to the screen for Technical Difficulties. It is just full of laughs, and is actually one of the more funny episodes of the series. On the other side of this, the episode has some emotional bits, and they seem effortless, and tie together with everything else in the episode so well.

The character development in this episode really shines, and we get to see more of some secondary characters like Chief Wiggum and Lionel Hutz. The use of Ruth in this episode is fantastic, and she really helps balance out the character of Marge. I really think they could have used her a lot more in other episodes, and a lot more plots could be developed around her.

This episode also shows how to do great parodies without going too over the top. The parodies are there, but even if you haven't seen the original source material you can still thoroughly enjoy the episode.

Surrounded by other great episodes, this episode can sometimes be forgotten, but it shouldn't be as it is one of the better episodes.

Everything else has already been said, so I won't repeat it again. I look forward to discussing the episode more.

[D'ohmer]

Well, Marge on the Lam isn't one of my favorite episodes, but I still like it.

The plot is pretty decent. It fits the characters well and I didn't really find anything OOC or unbelievable. I thought Homer getting stuck in two vending machines was in character for him. I thought Marge and Ruth's friendship was well developed and well executed throughout the episode. Homer's conflict was also well written and it felt believable. However, I'm not a big fan of the subplot. I just found it underwhelming for some reason. However, Lionel Hutz isn't one of my favorite characters, so that could be the reason.

I thought this episode shined in the humor department. The gags were very clever and timed well. My favorite was Homer getting stuck in two vending machines, but actually holding on to the cans. There are also some cutaway gags, but I thought they were funny, like Maggie's wedding.

One other complaint is the ending. I thought it was rushed how Marge suddenly forgived Homer. I liked the garbage thing, but I didn't like that extra thing at the end. I know it's supposed to be a spoof, but spoofs should also work for those, like me, who are unfamiliar with the source material. I found it weird.

One final complaint I have is Lisa's reaction to Marge being on the run from the law. I thought it was extremely OOC for her. I thought she would be more concerned for her mom, but she seemed proud of her, which was a little off-putting for me.

Good, but not great. B-/B

[Jims]

You know, I tried to be open-minded when I watched this episode. This episode has never really left a lasting impression on me, and I wanted to see what other people love about it. I thought, going into it, that maybe it's a matter of forgetting a lot of stuff and not seeing the episode in awhile.

Nope. I still think the episode is pretty mediocre by classic era standards.

I feel that the message of the episode gets a little muddled overall. It starts as a small little story about Marge wanting friends and it morphs into a "two women standing up to The Man" episode. It's that transition that doesn't really work. The episode keeps trying to build up this point, all the way until having a chase scene, but the point is constantly being undermined.

You have a situation where a character (Ruth Powers) isn't get her child support from her husband, so she steals his car. This whole story would work as the foundation of the episode's theme, except for the fact that Marge ruins it, by pointing out she could've gone to the courts to get the money. If Ruth would've done this to begin with, we could test the episode theme better. If she still didn't get anything, it would further underline her cause. Instead she just steals his car. Further compounding this problem is that the ending says that Ruth won the child support anyway in court. So why steal the car?

Well, we all know the answer to that. It was so they could nail the Thelma and Louise parody. But the whole rigmarole with the car makes Ruth Powers more stupid than a victim of society.

It's weird how even the throwaway jokes can undermine the episode theme. Two guys brusquely come on to Marge at the bar, and are immediately apologetic when she reveals she's married. It's an amusing joke to be sure, but it doesn't quite fit in tonally.

Whereas Ruth's battles were underplayed, I found Marge's to be too heavy-handed... Specifically in regards to Homer's characterization. For the classic era, this is probably the most Jerkassy that Homer's ever gotten. They just continually underline what a boorish idiot Homer can be, to the point that it's over-the-top. I think the candy machine situation would've sufficed, but they keep rubbing it in... The scene where Homer runs into Marge's party with a skunk... Homer beating down a weather machine... I think we get the point by now.

If you compare this episode to something like "A Streetcar Named Marge", you can see the difference. That episode had a very unthoughtful Homer, someone whose inability to empathize ultimately hurts Marge's feelings. This episode has Homer running into the house with a skunk wearing a "No Fat Chicks" shirt.

(I had an argument here about this being a problem with the Mirkin Era in general, but it tends to happen in other eras too. I would argue it happens more in Mirkin than the other classic seasons... It's tough to gauge exactly, though.)

Still, the main problem I have with the episode is that Ruth Powers, as a character, is really under-developed. She was obviously a new character to the series, so they should allow the time to understand her motivations. This episode chose to instead cram a generally pointless (and surprisingly not that funny) story about Lionel Hutz babysitting. I feel this time would've been better used exploring Ruth's fractured relationship with her ex-husband more so we could nail down those motivations. Then I would understand why it reached the point where she stole his car, or why Ruth has bitterly concluded it's a "man's world".

As far as the jokes, they were pretty decent... Although a surprisingly large amount of cutaways. We'll call them "average" by the classic era standards.

Overall, still underwhelming to me. Probably about a 3.5/5.

[TheForbiddenDonut]

I feel that the message of the episode gets a little muddled overall. It starts as a small little story about Marge wanting friends and it morphs into a "two women standing up to The Man" episode. It's that transition that doesn't really work. The episode keeps trying to build up this point, all the way until having a chase scene, but the point is constantly being undermined.

You have a situation where a character (Ruth Powers) isn't get her child support from her husband, so she steals his car. This whole story would work as the foundation of the episode's theme, except for the fact that Marge ruins it, by pointing out she could've gone to the courts to get the money. If Ruth would've done this to begin with, we could test the episode theme better. If she still didn't get anything, it would further underline her cause. Instead she just steals his car. Further compounding this problem is that the ending says that Ruth won the child support anyway in court. So why steal the car?

Well, we all know the answer to that. It was so they could nail the Thelma and Louise parody. But the whole rigmarole with the car makes Ruth Powers more stupid than a victim of society.

i think this is all the point. the episode doesn't develop into a Thelma & Louise parody; it starts as a parody. the film starts out with just a simple friendly girl's night out and escalates. the episode doesn't go from a friend's night out thing into a full-fledged parody; it's got the parody nailed from the beginning. i also think the whole episode is a satire of the pop feminism in Thelma & Louise which is why Ruth's boneheaded nonsensical car theft and her subsequent belief that the male dominated society is out to get her is exposed as silly by Marge, who i think is supposed to ruin any conception that Ruth is in the right. she is supposed to be stupid and part of the humor is that Marge is constantly, naively, and unintentionally exposing this. what i like is that Marge's sensibleness pretty much overturns the 'message' of female rebellion and empowerment of the film.

It's weird how even the throwaway jokes can undermine the episode theme. Two guys brusquely come on to Marge at the bar, and are immediately apologetic when she reveals she's married. It's an amusing joke to be sure, but it doesn't quite fit in tonally.

i think the whole episode is about confounding and toying with the depictions of a vicious, male-dominated world in the film, and so this scene, which is directly based on the catalyst scene from T&L in which Thelma is almost raped by a forthcoming man in a club, is just making fun of it even more, rooting out all the pop feminist stereotypes of the movie at every turn.

Whereas Ruth's battles were underplayed, I found Marge's to be too heavy-handed... Specifically in regards to Homer's characterization. For the classic era, this is probably the most Jerkassy that Homer's ever gotten. They just continually underline what a boorish idiot Homer can be, to the point that it's over-the-top. I think the candy machine situation would've sufficed, but they keep rubbing it in... The scene where Homer runs into Marge's party with a skunk... Homer beating down a weather machine... I think we get the point by now.

i can't recall Homer ever being remotely jerkish except for that one flashback to the skunk thing. i mean he was bent on going to the ballet to keep his word and it wasn't his fault that he missed it, and the weather station is definitely over-exaggerated, but it's supposed to be endearing and not grating, just another simple irony that Homer's childish aggression is what made his dates with Marge 'magical' or whatever.

Still, the main problem I have with the episode is that Ruth Powers, as a character, is really under-developed. She was obviously a new character to the series, so they should allow the time to understand her motivations. This episode chose to instead cram a generally pointless (and surprisingly not that funny) story about Lionel Hutz babysitting. I feel this time would've been better used exploring Ruth's fractured relationship with her ex-husband more so we could nail down those motivations. Then I would understand why it reached the point where she stole his car, or why Ruth has bitterly concluded it's a "man's world".

i think she's just a rebellious feminist prototype who was never intended to be fleshed out, because she's an object of satire. i don't think the episode is really supposed to be taken that seriously; it's just making fun of T&L, seeing what Marge would look like in the role and then letting things go from there. the only function of the make-up scene, which in any other episode would be cloying sentimentality, is to contrast with the film's climax, taking an ironically down-to-earth husband/wife sequence and positing it as closer to reality than any of the silly female sisterhood 'men vs. women' mumbo jumbo of the film.

basically Ruth has no basis for calling the world 'a man's world' and that's the entire point.

[hughes]

This is one of my favorite episodes, full entrenched in my top 10, and possibly even top 5, but I hardly ever see it mentioned, thus the reason I chose it for this discussion. This is just a brilliant 22 minutes, with one of the best balances of plot, humor, and emotion ever seen in a television show. It's actually better than Bart Sells His Soul on this front, IMO, and I think I mentioned in my review how amazing that one is in balancing these fronts (or, at least I meant to), so that says a lot

First of all, the humor. I could go on for ages about how fucking brilliant the gags in this episode are, so let me say one thing right off the bat. BEST. CUTAWAY GAGS. EVER. in an episode of a TV show. They all flowed naturally as flashbacks or daydreams as opposed to random shit like on FG or the lesser modern episodes, and plenty of genuinely funny moments (Maggie's wedding, the bear in the car, Homer's test serum--which shows back up at the end! God, the writers were on fire in this one). However, great humor is only par the course for the Mirkin era, as well as the classic era, and while the humor shown in this episode is certainly extraordinary by the standards of just about anything, it's not really that extraordinary by Classic Simpsons standards--just another round of the writers seemingly waking up in the morning and pissing brilliance (wonder what happened to Bill Canterbury after this episode?)

No, what really pushes this episode onto another plane is the brilliant examination of Homer and Marge's relationship presented here. I've never seen Thelma and Louise, so I don't pick up on all the references (I know the car going over a cliff is a reference, obviously, and that the episode as a whole is a parody, but I couldn't tell you the specifics, and besides, TFD covered that aspect so well, just read his post), but dammit, I don't need that to get the emotion presented here. It starts out with Homer desperately trying to get to the ballet, but of course a comic situation prevents him from being able to (well, even before that, we get the perfect illustration of one of Homer's negative yet humorous characteristics, as Mirkin pointed out on the commentary--he's reluctant to let his neighbor borrow something that he stole, and is currently destroying his own house with. that gets me every time). Just a simple sitcom setup, right? Uncultured husband does whatever he can to get out of spending time with the cultured wife? Cue up the laugh track while the guys get drunk at the bar and the husband has to spend the rest of the episode trying to get back in the wife's good books? Oh, wait, that's not what happens at all. Homer is trying his hardest to get to the ballet, even though he doesn't want to go. Although the vending machines may be a little bit out there (how'd he dial the phone?), it works perfectly as a Homer-ish way to ruin the evening (and cause a lumber yard to burn down...lumber has a million uses ), but even though Marge is disappointed, and does briefly wonder why Ruth would be jealous of her and Homer, she doesn't go into full raging bitch mode like she would circa-Season 17, because she actually managed to have a good time on her own and make a friend for once. The next night, when she goes out again, she is getting to spend the night on the town she never has, but Homer has nobody to watch Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman with. This is a beautiful depiction of the utter dependence on Marge that Homer describes in "Secrets of a Successful Marriage"--without Marge, he can't round up his buddies, and can't think of anything fun to do on his own, so he goes back to where he spent memorable dates with Marge, but it just isn't any fun without her. He meets up with Chief Wiggum, who tries to take him home, but decides to pull over Ruth and Marge (for the most hilariously ridiculous reason imaginable--this episode is easily in the top 5 Wiggum appearances), and Ruth and Marge are on the run. Homer is initially depressed, then cheerful when he hears the "chase music" (I'm gonna have to stop making these asides every time I come across a brilliant gag--just assume everything I mention is brilliant), and finally worried when he realizes Marge is in the car. What is great is that not only is Homer not mad at her, he takes a chance to evaluate himself and how he needs to improve as a husband. When he makes his speech to her at the end, it shows Marge that even though he is extraordinarily lucky to have her (a point that is made--either intentionally or not--in just about every episode) this is one of the few to show that, dammit, she's lucky to have him too. Forget all that bullshit from War of the Simpsons about how she's the perfect wife and he's just going around fucking everything up, he really does try to be a good husband. One of the greatest Homer portrayals ever, and if you want a reason to not just laugh at his crazy antics, but to genuinely like the guy, this is an episode I suggest you direct your attention to this episode. He's just a guy deeply in love with his wife trying to do his best by her, and that's so endearing.

And, of course, the way the plot unfolds is also pure brilliance (again, I don't know how much is Thelma and Louise parody and how much is Simpson writer ideas, but either way it works) and Lionel Hutz is, as always, comedy gold. However, the same can be said of just about any classic Simpsons episode, so my main point on Homer and Marge's relationship is why this episode really stands out in my mind as one of the best in the history of the show (and an episode I can point to when people complain that Mirkin was all about gags and not enough emotion and plot)

And, you know, it started off such an enduring friendship for Marge, she had a true friend she's spoken to a whole one time since

One other complaint is the ending. I thought it was rushed how Marge suddenly forgived Homer. I liked the garbage thing, but I didn't like that extra thing at the end. I know it's supposed to be a spoof, but spoofs should also work for those, like me, who are unfamiliar with the source material. I found it weird.

I've never seen the source material for this section of the episode, either, (this summer I'm doing a major film crash course, so to speak) and I thought it was great. An excellent way of tying up the loose ends of the episode, and folds seemingly minor gags (the antique cans, Homer's serum) into the resolution. Brilliant stuff

[TheForbiddenDonut]

I didn't really find anything OOC or unbelievable.

One final complaint I have is Lisa's reaction to Marge being on the run from the law. I thought it was extremely OOC for her.

lol

also i think my response to Jims' post was really poorly written because i was severely rushed while writing it and it almost makes it seem like i'm saying that the episode was completely anti-feminist or something, which clearly isn't true (Kent Brockman haha), but it is definitely presenting one character (Ruth) who is so dead-set on believing in a Thelma & Louise world where all men are slobs and oppressors, only for Marge to naively and unintentionally expose her extreme philosophy at every turn (Marge bluntly pointing out the absurdity of the car theft and talking about her good marriage [part of what i think is important is that it's definitely not typical marriage crisis, because Marge really doesn't hold a grudge at all], etc.), part of the fun being that Marge lets herself get mixed up in Ruth's problems and high-speed pursuit due to her naivete and excess niceness, and for the actual events that take place to turn that extreme world view on its head (the gentlemanly men at the club and all that).

so yeah having seen T&L, Marge on the Lam is actually far more level-headed and realistic about gender and is frequently mocking the stereotypes of that film.

[Jims]

also i think my response to Jims' post was really poorly written because i was severely rushed while writing it and it almost makes it seem like i'm saying that the episode was completely anti-feminist or something, which clearly isn't true (Kent Brockman haha), but it is definitely presenting one character (Ruth) who is so dead-set on believing in a Thelma & Louise world where all men are slobs and oppressors, only for Marge to naively and unintentionally expose her extreme philosophy at every turn (Marge bluntly pointing out the absurdity of the car theft and talking about her good marriage [part of what i think is important is that it's definitely not typical marriage crisis, because Marge really doesn't hold a grudge at all], etc.), part of the fun being that Marge lets herself get mixed up in Ruth's problems and high-speed pursuit due to her naivete and excess niceness, and for the actual events that take place to turn that extreme world view on its head (the gentlemanly men at the club and all that).

so yeah having seen T&L, Marge on the Lam is actually far more level-headed and realistic about gender and is frequently mocking the stereotypes of that film.

I feel like when the show does an extended parody, they have to be careful with the characters' motivations so that it still makes sense outside the context of the parody. This is where I feel the parody fails.

I definitely see where you're coming from with the absurd nature of the message. After all, that's why the bar scene joke is funny... Or the "Sunshine and Lollipops" joke with Wiggum and Homer. Those aren't a probably because they're throwaway gags. Ruth's views on gender roles really drives Acts 2 and 3 of this episode, so I feel like it has to be clear what the writers are going for. She may be a secondary character in the context of the series, but she is a main character in this one and drives a lot of the action. Her characterization is paramount to this episode working.

Either way about it, I feel like they underplayed Ruth's characterization. If they were going for the absurd "Ruth's a feminist for no real reason", they failed in demonstrating how absurd the notion is. Her main character trait on the show had always been the "single mom next door with an ex-husband", so her bitterness toward men makes a little sense. Especially when the episode highlights this with her wistful comment about her husband taking the tools.

Given her background on the show, I can buy into her being someone who is distrustful of the male gender in general.

This is why I ultimately feel that Marge's comment at the end undermines the episode because it doesn't quite match up with what was already established. It brings a level of absurdity to Ruth's motivations that just haven't been established yet. They don't actually show us any of the "absurd" feminism that Ruth supposedly preaches. Sure, they lampoon the pop T&L feminism in the throwaway jokes, but nothing relating to Ruth's character in general. We go from "shooting antique cans for fun" to "stealing a car instead of going to court".

What's even more confusing about it, is that they insert the Kent Brockman scene in the middle of Act 3. If we're going to really lampoon pop feminism, then why are we putting an actual misogynistic comment in the climax of the episode? There's something to be said to be even-handed when discussing a topic, but it kind of muddles the message.

I have trouble talking about this episode in general, because I find it difficult to figure out what the writers are actually going for. This episode is a jack of all trades and a master of none.

[Capt Hammer]

One final complaint I have is Lisa's reaction to Marge being on the run from the law. I thought it was extremely OOC for her. I thought she would be more concerned for her mom, but she seemed proud of her, which was a little off-putting for me.

I understand it, it's the earlier seasons, These are the days of strong-hearted, feminist, likeable Lisa not the annoy know-it-all we have today.

[zartok-35]

This episode is a jack of all trades and a master of none.

But it's so FUNNY! Doesn't that count?

[CousinMerl]

I noticed that cinco didn't post his thoughts about the episode;

So, cinco, what do you think of 'Marge On The Lam'?

[Granto]

she's a HE

get it right, gawd

i got ya back cinco, dude

[Jims]

But it's so FUNNY! Doesn't that count?

It's a funny episode, but it didn't really make me laugh any more than another classic era episode would. There aren't that many jokes in the episode that has stuck with me over the years. I'd say the humor is pretty average for its era.

[CousinMerl]

she's a HE

get it right, gawd

i got ya back cinco, dude

Sorry, my mistake; there's no need for you to be rude, though

[hammster]

Not gunna right a review as I don't have time with exams and everything but does watching Thelma and Louise first make the episode more enjoyable?

[cinco]

I noticed that cinco didn't post his thoughts about the episode;

So, cinco, what do you think of 'Marge On The Lam'?

It has an unusual amount of cutaway jokes, this one.
Maybe the highest rate of any episode that isn't "Behind the Laughter".
But that is the aspect that makes this episode feel like the rollercoaster it is.
That and the huge amount of driving of course.



And it is a shining example of a greatly executed Marge-episode.
Giving her a lot of funny moments without making it out of character.
Giving her an edge while keeping her sensibility intact.
How can you not love her in this scene?



And oh yeah, it is the episode in which Lionel Hutz AKA Miguel Sanchez, AKA Dr. Nguyen Van Falk really shines.
The man totally loses it during his babysitters-job.
If there is one episode that makes me realize how a great character in Lionel Hutz is lost due to Phil Hartman's death, it is this one.

[Old painty-can Ned]

what's the next episode I think it's arii's turn to pick??

[CousinMerl]

what's the next episode I think it's arii's turn to pick??

Indeed it is; I hope that arii will pick the next episode soon because tomorrow it begins again.

[arii]

oh

oh fuck I'm sorry

uhhh let's do

Bart Gets an F

yeah, that one.

[CousinMerl]

Really good choice; this is gonna get interesting.

[Ryan]

nice choice. I figured you'd choose a bart-centric episode, ari.

it contains what I consider one of the truly most emotional, gripping and real moments in the show's history. considering what a radical bart was purported to be by pop culture at the time, it's also bizarrely radical for its time.

looking forward to watching/reviewing it again.

[CalculatedChaos]

Very much looking forward to this one. This episode contains one of the most real moments in television for me so I strongly agree with the choice.

[hammster]

Good choice. Should be able to join in with reviewing this weekend because of the bank holiday.

[D'ohmer]

Not one of my favorites, but I will still watch it and give my opinion of it.

[Real Melvin]

I'm not liking this pattern. Two weeks ago I was finishing up Season 5 and the episodes I hadn't seen the commentary for. Watched "Lam" a week before it was chosen. This week I've started on Season 2 and watched "F". of course it could just be an indication that I watch the show too much.

by the way there are maybe five moments in the series that never fail to make me tear up a bit. if this doesn't happen to you in Bart Gets an F, something is wrong with you and the way you watch the series.

[D'ohmer]

I am proud of Bart, but I don't cry at it. I don't find it that emotional, but I can relate to Bart (I'm always happy when I do well on tests). Also, while I do find several moments emotional, stories don't make me cry too often.

[Jesse Pinkman]

^uh Bart didn't technically do "well" on the test, he just... didn't fail. a D- or whatever is still a bad grade, it's just slightly better than an F.

and that moment got me sad, i watched the episode on TV a few weeks ago and that moment when he failed {he did originally fail} was pretty sad, when he started crying. Of course, it didn't make me cry, but it was still touching and something I could relate to

[D'ohmer]

Well, it was well for Bart, I guess.

[Jesse Pinkman]

that's slightly sad. considering that's probably the best he's ever done in school or ever will do

[D'ohmer]

Yeah

[cinco]

First of all, this thread should become a sticky.

Second: Bart gets an F.

During the initial airing, the USA was completely in love with Bart (Bartmania), so this episode (initially the third of season 2) was favored as the season-opener.

Good episode, very realistic characterization, Bart actually saying "cowabunga", Sideshow Bob standing in the crowd singing along with other season 1-favorites (?) as cowboy Bob. (the Call of the Simpsons)
But what happened with Bart's shirt in this one? It looks so pale.
The overall animation-quality in this one is great though.
Look at these shadows.



And also notice the effect they use when Bart is watching out of his window at the stars. Can't show a picture of that, you have to see it in motion.

In a way, a lot of elements from Bart the Genius reappear.
eg. Dr Pryor, the coloring-style and figurants in Bart's daydream, the schoolgrafitti...



Also interesting: the great Bart-Martin interaction.
These two characters are combined way too little throughout the series.
In this episode, they prove how funny they are together as two opposites, each trying to become the other one.

Last question: Was the voice of Milhouse done by somebody else in this episode?
Listen to him saying that "milk out of his nose"-bit. Sounds totally different from what we are used to.