Johnny Unusual
(He/Him)
Starting with me continuing me watching the entire series and talking about it.
Homer Alone
Looking after kids is tough. Duh. But knowing something via osmosis and observation is a bit different. Being a nanny to my niece and nephew, I'm surprised how many times as "the cool uncle" (aspirational, not fact) I've had to raise my voice. I've never been good at discipline as a teacher and its still not something I'm entirely comfortable with, not only because I don't like to be "mean" but also because I sometimes worry about when to get tough and when to ease off and finding just the right place to do it. Not even in the heat of the moment, but also in looking back and not being sure. So it can be stressful. They are great but they are hard to corral, even if my niece didn't have developmental issues that makes communication a bit harder. Then there's navigating responsibility with my sister and her partner about how to handle things properly (and sometimes getting contradictory approaches from them). So even though I love my work, I sometimes feel like I'm working for the weekend. So I can't imagine not having the sanctuary of home and being on 24 hours a day. I would like to be a parent some day but I just hope I have the proper mindset for it.
In this episode, Marge, during an extra stressful day, flips out on the Springfield Expressway, causing a huge traffic jam. Homer eventually talks her down and Marge is freed thanks to shady backroom dealings, but Marge realizes she needs a vacation from her family. The family agrees and Marge goes and has an amazing vacation away from it all with hula dancing and a king-sized bed she doesn't have to share and an ice cream sundae in a warm bath with a movie. The rest of the Simpsons don't have it so well. Bart and Lisa are sent to stay with their aunts and are disgusted at every turn by their gross foods and habits. Meanwhile, Homer looks after Maggie and even while half-assing it finds it exhausting, a situation made worse when Maggie, missing her mommy, runs away from home.
A lot of the Simpsons I've discussed so far are either relatively simple and almost Old Testament morality plays or, in more recent episodes to this point, raise questions it does not fully answers but still has a satisfying and funny arc for the characters. This one is neither, really, and is more about an experience. In a way, it makes it similar to "Homer Simpson Vs. The City of New York", which is a comedy about the two differing sides of the city. Here, ostensibly, the characters learn to appreciate Marge and what she does more but its less through a conventional plot with twists and turns but "a bunch of stuff that happens". And I think that's perfect: Marge is broken because of a bunch of stuff and a lack of empathy for what she is going through. But through Homer and Marge's situations, we capture the building feeling of stress as things keep snowballing and through the kids we re-experience that weird feeling of having to stay in an alien home where the rules and tone are different. Its drabber, there's daytime TV (the media equivalent of drab) and the food is inedible (I used to be a very picky eater as a child, so I can relate).
The first act of an increasingly messy juggling act for Marge is very relatable to me. I certainly have never had an outright flip out but I have snapped at my niece at times, which I feel bad about, and I've certainly felt on edge. I love that we get to spend some time with Marge's uber-relaxing vacation and nothing goes wrong. The scene where she sinks into the tub and emerges with her hair down is the exact kind of nirvanan bliss I wish I could achieve. Really enjoying a lack of productivity (not I'm under the delusion that "consuming media" counts as productive) and just melting away.
I also like how Homer is used in the episode. Slightly more than usual, he's selfish but not malicious, just oblivious to Marge's pain. Once he is made aware, he earnestly tells her he'd do anything to help her. But this reminds me of one of my favourite Paul F Tompkins quotes: "Its a wonderful sentiment. I'm sure you mean it when you say it." But its obvious Homer is going to forget the whole thing unless Marge does something, which she does. I also love Homer being aware of how annoying he can be ("Marge, can I have another sandwich? Marge, can I have another sandwich?"). Homer does want to make his wife happy but his obliviousness, laziness and happiness with the status quo makes him pretty ill-equipped to keep those kinds of promises.
Homer Alone is a great comedy of building tension in Homer's situation, despair in Bart and Lisa's and relaxation in Marge's and it comes together very well. Everything is silly and heightened but the feelings, particularly in the first act, are very relatable. And now, I'm off to enjoy my kid free weekend. So long, suckers!
Jokes I missed the first time:
So Homer says "Just promise you'll come back" and Marge says "I will" but I never notice that the camera lingers on her a little extra few seconds. Its not just the joke that Homer has just gone right to sleep, is it?
Other great bits:
"The finest R-rated movies Europe has to offer." *chef kiss* I love that. That's how a little kid thinks about saucy movies. Reminds me of looking for softcore movies on French TV (which was a thing. "Blu nuit" helped young, prudish Johnny through high school)
The "prank call" bit is fucking hilariously dark.
"I think I'll hit the hay"
"Its 12:30 in the afternoon"
"I'm aware of the time"
I love the lack of explanation of why Barney was sleeping on a conch shell except its for the visual gag. Why was it even there?
"Oh my God! I can't even put a bag over my head!"
"Yes you can."
There's something inherently funny to me about bald-faced contradiction of a statement. Its like anti-improv.
Other observations:
There are two instances of meta-references to Bart's catchphrases. Now, using them is starting to get more ironic (though "Aye carumba" will remain more utilitarian for now).
Arnie Pie is starting to get some play here. I love that his segment is called "Arnie in the Sky".
Marge, in the middle of a bath, says she'll be home in an hour. She took a train to get there. How short a distance is Ranch Relaxo?
Homer Alone
Looking after kids is tough. Duh. But knowing something via osmosis and observation is a bit different. Being a nanny to my niece and nephew, I'm surprised how many times as "the cool uncle" (aspirational, not fact) I've had to raise my voice. I've never been good at discipline as a teacher and its still not something I'm entirely comfortable with, not only because I don't like to be "mean" but also because I sometimes worry about when to get tough and when to ease off and finding just the right place to do it. Not even in the heat of the moment, but also in looking back and not being sure. So it can be stressful. They are great but they are hard to corral, even if my niece didn't have developmental issues that makes communication a bit harder. Then there's navigating responsibility with my sister and her partner about how to handle things properly (and sometimes getting contradictory approaches from them). So even though I love my work, I sometimes feel like I'm working for the weekend. So I can't imagine not having the sanctuary of home and being on 24 hours a day. I would like to be a parent some day but I just hope I have the proper mindset for it.
In this episode, Marge, during an extra stressful day, flips out on the Springfield Expressway, causing a huge traffic jam. Homer eventually talks her down and Marge is freed thanks to shady backroom dealings, but Marge realizes she needs a vacation from her family. The family agrees and Marge goes and has an amazing vacation away from it all with hula dancing and a king-sized bed she doesn't have to share and an ice cream sundae in a warm bath with a movie. The rest of the Simpsons don't have it so well. Bart and Lisa are sent to stay with their aunts and are disgusted at every turn by their gross foods and habits. Meanwhile, Homer looks after Maggie and even while half-assing it finds it exhausting, a situation made worse when Maggie, missing her mommy, runs away from home.
A lot of the Simpsons I've discussed so far are either relatively simple and almost Old Testament morality plays or, in more recent episodes to this point, raise questions it does not fully answers but still has a satisfying and funny arc for the characters. This one is neither, really, and is more about an experience. In a way, it makes it similar to "Homer Simpson Vs. The City of New York", which is a comedy about the two differing sides of the city. Here, ostensibly, the characters learn to appreciate Marge and what she does more but its less through a conventional plot with twists and turns but "a bunch of stuff that happens". And I think that's perfect: Marge is broken because of a bunch of stuff and a lack of empathy for what she is going through. But through Homer and Marge's situations, we capture the building feeling of stress as things keep snowballing and through the kids we re-experience that weird feeling of having to stay in an alien home where the rules and tone are different. Its drabber, there's daytime TV (the media equivalent of drab) and the food is inedible (I used to be a very picky eater as a child, so I can relate).
The first act of an increasingly messy juggling act for Marge is very relatable to me. I certainly have never had an outright flip out but I have snapped at my niece at times, which I feel bad about, and I've certainly felt on edge. I love that we get to spend some time with Marge's uber-relaxing vacation and nothing goes wrong. The scene where she sinks into the tub and emerges with her hair down is the exact kind of nirvanan bliss I wish I could achieve. Really enjoying a lack of productivity (not I'm under the delusion that "consuming media" counts as productive) and just melting away.
I also like how Homer is used in the episode. Slightly more than usual, he's selfish but not malicious, just oblivious to Marge's pain. Once he is made aware, he earnestly tells her he'd do anything to help her. But this reminds me of one of my favourite Paul F Tompkins quotes: "Its a wonderful sentiment. I'm sure you mean it when you say it." But its obvious Homer is going to forget the whole thing unless Marge does something, which she does. I also love Homer being aware of how annoying he can be ("Marge, can I have another sandwich? Marge, can I have another sandwich?"). Homer does want to make his wife happy but his obliviousness, laziness and happiness with the status quo makes him pretty ill-equipped to keep those kinds of promises.
Homer Alone is a great comedy of building tension in Homer's situation, despair in Bart and Lisa's and relaxation in Marge's and it comes together very well. Everything is silly and heightened but the feelings, particularly in the first act, are very relatable. And now, I'm off to enjoy my kid free weekend. So long, suckers!
Jokes I missed the first time:
So Homer says "Just promise you'll come back" and Marge says "I will" but I never notice that the camera lingers on her a little extra few seconds. Its not just the joke that Homer has just gone right to sleep, is it?
Other great bits:
"The finest R-rated movies Europe has to offer." *chef kiss* I love that. That's how a little kid thinks about saucy movies. Reminds me of looking for softcore movies on French TV (which was a thing. "Blu nuit" helped young, prudish Johnny through high school)
The "prank call" bit is fucking hilariously dark.
"I think I'll hit the hay"
"Its 12:30 in the afternoon"
"I'm aware of the time"
I love the lack of explanation of why Barney was sleeping on a conch shell except its for the visual gag. Why was it even there?
"Oh my God! I can't even put a bag over my head!"
"Yes you can."
There's something inherently funny to me about bald-faced contradiction of a statement. Its like anti-improv.
Other observations:
There are two instances of meta-references to Bart's catchphrases. Now, using them is starting to get more ironic (though "Aye carumba" will remain more utilitarian for now).
Arnie Pie is starting to get some play here. I love that his segment is called "Arnie in the Sky".
Marge, in the middle of a bath, says she'll be home in an hour. She took a train to get there. How short a distance is Ranch Relaxo?