Episode Review: Yes, yes, yes! "Bart Mangled Banner" was one of the best episodes in years. Every time I think that "The Simpons" is running out of steam, a gem like last night's episode comes along to reaffirm my faith.
As I watched, my jaw dropped at the overall tone and theme of the episode. I did not expect a political satire, since the Simpons just hasn't "gone there" recently. From the previews of OFF going to jail, I was expecting a good show idea ruined by Homer acting stupid. "Bart Mangled Banner"'s detractors might argue that that's exactly what happened. I disagree. This time, the silliness was at the service of a larger satirical point. Sure, it was over the top, but sometimes satire has to be if we are to laugh at otherwise serious matters such as overzealous patriotism. Would there really be a town where everything sells for $17.76, or a "Government Knows Best Act"? No, but the satirical exaggeration makes us think harder about "Freedom fries" and the Patriot Act.
In addition to the strong theme, there were all kinds of laugh out loud gags supporting it:
You want self-aware humor? Marge, after seeing a prisoner who has smuggled explosives: "I don't know why they put the real criminals in with the joke ones." (The writers acknowledge that sticking Michael Moore and the Dixie Chicks in there is over the top.)
You want edgy humor? Skinner: "I'm a veteran of America's only losing war..." Homer: "To date." (This is one of the edgiest things I've ever seen on this show. The writers probably don't really think that we'll lose Iraq, and I don't either, but I applaud them for daring.)
You want adolescent humor? City administrator: "We've lost the adult film awards!" Mayor Quimby: "Not the Boneys!" (Silly, sure, but it made me laugh out loud.)
You want bite-the-hand-that-feeds-you humor? Newspaperman: "We'll make the New York Times look like the New York Post! Or maybe make the New York Post look like the New York Times? I forget which one's the bad one." (The famously right-wing rant sheet Post, as well as FOX, are both part of Rupert Murdoch's media empire. I wonder what Rupert thought of this episode, or if he even saw it?)
You want classic rock? "One Way or Another" is a really cool song.
Before this turns into too much of a mash note (too late, maybe), I should point out some *minor* quibbles. I thought that the Italian Guy's (does he have a name? Or is he like Comic Book Guy, doomed to have only a descriptive rather than given name?) dancing after learning that he could sell pizza at an exorbitant price was dumb. And the bit with Krusty and the monkey didn't work for me. But that's small potatoes.
As the episode went to the second commercial, I thought, "They're going to mess this up, somehow. It's not going to end well." I felt like 'ol Abe watching Homer do gymnastics: "You're gonna blow it!" But I was happily mistaken. Having the family go to France ("We hate America tuuuu!") and then immigrate back was a great idea. There's also probably a sociological point in there about having to leave the country and break yourself down in order to really become part of it, but I'm probably giving the writers too much credit.
Then, with Lisa's speech while eating in Paris, I thought, "Ok, this is where they apologize and wave the flag a bit." She started out, "And yet...I miss America. It's a great country"... (here it comes, I thought) "...but mostly, it where all our stuff is." Starting out apologetic, changing direction and concluding with a paean to materialism. Brilliant.
The ending line was good, too...Marge's "I think I'm going to like THIS America." The America the family builds for themselves? The America where all our stuff is? The America that, love it or not, protects us all but is obviously not perfect? There's a lot of weight in the emphasis on the word "this." Best...ending...EVER! (Well, maybe not, but probably the best since Broadway Joe warned us all about the evils of vaporlock.)
I consider myself to be pretty patriotic. I love this country and I love what it stands for. But last night's episode really hit the mark in reminding us all what a climate of lock-step patriotism can lead to. No, the show didn't really suggest that it would lead to all dissenters going to jail. But that was the satire. It did suggest that it might lead us to cloud our collective judgement a bit. That was the point. Satire has its place in society, and congratulations to the Simpons for making us laugh, and think. "Bart Mangled Banner" rates an A+.