1F02 Homer Goes To College [Review]

Here�s again a short review by me. I don�t know whether anybody was really interested in my last reviews (I doubt it) but I�ll give it another try. Even if nobody is interested it�s good English training for me ;-).

Little warning: it�s once again a negative review (I promise I�ll write a good review next time.)

Let�s have a look on one of the first real problem episodes, an episode that brought a radical change of style, angered a lot of oldschool fans back then and moved the show out of the classic years and into the empty weirdness of season 5 which was IMO the worst of the middle seasons.

Let�s talk about superfunny, supercrazy and superempty 1F02 "Homer Goes To College".

The episode (at least most of it) exists just for one reason and that reason is also its main problem: Homer J. Simpson and his now more and more extreme stupidity. The episode does nothing but exploiting Homer�s stupidity and the rather thin plot simply moves him from joke to joke and from wacky situation to wacky situation while all the other characters - including the family - stays in the background and serves as nothing but "framework" for Homer�s new "funny adventure". Doesn�t that sound familiar? Greetings from season 11.

The entire story is IMO not "defining" for Homer as character (as so many classic episodes were) but more "degrading" for him. It degrades him by making him a stupid and slightly psychotic flat cartoon idiot who doesn�t learn or understand a thing during the entire episode and who�s even happy about his own ignorance at the end (is it really one?) and who has to be informed by others about his complete failure. Moreover, he doesn�t even understand then but goes immediately back to his one- dimensional condition with "party, party, party..."

Homer is flat and dumb to such a level that it destroys his old childish but more "human" self. He�s chasing bees, almost burning down the house, he�s rude in a mean way (not the "innocent" rudeness of the early years, his illogical hatred of the dean is very strange) and he�s giggling like a lunatic und chasing squirrels with a stick. His weird behaviour is very often close to a psychotic infant, especially noticable in the scene where he almost attacks Bart with a knife for no apparent reason or in his strange idea to throw the dean from a bridge (his lines are usually framed with insane giggling.)

Is that the old Homer from the classic seasons any longer or do we have the first steps toward a psychotic, weird and flat jerkass who dominates episodes with the only purpose to lead the viewer from flat Homer-laugh to flat Homer-laugh without any real plot or background?

On the other hand, it wouldn�t be correct to say there�s no plot in 1F02.

There�s in fact a big load of story elements (Homer at work, Homer at the college, Homer and the nerds, Homer steals pig, the nerds live with the Simpsons etc etc) but there�s no real storyline to connect all the parts and the missing or thin storyline can give the viewer a certain joke-in-a-row feeling. At the end you think you saw something that was longer than the usual 20 minutes but the too frequent use of rather unfinished plotlines and story fragments causes something like an empty feeling and you probably think "So what? What�s the point of all this?" I�d say the more often you watch the episode the more all the slapstick loses its quality and the worse and empty the episode becomes (that�s at least the effect it has on me.)

Satire? Content? Characters? Depth? Thin or non-existent.

The main problem of the episode is the complete neglect of the real plot. The real plot (the dark side of the story) is that Homer has to pass college to be able to work in the SNPP and to keep his job but that dark side is immediately "pushed away" by a load of jokes and Homer�s crazy and funny adventures and it�s rather surprising when the episode comes back to the original plot at the end and tries to solve it within 2 minutes (and fails of course). The ending itself is IMO in various elements incomplete and unsatisfying and that�s a rare thing for early episodes. Homer has failed in everything he tried but he doesn�t get it and is happy about his own stupidity. Once again - season 11 stuff.

An SNPP with self-destruction button, a dog pushing buttons, an entire staff sleeping, Homer as bee boss with big bottom, the scenes with green-glowing nuclear Homer ("Must destroy mankind") and that even twice and thus over the border of story-relevant visual gags (the difference to season 11 plutonium eating isn�t too big) and a rude Homer who "wastes" his only chance to solve his problem with "Kiss my yellow butt" etc etc - all that defines 1F02 as nothing but a simple fun episode that doesn�t care for satire, characterization or content. The episode tries to be funny and to make all viewers laugh about crazy Homer doing weird stuff and it�s even sucessful there (the episode has of course many fans) but personally I�d say it comes and it goes but there is nothing that remains. No subtlety, no thought-provoking content, no satire but only....fun. An episode defining for many bad things to come and a radical break with the style of the first four seasons.

Not to be misunderstood, it�s not really a bad episode but it�s just another problem episode on the long way to season 11 with many roots that will lead to problems and led to problems. Almost no satire, simple and empty fun, extremly Homer-centric, exploitation of Homer�s stupidity (which has become pretty annyoing and overdone in season 5) and an ending that comes rather aprupt after all the unfinished story elements and that brings no solution to the original problem and that leaves the episode with Homer as dumb and one-dimensional as probably never (or very rarely) before.

"Homer Goes To College" is a fun episode. The jokes are well-written and you can laugh when you see it for the first or second time but it gets weaker and weaker the more often you see it. That�s the problem with all the slapstick - it doesn�t last for long. It gives you a cheap laugh and then it�s gone and there�s no deeper potential. That was the fault of 1F02 and of season 5 in general.

A too large group of season 5 episodes in the same style followed 1F02 and the show was in danger to lose its identity and original concept already in the fifth year. Fortunately, the seasons 6 - 8 and especially 7 returned to a more classic style and the jerkness and weirdness of season 5 was almost forgotten when season 9 returned to that style and made it worse than ever before.

I�d say 1F02 is no bad episode but a useless episode with many roots of todays problems. Today we would be even thankful for an episode of that quality (sad but true) but compared with the real classics it�s a step in the wrong direction. The Simpsons more and more left its roots of "serious" cartoon satire and started its long way toward todays "Wacky Homer Cartoon Parade". 1F02 was one big step. Many people will of course disagree but that�s my personal opinion.

Chris

Chris, As a lurker who doesn't agree with all the talk about the Simpsons going downhill (yes there are bad episodes, but I still find myself laughing quiet often; I know, there's a whole bunch of topics right there), but I normally enjoy your posts. They're well written and show an obvious love for the show.

But, unless you just didn't bring it up, you missed the entire boat on this one. The whole went right over the head thing. Well, let me rephrase that. Whether it was a good episode or not (and I think it was), is a matter of opinion. But what you seem to have missed here is the shows attempt to parody an entire generation of stupid college movies, the most famous example being "National Lampoon's Animal House." In fact the ending credits are a direct rip from this movie

I got the idea you might not be aware of these movies when you mentioned Homer's irrational hatred of the college Dean. That's a staple of all those stupid college movies. Hating the Dean, that is. I think what the show was trying to say was Homer only knew about college what he had seen in the movies. He had no clue as to how real college life went. I thought they did a pretty good job.

Anyway, keep up the reviews. I like them even if I don't always agree with them. At least you're not ranting and raving and cursing other posters.

Chris Pfeiler wrote:

snipped

I know there are many stupid college movies but I don�t think that I have ever seen one so you�re right. I never considered the episode as movie parody.

Whatever, I don�t think it makes the episode really better. Back then in 1993 the Simpsons was no show about simple and meaningless movie parodies and no gag-packed but rather empty Homer sitcom. 1F02 is IMO a big step in the direction of the modern style and at least in my opinion (which has nobody to share) a step in the wrong direction.

It�s by far better than almost everything past season 9 but if you compare it with the style of the very first seasons (and if you�re a big fan of the first 3 or 4 seasons) it seems to be very unusual und partly very weak.

Maybe it�s just me but it�s IMO one of the first "So what?" episodes. It makes you laugh but there�s no real point, a rather thin story and the slapstick more and more loses its quality each time you watch it again.

Chris

"Chris Pfeiler" a �crit dans le message news: [email]...

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"Chris Pfeiler" wrote in message news:[email]...

Plenty of people read them; but, in many cases, it's like the reverend preaching to the choir.

A subject of another thread. I can't say I've ever felt this way about "The Simpsons", but the closest thing may have been irritation. For the first time ever, during 2F16, I was really irritated at the show. I was irritated that Smithers said "no" to Mr. Burns. Very out of character, and IMO that proved a turning point in the series.

In trying to understand this "anger" you speak of, "irritation" may be the closest thing I've felt. Anger and irritation speak volumes about a fan's psychological dependence on a show, apparently...

I don't think we can be to philosophical about why any episode exists. None of them were created to cure cancer. Certainly the best of them do nothing more than make us feel good (whether from humor, or emotion). Placing too much importance on the reason for an episode's existence makes normal folks like you and me seem very obsessive.

more and more extreme

There had to be a contrast made between an ideal power plant worker, and someone who was the worst person for the job. There had to be a motivation for the plant inspectors to tell Burns he had to bring the plant up to code.

That being said, I really can't argue that Homer comes off pretty stupid. But I do think that's part of his character; when the plot calls for a senseless idiot, use Homer. In ironic ways, his stupidity will win out over more logical characters' actions. It's this that is the social satire. It says that this stupidity is something to aspire to. The whole Simpsons series has said that about Homer, off and on. Naturally, that's the sarcastic/satiric message. The real message is "why do the dumbest people in society succeed the most?"

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It kind of had the "string-of-gags" feel to it, but I largely agree with another poster on this. It was a parody of the "college sex comedy" genre (without the sex). It's sort of like Animal House, Real Genius, etc.

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This type of episode indicates a sarcastic ending. IMO we're supposed to walk away thinking about the stupidity and flatness of the typical "college romp" movie. It's sort of a mockery. That may be all it is, and nothing more. There's no real deep lesson there, at all. Homer wins out in the end. In the real world, he'd fail and lose his job. It's sarcastic; it makes us think about something, though that "something" is just those dumb movies.

Of course, Homer won't lose his job. The Simpsons is a satire of our world. In "The Simpsons", ironic things happen to draw our attention to what's really going on. Homer eats plutonium sludge. That's because it's harmless.

This is sarcastic about the danger of nuclear waste. We know people couldn't eat that stuff. It makes us think about what's really going on. If any of us ate that stuff, let alone had to live within a mile radius of it, what kind of danger would there be? That's just satire.

dimensional condition with

This drives the point home about how slackers like him can do nothing, display little intelligence, and succeed in society. It's a lot like the theme of 4F19.

but

At least in other episodes, he can be portrayed as more human.

illogical

I think I brought that up in an earlier post. It does fall in line with the college movie parody idea, though. His idea (taught through movies) is that you have to party and make an enemy of the dean to make it through school. It mocks the college party movie thoroughly. It also mocks Americans who take their education from movies, and pop culture.

Psychotic infant? That's kind of a funny idea. I'm not sure such an infant exists.

framed with insane giggling.)

The fact that he thought it was funny was funny. We're laughing at Homer's idea of funny, not at Homer's rug-throwing idea.

I think Homer can be a lot of different types. Homer's characterization didn't stay the same through the rest of Season 5.

and

I don't think jokes in a row are bad at all. In fact, I think jokes in a row (notably, in 7G09's Bigfoot scenes) are what hooked me on the series. There's nothing like laughing harder and harder, until the tears come. But there should be a story.

I think that could be said of all episodes.

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I was surprised watching "The Naked Gun" recently and not laughing. The first time I saw it (especially the flashing siren-light, driving down the sidewalk, entering the locker room, etc) I laughed my head off. But another Jim Abrams comedy "Hot Shots!" isn't like that. I could watch that over and over, and laugh every time.

I think there is satire, mostly about Americans who get their education from pop culture.

This episode certainly doesn't try to _move_ anyone.

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I don't think it's a failure; I think it's an ironic ending that parallels those party movies.

about his own stupidity.

Just social satire. Why are the stupid rewarded in our society? It happens.

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To provide a large contrast to what they *should* be doing. It's an exaggeration of the truth. I'm sure in any office across America, you'd find a lot of slacking. But nobody setting up hammocks and taking a nap. That's a satiric exaggeration.

Kind of a kiddie element. But I saw it as a way to provide contrast between the ideal worker and the worst possible worker for a nuclear power plant.

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plutonium

Now, I liked the plutonium eating in Season 11, because it's a direct attack on the safety of nuclear waste material. Just about everyone would watch Homer eating the stuff and say "that's not right." The difference between satire and something that's just plain "wrong" is that we should know the danger of nuclear waste. We should know it's an irony in the story that points out that danger. If not, we think the Simpsons writing staff has made a big mistake and put something on screen for shock value alone.

Homer is his own worst enemy here; he destroys his own chances. Yet in the end, he succeeds. The overriding irony is the theme. Do what they do in the party movies, America, and you'll succeed in college and life. It's one big sarcastic joke.

I think it did that very well:

"Reading his application would only waste valuable seconds." "You must find the jade monkey before the next full moon." "I'm giving you the beating of your life!" "Smithers, dismember the corpse and send his widow a corsage." "Katharine Hepburn's 'Me'?" "NOOO!" "We played Dungeons and Dragons for hours. Then, I was slain by an elf." "Homer; start digging some nerd-holes." The picture of Homer cramming down the birthday cake (complete with the red-eye in the photo) Homer's plan to hide out under some coats, hoping that somehow everything would work out

I think there's some.

There's some social satire there.

It was a lot more "energetic" than it's predecessors. It was certainly more sarcastic that the majority of older episodes.

Could have fooled us ;-)

exploitation of Homer�s stupidity

Again, I think this was done as a contrast to reality. It's the ironic theme, not the "real-real" theme.

and that brings no solution

I think that was the idea. Go through the motions, Homer, and get your degree. No effort is needed. You don't really have to learn anything. Follow "Corey and Nerdlinger's" example. After all, it doesn't matter that you're the SAFETY INSPECTOR for a NUCLEAR POWER PLANT, of all things. How hard could it be to run a 1952 Fissionator nuclear reactor? The irony of Homer's position at the plant has been a staple since 7G03.

Well, Homer doesn't stay that way. I think the writers used to realize that they could portray him this way, or in a deeper way. It used to work. Now, the current writers seem to perceive him as that "caracature-of-himself" that popped out in 1F02... and they perceive him that way "full-time". There was a point behind 1F02; but IMO the current writers may barely be aware of it.

I agree.

with all the slapstick -

Very true about slapstick.

There are some really excellent episodes in Season 5. 1F01, 1F03, 1F04, 1F07, 1F08, 1F09, 1F10, 1F12, 1F13, 1F14, 1F18, 1F19, 1F20, & 1F21 (just in the 1Fxx series) were great. The others IMO were very good. 1F20 gets dumped on, but I feel it's elementary to the series.

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I don't think Season 6 was a jump up. I think in 2F04, you have a move toward more meaningless comedy (skateboarding down a hill into the glue seemed to be the top-level of the comedy, in that episode. There was nothing very deep.). 2F04 was good, but it seemed to lack something. 1F22, 2F05, 2F14, 2F16, 2F18, and 2F22 IMO seemed to only have a part of what made The Simpsons special in the opening years. 2F32 IMO was downright bad, and 2F33 was worthless (with the exception of the new scenes).

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Parade".

Once again, I'm left to wonder what all these posts by you and by me... and by others like us mean. What are they going to do? The best they could do is make each of us on ATS think, and re-examine our own opinions. But I don't think anything from this group will change the way episodes are made. If anything, posts like this give writers ammunition to mock us. I'm trying not to be negative; but, unless the writers, directors and producers are saints, I'd say they'd be insulted by negative reviews. I don't think reviews will make any writer try harder, or any Executive Producer change his work habits. One could hope...

Hmmm, that�s exactly what I try not to do. I write the reviews very detailled so that they appear not too superficial. Many people just say "This and that episode just plain sucked" without explaining why and personally I think that�s even more insulting to the writers than a detailled negative review. When I call an episode "bad" (which I haven�t done about 1F02) I do it for good reasons and at least for me the reasons are justified and I try to explain why I came to such a conclusion. It may still be insulting to some of the writers but then they can�t accept criticism.

The writers certainly don�t care for what I (or everyone) here say but detailled reviews are IMO nothing wrong in a newsgroup and they can be used for discussion. If the writers don�t understand that but just think every negative review is bullshit and a reason for fan-mocking it�s IMO their own fault and they have lost every contact to the loyal fans on the Internet but see only the kind of "fans" who comment every episode with "Worst Episode Ever" and a couple of swearwords.

To your comments about 1F02: you have some good points there and I�ll consider all of them. However, I don�t think I�ll change my opinion about the episode. I just feel the entire episode - as funny as it is - was one big step in the wrong direction and a too large group of 1F fell in the line.

There was of course satirical potential (e.g. Nixon and Sir Oinksalot) but I feel that the potential was wasted in many parts for simple fun which can be funny and entertaining but not for long. But I�ll consider your points though they won�t change my opinion.

1F02 isn�t even the worst episode in season 5, that�s IMO 1F16 "Burns Heir". For the best episodes in season 5, I�d say 1F12 and 1F20 (which many people don�t like but I do) and there are many other really good episodes (1F03, 1F07, 1F08, 1F11, 1F14, 1F18, 1F19) but there�s also a too large group of too 1F02-ish episodes.

Maybe I�ll write my next review about 1F20 to explain why I like it so much.

Chris

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                   You liar.