[The long of it]
Early in "Marge Gamer," when Marge is excitedly relating all the mundane things she has just learned to do over the internet. Lisa likens her to Christopher Columbus, "who discovered something that millions of people knew about already." It's a witty dig against the explorer who "discovered" America, against Marge, who came to the internet rather belatedly ... and perhaps against the writers of this episode, as well. I mean, really? "Someone discovers the internet" jokes? When was that last current, 1998?
Actually, to the writers' credit, this show is really more about massively parallel multiplayer games, like "Worlds of Warcraft" and its kind. Admittedly, interactive environments where hordes of can play can trace their roots to the '80s, but they didn't pop up in mainstream consciousness until just recently, so much of the material in "Marge Gamer" still seems fresh. Marge's novice foray into "Earthland Realms" digs up some nice observations about the interminable user agreements nobody really reads, to the easy tasks given to newbies still getting their feet wet in the game. Some of the avatars are pretty cool, too. Bart is already an established "Earthland" player, a hulking knight in black armor, with Bart's boyish head perched on top. Moe's there too, constantly mistaken for a troll even though he designed his on-line body to resemble his own. Speaking of on-line bodies, it's interesting how Marge designs her avatar, taking a va-va-voom female character and transforming her into something comparatively dowdy. (For body type, she enthusiastically selects, "Olive Oyl.")
Marge and Bart ultimately meet in their online world. The results may be a tad bit predictable -- Marge immediately "moms all over" the game, cramping Bart's evil warrior style -- but for the most part they're funny.
That's not so with the subplot. Inspired by "Bend it Like Beckham," Lisa joins a youth soccer team. Homer becomes a referee, and is immediately locked into a damned-if-you-do, damned-if-you-don't dilemma. At first he favors his daughter, drawing the ire or the other parents in the crowd, and of cameo guest voice Ronaldo. Then, when he follows Lisa's urging to learn more about the game, Homer angers her when he impartially enforces a penalty against her. The setup and resolution seemed a bit pat, and actually the whole subplot just seems to be designed to give Homer and Lisa a bit of screen time. I can understand the desire to balance the emphasis among the show's large cast, but sometimes it's best just to say, "Look, this episode's about Marge and Bart; the rest of the family has the night off."
You might be tempted to switch channels a few minutes into the show, when the opening scenes suggest a creakingly out-of-date premise. Stick with it: "Marge Gamer" develops into a sound episode, and Marge's quest to connect with her son is ultimately worth taking.
[The short of it]
Watching this episode, you might be tempted to think, "Internet jokes? What is this, 1998?" and turn the channel. Stick with it. The story develops into a sound episode with the fresh(er) premise of Marge and Bart in an on-line role-playing game. The episode makes plenty of witty observations about the on-line world, which is its main charm. There's also a subplot for Homer and Lisa, but it has a perfunctory feel. In this case, it might have been better to keep the focus and Marge and Bart. Despite these problems, this is a quest worth taking. (B)
[DYNs]
... Willie doesn't appear to be wearing underwear under his skeleton costume? ... twenty-five years later, and one of the soccer rioters is kicking his opponent's gravestone? (Now that's a grudge!) ... Patty and Selma play a two-headed dragon in Earthland Realms?
[References]
Little Debbie [brand of snack food] - Homer cites an internet conspiracy between Hezbollah and "Little Dolly" snack cakes
Google Earth (and probably a few similar surfaces) - Marge finds a site that provides a live feed from space (as opposed to the usual static photograph)
US Womens' Soccer Team - Homer rips off his shirt, revealing a sports bra, as one US player did after a major win
French (or was that Italian?) World Cup team - one player earns notoriety for head-butting another player; Homer imitates the move as a referee
[Previous Episode References]
[HABF02] Well, at least the Simpsons have been to Italy [BABF17] Krusty's daughter Sophie on Lisa's human foosball team [2F04] Jessica Lovejoy on an opposing team
[FFF]
"Shopper" headline:
COUCH GAG THRILLS NATION
Sign in front of school:
PTA MEETING TONIGHT
LET'S FAIL YOUR
CHILDREN TOGETHERMarge Simpson's auto-Googling results:
[sorry about the line wrap]
MARGE SIMPSON - Springfield Folk Artist
Springfield Shopper review of backyard popsicle stick exhibit by local
artist Marge Si
notable townspeople ... shows more ambition than innate talent. Police
Chief's son
popsicle stick version of self
www.springfieldfolkart.com/sculptures/popsicle/lame.html MARGE (BOUVIER) SIMPSON - Camp Landaman Alumnae Directory
Merit badges: Crossing legs, folding sweaters, stifling gas, passing
hors d'oeuvres
"Bancroft" ... Father's occupation: Braniff Flight Attendant ...
www.landaman.org/alumnae/non-donors.html Cached Similar Pages MARGE SIMPSON - Springfield Realty
Real Estate license: EXPIRED ... Properties Sold: 0 Properties Listed:
1 Fellow empl
"Cookie" Kwan, "Boo-Yeah!" guy
www.springfieldrealtybites.com/employees/former/failure.html Cached
Similar Pages MARGE SIMPSON - Lt. Governor of Tennessee (1972 - 1978)
LtGovernors.com profile of dynamic Tennessee politician ... Former Lady
Vols power fo
in tornado of 1978. Frequently spotted on foggy nightsSpringfield from space:
YOUR HOUSE
FROM SPACE
+-----+
|ENTER|
+-----+Banner ads in e-mail program:
STALK YOUR VOTE FOR BEST PRESIDENT,
OLD CLASSMATES WIN A BOAT Single
and Earthland Realms
Racist?[The "i"s in "Single and Racist" are dotted with little hearts]
Character choices in Earthland Realms:
Drawven Warrior, Oricsh Warlock, Undead Thief, Piscene Mage,
Elvin ClericCharacter menu choices:
Create Your
Character
---- O ----
Race
Features
Hair
Shoes
Body Type
Face
Clothing
Weapons for Hair: for Shoes: for Body Type: for Face:
Black Knee Boots Va Va Voom S[?]
Blonde Thigh Boots Gymnast Round
Brunette Sensible Rubenesque Narrow
Redhead Sandals Olive Oyl F[?]
Blue Slippers OtherPaths Marge can go down:
TRAIL PATH RETREAT
OF OF OF
DEATH DOOM DESTRUCTION[Oops!]
Marge immediately talks with Bart after he brings her character back to life, which suggests that Marge is sitting at her computer. But why would she be doing that? Her character was dead, and the screen was displaying "Game Over." Wouldn't she have moved on to something else?
[Personal Comments & Observations]
After his lackluster first attempt at refereeing a game, Lisa tells Homer he's making a joke of the sport. "A hilarious joke?" asks Homer. Perhaps sensing critical reaction to this subplot, Lisa says, "Sadly, no."
Burns is a praying mantis in Earthland Realms. Supposedly, this insect was one of the physical models for Burns's character.
For our overseas viewers: Foot Locker is a chain of stores selling athletic clothing (primarily sneakers). Their clerks wear referee uniforms similar to Homer's.