MABF12 - "To Surveil with Love"

I have to classify this episode among the top of this season. The writing seemed to have some of the cleverness and "pop" of the classic seasons. For example, after Homer wins a bet that the weather will predict golf ball sized hail, he is compelled to return his winnings by Ned Flanders. Leaving Moe's in disgust, he is immediately pounded by - golf ball sized hail.

Homer seems to be functioning at his "classic stupid" level, not the "surreal stupid" that these later seasons usually present. Mr. Burns is back to his old tricks of storing nuclear waste by the most absurdly unethical methods possible. The bleeding heart liberals were really squishy and funny, a nice change of pace from the almost strident "liberal good/conservative bad" tone of later seasons. (Although, the writers brought balance with Quimby's use of "All opposed, say 'I hate America.'") Lisa's "Dye, dye!" silhouette hearkened back to older days, too.

Now... about the opening song. At first, I didn't like it, and wondered why "The Simpsons" was referencing this pop crap. But I have to say, the song kind of grew on me, and I thought (later) that it was amusing that they would make a special opening, for no particular reason (that I could see). Whatever your opinion of the music, the show did give us extra (and novel) content. (Taking into account the "Get Ready for This" reprise at the end, is this one of the few (or only?) shows that do not feature the iconic theme music at all?)

At the end, Ned & Homer get together to right a wrong, just like the old days. This was a solid episode, probably the only one that I've re- watched the following day.

Did you notice... ...Homer's earrings are the flash drives that Duff man gave out? ...the woman sunbathing topless looks to be Edna Krabapple?

Freeze frame fun: - in the altered opening, God & the devil are briefly seen wrestling... or hugging? - banner at the forensics finals : "FORENSICS FINAL TONIGHT : The boring kind, not the CSI kind" - Moe's magazine : "The Ugly Reader - Attila the Hun"

Move reference: - "To Sir with Love" - the episode title is a play on this.

-- R Flowers

In article , R Flowers wrote:

My guess was dancing.

• Mark

Some, yeah. Not a great episode, but better than most these days. And Prince Charles channelling Ralph at the end was priceless.

One more reference:

[3F20] The "logic" that the surveilance was stopping terrorism was the same as Homer's defense of the Bear Patrol. "That's specious reasoning, Dad." "Thank you, dear."

• Patty's smoke forming musical notes?
• Selma in the grass skirt and coconut bra?

I ought to be scared by this, but I am beginning to like that song. I liked the "lip dub" a lot, though it was very much out of nowhere.