C & C Talkback Simpsons " The Wife Aquatic" 1/7

[Moto Pete]

While watching a home movie, Marge becomes depressed as she is reminded of memorable childhood vacations spent at Barnacle Bay. Hating to see Marge sad, Homer and the kids take her on a surprise trip to the bay, only to discover that it has turned into a rundown mess due to the absence of fish. Meanwhile, Homer is forced to work on a fishing vessel that's threatened by a huge storm. Homer and the kids lovingly give the boardwalk a whole new makeover for Marge. But when Homer accidentally lights the renovated carousal on fire, stirring up an angry mob of townspeople, more than just waves come crashing down...

[Moto Pete]

show is delayed

[Moto Pete]

Take That Brazil

[Don_East]

I like Homer burning that home movie onto DVD and wanting to put it Marge's iPod.

[tb4000]

This is the second Simpsons this season where it appears to be more about the heartwarming humor as opposed to the stupid humor. Good show, Kevin Curran.

Moe - "Even I'm hoping it's not porn."

Marge - "Here we are, watching a movie outside."
Comic Book Guy - "Thank you for talking to us like we just tuned in."

[Djm912]

The "I didn't say stop." needs to get shot, Vaudeville Men style.

[Classic Speedy]

"I didn't say stop." Quit using that joke! You've used it many times before.

[Aldrius]

Why do they keep playing the theme from Beauty and the Beast? o.O

[Classic Speedy]

"This is the worst storm I've ever seen, and I've seen THREE STORMS!" Great delivery on that line.

[Neo Yi]

The plot was generally good with humors that were funny enough and not all over the top, but ya know, I think I paid more attention to the visuals.

They seem to have used a lot of those Futurama-like 3D graphics in this episode of Simpsons then general others I've seen. I'm not complaining that much since I've always liked that sort of 3D usage, and the way the camera moved around, it added some nice dramatic moments during the shows (sorta) dramatic moments.

[sdp]

it was an enjoyable episode, we had a sea episode not to long ago but this was different enough.

[TnAdct1]

Why do they keep playing the theme from Beauty and the Beast? o.O

That isn't the theme to Beauty and the Beast. That's the "Aquarium" segment from Carnival of the Animals (thank you, Bugs Bunny).

Anyways, anyone else wish that the episode didn't end with a "environmentalist Lisa" ending?

[Don_East]

Anyways, anyone else wish that the episode didn't end with a "environmentalist Lisa" ending?

***Raises Hand***

I think they should have someone shut her up for once. Just because Lisa thinks she's doing the right thing, doesn't mean it's the right thing.

[Hyper Shadow X]

Another distasteful one to me.

[ToOn~g@l]

Anyways, anyone else wish that the episode didn't end with a "environmentalist Lisa" ending?

Yeah that part seemed tacked on to me. I guess they couldn't think of a better filler.

I knew a parody of A Perfect Storm would come a mile away but I did love the part where Homer hit a golf ball over the huge wave.

It was a good episode apart from the Lisa whining, some good gags and better than usual. B+

[Classic Speedy]

Overall the episode felt very disjointed. We went from a Marge-centric plot to Homer being punished by being sent out to sea to fish and getting caught in a seastorm with Bart and crew. It just didn't flow very well to me.

Jokes were hit-or-miss. The best ones were Moe, Lenny, and Carl ready to leave and save Homer but decide against it when they see that it's raining, the "I've seen three storms!" line I mentioned earlier, the mermaid joke, and Bart and Lisa turning the gears of the carousel.

But then there were others like the queer joke, Flanders in the beginning (I HATE what they've done to his character!), Homer with hooks in his nose, Lisa's forced moral crusade at the end, Homer getting joyful from chopping fish, "I didn't say stop!", and more. Very uneven humor, like most any new Jean-era episode.

I will say this, though: The animation in the storm scenes was pretty darn good. They clearly put a lot of detail into the individual wave patterns and the way they moved.

[Anime 51]

Lisa's forced moral crusade at the end

I thought it was funny that it ended up not going how she wanted.

[Peter Paltridge]

"This is the worst storm I've ever seen, and I've seen THREE STORMS!" Great delivery on that line.

It was ruined by the big overblown gasp that followed it.

The only time I laughed was during the Moe, Lenny and Carl scene in the middle. They were just bein' themselves, and more funny for it.

Lisa was just being herself as well--her unfunny self. She was actually less preachy than I expected. I thought she'd ramble on for a good minute in every scene, but she got the shaft this time with the "screw Lisa" ending. Even the writers must be tired of it.

If I were directing this one... (NEW FEATURE! Look for it in future talkbacks!)
I'd get rid of that gasp
I would have eliminated Marge's "Ohhh nooo, everything is so run down!" dialogue and just let the scenes speak for themselves. Plenty of us have come back to a place we loved in the past and found it lacking. That alone was enough, and good for some observational humor. I would have focused it there and not on Homer.
I would have cut the scene where Homer swims back down and re-chokes himself

[Anime 51]

I would have cut the scene where Homer swims back down and re-chokes himself

I'm glad I'm not the only one who failed to find this funny.

[The Myst]

Not a great episode, I agree that it felt disjointed, it was better than a lot of episodes.

Honestly, this season has been a step up from the last few. I don't know what it is but it's definitely improved. It still not great but there's a lot more hits in this season.