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Reviews
The Simpsons: Homer's Odyssey (1990)
A homely introduction
COUCH GAG 2: All of the family sit on the couch and it breaks, popping off the side in all angles. A pretty standard affair yet again, really lacking the creativity of later ideas but at the same time not needing to, it's the beginning of the series and as a taster to what the concept can bring, a decent go around.
"Homer's Odyssey", as the name would suggest, is to introduce the character of Homer properly to the world. Does it do that? Yes, absolutely. It takes the subtle inflexions of his character introduced on "Roasting on an Open Fire" and expands them into a way where Homer feels realised and believable, which lends his firing and demise with a sense of gravitas and reality. It's another great episode, although, still very light on the laughs.
The Simpsons: Bart the Genius (1990)
A standard affair in emotional storytelling.
COUCH GAG 1: Bart flies off the couch and lands in front of the camera during the end credits. Decent but also very standard, for a first use of the concept does use it well, enjoyable nevertheless. 6/10.
If the first season of The Simpsons was about introducing the world to the dysfunctional family, then "Bart the Genius" fulfills its role to a tee. With tight writing, an intriguing plot, a proper introduction to the character of Bart, nuances and all, and genuinely emotional scenes (the playing catch scene), it's no wonder the episode is so highly regarded. That being said, it doesn't feel like it's doing anything to particularly reinvent the wheel, but in spite of that it leaves you warm, questioning whether being smart is a blessing or curse.
The Simpsons: Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire (1989)
Openings, made easy.
To open a show, to open a series, a franchise, a corporal medium to the world requires a lot. It means to allows every single character to be introduced, obviously not properly, but so much so as to let the audience become familiar with them all. What "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire" does is let the dynamics and ideas flow over you as water, as a brisk Christmas Eve in 1989, letting you into the world of Springfield and the Simpsons. The episode has it's cliche and somewhat sporadically cringey moments, but aside from that, it's a fantastic opener.