THE SIMPSONS “Love Is A Many Strangled Thing” Review

THE SIMPSONS “Love Is A Many Strangled Thing” Season 22 Episode 17 – Homer is finally facing the consequences for his years of corporal punishment. After mortifying Bart at the Springfield Atoms Stadium, causing him to wet his pants on the giant screen, Homer voluntarily decides to attend parenting classes as a form of contrition. Here he meets a therapist, Dr Zander (voiced by Paul Rudd) who, horrified that Homer would lay a hand on his boy, enlists the aid of one Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to rid Homer of his throat choking fatherly ways.

This season has been pretty hit and miss in terms of quality, but “Love Is A Many Strangled Thing” was definitely a hit. Between the solid (if unoriginal) storyline, the opening segues (this one involving Mr Burns and a hot air balloon, a classic Lenny line: “Huh, I wonder if that’s the same elk?” and top quality writing, this was a wonderful instalment (and finally washes out that bad taste that the Glee episode left).

The storyline in this episode was a concoction of the stuff The Simpsons does best: a social satire, a heart warming family comedy, and pure silliness. The Lisa and Marge bonding storyline was brilliant: sobbing over nails and ice cream. Been there, done that. The dedication to Elizabeth Taylor at the end of the episode (she voiced Maggie’s first and emotion-packed word “Daddy” in the fourth season episode “Lisa’s First Word”) was lovely; do you think the fourth unnameable horse movie was National Velvet?

Some of my favourite lines and moments of the episode:

Lisa: “Wow, I know I laid down in front of bulldozers to stop this stadium being built, but I have to admit, it’s pretty sweet!” Oh Lisa. I love you like a shrub.

Dr. Zander: After two more weeks of sessions…
Homer: I lied about having health insurance.
Dr. Zander: You’re cured!

Marge: “Whatever you did to my husband, it was too effective.”
Dr Zander: “Hmm…yes, one of the most common complaints about therapy.”

What did you think of this episode? Sound off in the comments below.

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