The Joy of Sect/References
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Cultural references
- The title of the episode is a pun on the book The Joy of Sex, by Alex Comfort.
- When Marge attempts to leave the compound, she is chased by the Rover guard "balloon" from the 1967 television program The Prisoner.
- Neal Hefti's theme music to the 1960s Batman series is used in the episode to indoctrinate Homer,
- The song "I Love You, You Love Me" from the television show Barney & Friends, sung by a man in a Barney the Dinosaur costume, is used to brainwash babies.
- When Mr. Burns introduces his new religion, most of the sequence is a parody of the video for Michael Jackson's "HIStory".[1]
- Plan 9 From Outer Space is referenced in the Movementarians' training film - the string on the model UFO is visible, bearing likeness to the one in the movie.
- Marge running across the gators is a reference to Roger Moore in the James Bond film Live and Let Die.
- The Leader's flying bike is a possible hint at E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.
Trivia
- Mr Burns only pays $3 tax per year.
- Movementarian schoolbook titles:
- Arithmetic the Leader's Way
- Science for Leader Lovers
- People who weren't brainwashed by the Movementarians: Marge, Reverend Lovejoy, the Flanders', Lenny, Burns, Smithers and Groundskeeper Willy (at least at first).
- The sign at Springfield Airport reads: "No Crashes Since Tuesday".
Cults
Movementarianism spoofed several cults, among them:
- Moonies: Where inductees were led to a compound with balloons and banners reading "Welcome Home, Brothers & Sisters"; heavy involvement in group activities with little, if any, privacy, and mass marriages where couples were married en masse by Sun Myung Moon.
- Bahagwan Shree Rajneesh (also called "Osho"): Like The Leader, the Bhagwan was famous for driving in a Rolls-Royce while his followers lined the side of the road to watch him go by and greet their leader on his daily drive-bys. At one point Osho held the world record for ownership of Rolls-Royces by an individual, 93 in all.
- Aum Shinrikyo: The Japanese cult responsible for the 1995 sarin gas attack in Kobe, Japan. Inductees were subject to intense sessions in order to breakdown beliefs in their former lives and signed a statement saying "I hereby entrust power of attorney and all my assets to Aum", similar to Movementarians signing over all title to the Leader. Aum was led by Shoko Ashara who propezied the world was doomed and he was the only way to a higher world.
- Scientology: Belief in an extraterrestrial power.
- Heaven's Gate: Belief that a spaceship would come to Earth to take worthy members to a paradise planet. Cult leader was also known for micromanagement of member's lives.
Continuity
- Willie, Lovejoy, and Marge are all unable to knock out Homer by hitting him with bats - this is a reference to the episode "The Homer They Fall", which reveals Homer has a protective layer around his brain which gives him extra protection.
Goofs
- Mr. Burns head is seen among the people watching the film about "Bilsstonia", but when the camera changes in front of the people, he is not there.
- Burns says he hasn't heard of "The Leader" even though at the beginning of the orientation film you can see him seated.
- Lenny remains in the Christian church despite seeing the orientation film.
- Bart was taken out of school to watch the team arrive, yet Mrs. Krabappel is there as well.
- In the picture of the Simpsons that Kent Brockman shows, Maggie doesn't have her hair ribbon.
- The second Hare Krishna guy sitting on the floor next to the standing one seen moments earlier isn't visible when Homer walks past.
- When Marge is looking at the Movementarian information booklet over dinner, the animation of her legs suddenly becomes jumpy.
- Homer gives the deed to his house away when he has a mortgage.
- The dust from the Rolls Royce has nearly cleared up, and it suddenly appears on Moe and Sideshow Mel instantaneously, in what looks like a single frame.
- Lisa should be in a different class to Bart, since they are in different grades.
- Ned Flanders is dispensing beer in his rumpus room, but in "Hurricane Neddy", Ned mentions that he doesn't drink, dance or swear.
- Despite his death, Bleeding Gums Murphy appears briefly in the orientation film scene. One possibility was that the Murphy who died was just a lying imposter, who had locked the real Murphy in a bunker. At one stage, the real Bleeding Gums Murphy managed to get out of the bunker and hide from Lisa, or maybe the episode where Murphy died was just a whole dream of Lisa's and Bleeding Gums Murphy is still alive and well.
- But, because of "Alone Again, Natura-Diddly", the former is true.
References
- ↑ Mirkin, David. (2006). The Simpsons season 9 DVD commentary for the episode "The Joy of Sect" [DVD]. 20th Century Fox.
