Hurricane Neddy
"Hurricane Neddy"
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Episode Information
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"Hurricane Neddy" is the eighth episode of the eighth season.
Plot
Homer lazily enjoys his latest mid-afternoon nap when the winds begin to pick up. Lisa consults her weather instruments and a question-and-answer book and determines a hurricane may soon strike Springfield. Panicked residents quickly gather supplies and food at nearby stores, but Ned remains calm as the main storm approaches.
As various hurricane-related gags play out throughout Springfield, the Simpsons do their best at family bonding. The storm finally passes, and everyone is overjoyed that the storm caused no damage to their home. However, the Flanders family is not so lucky ... Ned's house is the only one that has been destroyed.
Ned is relieved that his family escaped serious injury, but that's of little solace since he does not have homeowner's insurance (having considered insurance "gambling"). The Flanders family is forced to move to the church basement. There, he watches news accounts of the storm's aftermath, and is further discouraged when he is told that his store, the Leftorium had been looted. Seeking answers from God, Maude and Rev. Lovejoy attempt to reassure Ned things will work out fine.
In an attempt to show their community spirit and friendship, Marge commissions everyone in Springfield to rebuild the Flanders' home. The job is completed in record time, and Ned is overjoyed ... that is, until he inspects their workmanship, which turns out to be (at best) shoddy; for example, the door to the main bedroom is only large enough to accommodate a cat at best, although the room itself is apparently its normal size. The makeshift house soon crumbles, and Ned, who knows that everyone tried their best, tries containing his anger ... but his temper explodes. He angrily speaks his mind about everyone's efforts, then rants on about specific residents, such as Krusty and Bart, ending his tirade by calling Homer "the worst human being I have ever met!"
Fearing he has lost his mind and on the verge of a mental breakdown, Ned checks himself into the Calmwood Mental Hospital to seek therapy. There, he is treated by his childhood psychiatrist, Dr. Foster, who reminds Ned that – because his parents did not believe in childhood discipline – he was a rambunctious, out-of-control child in need of psychiatric counseling. That therapy, called the University of Minnesota Spankalogical Protocol, involved eight months of continuous spanking, but instead of reforming Ned, it rendered him unable to express any anger at all and resulted in his trademark nonsencial jabbering at moments when he was particularly close to losing his temper. This caused Ned to unknowingly repress his anger, until it built up inside him and erupted in his tirade of insults at the townspeople.
Dr. Foster, now having seen that his earlier therapy was inappropriate, enlists Homer to help Ned learn to appropriately express his emotions, as Homer is the person Ned harbours particularly resentful feelings towards. After several flubbed tries, such as Homer claiming to have slept with Maude, Ned finally admits he resents his beatnik parents because of his upbringing, and suddenly he feels like a weight has been lifted from his shoulders (as well as the post office.
Shortly thereafter, Ned is released from Calmwood, and tells everyone he'll try harder at expressing his feelings and letting them know when he is upset, such as when he's really angry "I'm gonna run you down with my car". Everything, then, returns to normal.
Trivia
- In the crowd scene at the end, outside the mental hospital, one of the signs reads "Free John Swartzwelder". John Swartzwelder is a long-time writer on the Simpsons. Swartzwelder himself is seen in one of the mental institution cells; he quickly closes the door as he sees the Simpson family approaching.
- Ms. Lucille Botzcowski (also known as Botz, the Babysitter Bandit.) from 7G01 - "Some Enchanted Evening" makes a cameo appearance pacing around in her cell.
- “The Critic”—Jay Sherman—from 2F31 (“A Star Is Burns”) makes a cameo appearance as well (voiced by Jon Lovitz), telling his doctor, "It stinks! It stinks! It stinks!"; the doctor's response to humor him: "That's right, Mr. Sherman. Everything stinks." The Critic had recently been cancelled, and this was the writers' explanation as to why (The Critic creators Al Jean and Mike Reiss were the show runners when Oakley and Weinstein were hired to The Simpsons staff).
- Dr. Foster is later seen in "It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Marge", this time sporting a toupee.
- Todd is wearing a Butthole Surfers shirt when the Flanders family is in the relief center ("Look, Dad! I'm a surfer!"). The censors, however, only allowed "Buttho Surfers".
Cultural references
- It's a Wonderful Life – as in the episode "When Flanders Failed", Homer leads the town to aid Flanders in his darkest hour, though on this occasion the results are far worse.
- The Critic – Jay Sherman makes a cameo appearance in the mental hospital scenes. The Simpsons writers joked that this is what really happened to the character after the series was cancelled. Critic fans, however, don't consider this appearance part of the series' canon.
- Dick Tracy and Pruneface – Ned's "Prune Tracy" remark is a pun on the comic strip detective. It's also an allusion to an off-color joke. Given the progression, the next name would be Dick Face, had Dr. Foster not stopped him.
- Job – The plot of the episode is very similar to that of the Book of Job in the Bible.
- One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest – Several scenes at Calmwood Mental Hospital are taken from the 1975 movie.
Swanson TV dinners – The Juvenile Aggression Study film is sponsored by Swanson Angry Man Dinners, a play on Swanson Hungry Man Dinners.
- Halloween - Dr. Foster is shocked to receive news that Ned Flanders has gone mad, stating: "May god have mercy on us all!", referencing Dr. Loomis' reaction to Michael Myers' escape in the first Halloween film. This is clarified on the DVD commentary.
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