Difference between revisions of "Kill Gil, Volumes I & II"

Revision as of 15:14, September 1, 2010

Kill Gil: Vols. 1 & 2 is the ninth episode of Season 18. The title of this episode is a reference to Kill Bill Vol. 1 & 2. It is the ninth Christmas-themed episode. This episode aired exactly 17 years after the very first episode ("Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire"); it was also the fifth episode to air on this date. Elvis Stojko guest stars as himself.

Plot

The Simpson family is enjoying “Krusty’s Kristmas on Ice” (an indoor ice rink), starring Elvis Stojko. The main act features a reindeer, a candy cane, and a snowman who are all fretting over a green monster named Grumple (a clear parody of Dr. Seuss’s Grinch character), who advances upon the other Christmas characters, threatening to steal their Holiday Cheer, the characters mistakenly stumble backward over a wooden basketball court setup crew lead by Wiseguy. All the Christmas characters are enraged that their show is being cut short and they begin brawling with the Utah Jazz as they try to warm up for a basketball game. Marge and the kids decide to get up and leave, and Homer is spotted down on the ice grappling with the Grumple and demanding back the Holiday Cheer. The Grumple is repeatedly seen through the episode.

On Christmas Eve, the Simpsons go to Costington’s department store where a sad Lisa sits on Santa’s lap and explains the one true present she wants is the Malibu Stacy Pony Beach Party Set, which is sold out everywhere. Santa Claus, who is really Gil Gunderson (this episode reveals his last name), pities Lisa and goes back to the stockroom and finds an extra play set he had seen earlier. An overjoyed Lisa thanks Gil as a cashier rings up the sale. As Marge and the kids exit the store, an angry Mr. Costington comes out of his office and berates and fires Gil for selling the Malibu Stacy play set that he had set aside for his daughter. Marge and the kids witness the scene and feeling sorry for Gil, Marge invites him over for Christmas Eve dinner.

After dinner at home, Gil and the rest of the Simpson family gather around the piano and sing songs. Finishing, Gil gets up to leave, however Marge insists he stay the night, citing its late and cold outside. Gil accepts Marge’s offer. On Christmas morning, Gil retrieves items from his bus locker, assuming he had a permanent spot in 742 Evergreen Terrace. Indeed, Gil’s weak demeanor and lack of job allows Marge to let him move in.

Gil begins to ruin their every holiday, however only out of guilt, Marge continually allows him to stay. Homer’s infuriating patience wears thin after Marge’s inability to say no causes Gil to brings his friends to sing and drink on St. Patricks Day, and walk in on Homer and Marge’s “snuggling” on Valentine’s Day. After eleven months, Marge says agrees to say no.

By this time, however, Gil had become a very successful realtor in Scottsdale, Arizona. Despite this, Marge wished to go to Scottsdale and finally get the pleasure of saying “no” to him. After Marge’s display of anger and Gil’s display of weakness, Gil’s boss charges out of his office and fires Gil on the spot. Marge is horrified when she realizes that she has just cost Gil his job. Finally, the Simpsons buy him a house in Scottsdale to let him keep a job. The episode ends with a family of Grumples arriving at the doorstep, Homer lets them in and Gil, the Simpsons and the Grumples continue happily sing their carols.

Reception

Dan Iverson of IGN gave the episode the headline of "Worst Simpsons Christmas episode ever!". He explains that though the story wasn't bad, it was merely told poorly, especially the area were Gil gets a new household had made no sense. He writes: "Gil's storyline wasn't the only thing that didn't make sense, as the ongoing joke of the Grumpo made less sense than most anything from this season." Though he explains that even though the episode wasn't "all bad", he felt there were a couple of comedic bits to keep the show afloat, such as the unique opening sequence.^[1]

Opening Sequence

A Christmas-themed opening sequence was animated for this episode and was later re-aired with "The Burns and the Bees". Not counting the "Treehouse of Horror" episodes, this is the second time that the title sequence is radically different from the norm.

It begins with two lines of instrumental "O Christmas Tree" and then the normal theme music begins. This version is similar to the normal version, except for several key differences:

1. Everything outside is covered with snow
2. Bart's skateboard has been replaced with a snowboard
3. Everyone is wearing winter clothes
4. Mr. Burns and Smithers have been replaced by a Scrooge-esque Burns and Ghost of Marley-esque Smithers, and there are several Christmas banners in the plant
5. Lisa's saxophone solo is a jazzy version "Deck the Halls"
6. Bleeding Gums Murphy, who is now deceased, has been replaced with Jasper in a Santa costume. Maude Flanders, however, remains in the pan across Springfield, despite having also died.
7. Marge and Maggie's supermarket and car sequence have unfortunately been cut

In the end, the family sits on the couch and the camera then pulls out to reveal that the family was reflected in a Christmas ornament, which rests on a Christmas tree.

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• Simpsons Opening Couch Gag Season 20 (Christmas Version).jpg

Sources and References