Difference between revisions of "The War of the Simpsons"

Revision as of 21:16, July 21, 2010

"Marge, as a trained marriage counselor, this is the first instance where I've ever told one partner that they were 100% right. It's all his fault. I'm willing to put that on a certificate you can frame."

―Reverend Lovejoy

The War of the Simpsons is the twentieth episode of Season 2. It aired on May 2, 1991. The episode was written by John Swartzwelder and was directed by Mark Kirkland. The contains cultural references to songs such as Tom Jones's "It's Not Unusual", Dusty Springfield's "The Look of Love", and KC and the Sunshine Band's "That's the Way (I Like It)".

When Homer gets drunk and humiliates himself at a dinner party, an angered Marge signs herself and Homer up for a marriage retreat, which Homer tries to bail out of so he can go fishing. Meanwhile, Grampa babysits Bart and Lisa, who trick the old man into letting them do whatever they want--including throw a party.

Plot

Marge and Homer throw a party. Homer gets drunk and humiliates himself by telling off total strangers, stumbling over furniture, pulling a practical joke on Dr. Hibbert, dancing while wearing a lampshade for a hat, and leering at Maude Flanders' bustline. Homer then collapses on the living room floor and falls asleep into the next morning, while Marge and the kids go to church. At church, Marge enrolls in a weekend retreat of marriage counseling hosted by Reverend Lovejoy and Helen Lovejoy. Marge recruits Grampa for the weekend to babysit since the babysitter she previously hired was emotionally scarred by Bart when he was a baby.

Homer finds out that the retreat will be held at Catfish Lake and packs his fishing equipment, despite Marge telling him that the retreat will be resolving their differences. Even so, Homer sneaks his fishing gear in with the luggage. Before going, Marge gives Grampa a list of numbers in case accidents happen, secretly giving Lisa a number if Grampa falls in the tub! On the way there, he learns of the legendary catfish, General Sherman, and vows to catch the elusive fish.

Meanwhile, at home, Bart and Lisa decide to take advantage of being left with Granmpa, with Bart creating a phony list of what they can and cannot have. This leads to a shopping trip where Bart smokes a cigar. Candy, ice cream and other items are procured for them, then Bart makes Grampa chuaffer them to Krusty Burger then to Noiseland Video Arcade.

During the first meeting at the marriage retreat, each couple is asked to explain the faults of the other person. When it is Marge's turn, her list is so long that soon, several hours passby, and plans for a luau are then cancelled.

At the lake the next morning. Homer tries to sneak away to go fishing early in the morning, but Marge wakes up early. Marge is upset that Homer would choose fishing over their marriage, but the message at first is lost on Homer, who visualizes Marge turning into a catfish. Homer takes a walk instead. On the dock, Homer finds an abandoned fishing pole. The pole yanks him off the pier into a small rowboat, and onto the lake. It appears that the rod has hooked the legendary catfish, General Sherman. From their cabin window, Marge sees Homer, and assumes that he has ignored her again.

Back at home, Bart and Lisa throw a party, that ends with the house is a total mess. Watching Grampa cry and fearing that he will get in trouble, Bart and Lisa start to feel remorse for taking advantage of Grampa, and frantically work to clean the house up for Homer and Marge's return. However, as they are doing this, Grampa is secretly seen chuckling.

Marge attends the marriage workshops alone while Homer is still attempting to catch the fish. Finally he wrestles it into the boat, and after it stops moving, he returns to the dock, triumphantly singing 'I am the Champion.' When he returns, Marge tells him their marriage is in trouble if he values a fish more than her. To prove that he loves Marge more, he lets the fish go (despite battling it for several hours) and they return together to a clean house. Grampa admits he fooled Bart and Lisa into obedience, and the entire Simpsons family realize how clever he is.

Back at the bait shop, General Sherman still swims free, but tales get told of Homer as an impressive fisherman.

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