Homer's Odyssey

This episode is pretty much hated by every devoted Simpsons fan and I agree for the most part. I mean it is the second worst episode of season 1 and one of the worst of the classic era. But that being said there are a bunch of episodes I would rank lower than it in The Simpsons cannon.

Anyways getting onto the actual episode. I do feel that the first act of this episode is really well done especially for what was supposed to be the pilot episode. There's some hilarious gags with Otto's shortcut and the trip at the Power Plant. It does set up for some great satire that could've taken place with the whole lower class person losing his job and how they're treated by their neighbours/government institutions and your own family. But it takes a sharp detour in the second act with Homer's out of character attempted suicide. I do find some of the jokes revolving around Homer's suicide funy eith the boulder being at the bridge etc. But the resolution to the suicide is sort of lazy in my opinion and lacks the ummph of most season 1 conflicts in that Homer starts making signs etc.

This episode is definitely the first showcase between the powerful and menacing Burns and the common man often in the form of the oafish Homer. But of course it is rather weak in terms of the conflict and resolution in that we know Homer must return to the status quo and abandons his fellow campaigners and takes a new job at the SNPP proving Mr.Burns the winner(sort of) in this one.

I do find it weird that they were able to handle Bart's character in such an amazing was in Bart the Genius and Lisa in Moaning Lisa and Marge in Life on the Fast Lane but left Homer so out of character in this one. I do not think that the reasoning that it's just too early to firmly establish characterization is a good excuse just because they obviously knew how to write for the family in season 1


BLACK SMITHERS!

Grade: C+