Moaning Lisa

Moaning Lisa is Al and Mike's second episode of the season and it's a far superior outing than that of "There's No Disgrace Like Home". It is the foundation for the Lisa episodes that would become some of my personal favourites in the classic era. This Lisa is of course pre-Lisa the Vegetarian and she is the voice of morality in the show without being completely cartoony and lazy about it. Like many Lisa episodes to occur in the classic era it is not laugh out loud gag a second but rather a more subtle style of humour. The humour is shown in the Punch out parody in the b-plot and the sharp juxtaposition between Homer's degradation via his obsession of a child's video game and Lisa's want to do anything to progress and mature.

Lisa's plot is one that is that is down to earth realistic and touching at the end. She starts out by not wanting to do her typical routine of boring musical numbers in band and playing rudimentary sports in gym class. Lisa is constantly hit by "mature" figures in a way that is unsympathetic to her sadness. Mr. Largo stiffles her in band by not allowing her to play creative pieces in the class and the gym teacher can't grasp the concept of her not wanting to play dodge ball and sends a note home with her. Homer being the parent that he is is fully concentrated on his child like video game feud with Bart and says she can't play her saxophone loud. But her blues does get momentarily taken away when she hears the saxophone playing of Bleeding Gums Murphy and goes to jam with him. The scene and episode is directed by Wes Archer (and I would've liked to think this was his first episode although he did Homer's Odyssey) and it really looks spectacular. But her jam is interrupted by Marge who soon jerks her back to reality and the fact that it will be a long time before she's matured etc. Marge of course gives her some advice based on the fact she might be seen as a bad mother but upon seeing the advice being used negatively against Lisa by Mr. Largo(again) promptly says the family will be behind Lisa 100% until she gets better.

The b-plot is the main source of comedy in this episode. Bart beats Homer at a game Bart has played hundreds of times. But Homer feels inadequate being beaten by Bart and decides he must beat Bart at all costs. So while Lisa is trying to find her place in the world and mature in a place where she seems so out of place. Homer is regressing down the maturity level by hiring a kid to train him to beat Bart at a game designed for Bart. There is many funny moments with Homer at the arcade etc.

But the truly great aspect of this episode is when the two plots come crashing together. Just as Homer is about to defeat Bart(after much wasted money and time) and complete his full regression to childhood and defeat Bart. Marge unplugs the video game as they were ignoring Lisa/Marge like usual. Then she announces that the family will be going with Lisa to a jazz club. The ending is quite touching in that the family finally understands Lisa and will do everything they can do to make her feel good. Despite the fact that she wants to go a Jazz Hole a place that is out of the social norm and is a fitting way to end an episode based around a character that would become the shows voice for morality and defying social normality.

Overall Grade: A-