"It's a Blunderful Life" is the seventh episode of the thirty-fifth season of the American animated television series The Simpsons, and the 757th episode overall. It aired in the United States on Fox on November 19, 2023. The episode was directed by Matthew Nastuk and written by Elisabeth Kiernan Averick.
| "It's a Blunderful Life" | |
|---|---|
| The Simpsons episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 35 Episode 7 |
| Directed by | Matthew Nastuk |
| Written by | Elisabeth Kiernan Averick |
| Production code | OABF19 |
| Original air date | November 19, 2023 |
| Episode features | |
| Couch gag | A turkey is created by cutting a tracing of a hand. The turkey eats seeds, which causes a member of the Simpson family to appear on each finger. It walks to the couch and eats another seed. This causes the turkey to defecate Homer. |
In this episode, Homer is blamed for causing a town blackout, and Marge doubts him when he claims his innocence. The episode received mixed reviews.
Plot
editIn the future, the Simpson family gathers for Thanksgiving after Homer died. Before eating, they light candles in memory of a blackout that almost ruined the town. Lisa then tells the story of why they light candles. In the present, Marge asks Homer to install the storm windows, which he promises to do after work. At the power plant, the workers are having a party while Mr. Burns is welcoming new workers who will replace the partying workers. Homer is forced throw out the garbage from the party. At the same time, Mr. Burns overloads a power outlet, starting a fire. This causes a power plant meltdown, and the town loses power. The workers blame Homer.
When Homer arrives home, he installs the storm windows. His behavior makes Marge think that Homer caused the blackout. He denies it, but Marge does not believe him. People begin to throw objects through the windows. The next day, the food in the refrigerator is missing. Marge thinks Homer ate it, and she stops him when he tries to explain. Homer tries to go to Moe's Tavern, but no one wants him there, so he returns home. Overnight, the townspeople move the Simpson house away to the top of a rocky mountain.
Homer shows Marge a photograph of him burying food in the snow to preserve it. Marge sees that Homer was telling the truth and reasons that Homer may not have caused the blackout. The family then suspect Mr. Burns. They confront him, and he is arrested and forced to pay a fine. Marge offers to cook a meal for the townspeople in exchange for returning the house to its original location.
In the future, Bart has died from boredom while listening to the story.
Production
editThe episode depicts a scene of Bart strangling Homer. This followed a controversy after the airing of "McMansion & Wife" earlier in the season, in which Homer states that he no longer strangles Bart. This caused viewers to debate whether the character of Homer should change, and the producers stating that Homer would not change.[1]
The couch gag was created by Katrin von Niederhäusern and Janine Wiget.[2][3] Von Niederhäusern and Wiget first came to the producers' attention after they created a live-action shot-by-shot remake of the eating montage from the twenty-ninth season episode "Lisa Gets the Blues."[4]
Reception
editViewing figures
editThe episode earned a 0.31 rating with 1.11 million viewers, which was the most-watched show on Fox that night.[5]
Critical response
editJohn Schwarz of Bubbleblabber gave the episode a 6 out of 10. He thought the episode was a repeat of the premise of The Simpsons Movie. He highlighted the couch gag but related to Bart dying of boredom with the story.[6]
Cathal Gunning of Screen Rant thought the episode was the best holiday episode in years. He felt the repeated premise worked because it is a reliable story, and he highlighted the use of Mr. Burns as the villain.[7]
References
edit- ^ Badasie, Charlene (November 21, 2023). "Bart Strangles Homer in Latest Episode of The Simpsons As Longtime Gag Continues". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on September 15, 2024. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
- ^ Jean, Al [@AlJean] (November 19, 2023). "The third @TheSimpsons Thanksgiving show ever tonight huge thanks to writer Elisabeth Kiernan Averick director Matthew Nastuk as well as Katrin Von Niederhausern Janine Wiget Lynn Arens and Stephen Flaherty… also goodbye to Twitter maybe forever" (Tweet). Retrieved December 22, 2023 – via Twitter.
- ^ Behind the Scene: The Simpsons Thanksgiving Stop Motion Couch Gag – S35 E7 – It's a Blunderful Life. Katrin & Janine. November 26, 2023. Retrieved December 22, 2023 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Women recreate Homer Simpson's New Orleans gobble tour". Associated Press. September 14, 2019. Archived from the original on August 3, 2024. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
- ^ Pucci, Douglas (November 20, 2023). "Sunday Ratings: NFL on NBC Continues its Prime Time Leadership". Programming Insider. Archived from the original on November 21, 2023. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
- ^ Schwarz, John (November 20, 2023). "Review: The Simpsons "It's a Blunderful Life"". Bubbleblabber. Archived from the original on December 23, 2023. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
- ^ Gunning, Cathal (November 21, 2023). "The Simpsons Season 35's Thanksgiving Episode Was Its Best Holiday Episode In 11 Years". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on September 15, 2024. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
External links
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