REVIEW: [RABF08] What Animated Women Want

[Stretch_Dude]

Spoiler

I liked this. Not a whole lot plot-wise, but it makes up for it in humor and character. No idea what the narration was referencing, if anything.

I like that this episode basically boils down the "Homer and Marge marriage problems" to its absolute basics and works with it: It's not what Homer does to fix things when he screws up, it's the fact he never stops trying to fix things, no matter how bad a job he does of it. I loved the sushi chef. He could've been just a quick one-gag character at the beginning, but then he comes back and delivers that wonderful sushi analogy. They got into some pretty unusual territory in the last act. Fifty Shades? Andy Griffith slashfic? Fetish shops and S&M? Wow. It was very odd, and yet...I didn't find myself groaning at it or anything. I dunno.

The Milhouse plot I liked more. They got a nice inner conflict going with Milhouse and his new persona, and I liked that Lisa was puzzled by her own behavior. Some good jokes, too, like the therapist's "don't be yourself" advice.

[missy_misery]

This was one odd duck of an episode:

Spoiler

I liked the structure but I hated watching yet another Marge and Homer Fight episode. At least Homer tried this time, but Marge's opaqueness was a frustration.

*And I really resented the whole LISA IS ONLY INTO MILHOUSE BECAUSE HE'S ACTING LIKE A JERK subplot. I hate it when they pull that crap in ANY form of media.

[c_nordlander]

Spoiler

*And I really resented the whole LISA IS ONLY INTO MILHOUSE BECAUSE HE'S ACTING LIKE A JERK subplot. I hate it when they pull that crap in ANY form of media.

Seriously? They went there? When I heard the plot of this episode, I assumed it would *criticise* the myth that girls dig jerks (given that, you know, Stanley in "A Streetcar Named Desire" was a rapist and an abusive husband).

I can't stand that myth. Can't stand it. The only guys I've known who believed it are jerks themselves. And *they* clearly couldn't get girls, so...

[Nidotamer]

Spoiler

*And I really resented the whole LISA IS ONLY INTO MILHOUSE BECAUSE HE'S ACTING LIKE A JERK subplot. I hate it when they pull that crap in ANY form of media.

Seriously? They went there? When I heard the plot of this episode, I assumed it would *criticise* the myth that girls dig jerks (given that, you know, Stanley in "A Streetcar Named Desire" was a rapist and an abusive husband).

I can't stand that myth. Can't stand it. The only guys I've known who believed it are jerks themselves. And *they* clearly couldn't get girls, so...

Indeed they did. As much as I hate it too, Lisa did have a former crush on Nelson... and one of the recent episodes hinting she still does. Pretty much any moral crisis was entirely on Milhouse.

[missy_misery]

The worst part was that

Spoiler

They implied that Milhouse was in the right to do all of this and his spell over Lisa never really breaks, though we do get a flash of an elderly Brando, who rejects Milhouse's plea for more advice by explaining he's been dead for ten years.

[c_nordlander]

I'm kind of torn, because I totally support Milhouse's love for Lisa and wouldn't be averse to them getting together. But not by either of them acting like a jerk.

[SirMustapha]

Seriously? They went there? When I heard the plot of this episode, I assumed it would *criticise* the myth that girls dig jerks (given that, you know, Stanley in "A Streetcar Named Desire" was a rapist and an abusive husband).

I wouldn't be terribly surprised. That's a very convenient, comforting myth, and it's profitable to pander to guys who believe it. If it serves as consolation, though, there are Internet memes that point out the idea that the guy who claims "girls only dig the jerks" is the same one who thinks that helping a girl with her college assignment automatically entitles him to demand to get under her panties like a whiny customer at a McDonald's.

... wait a minute, since when do Internet memes serve as consolation from anything??

As much as I hate it too, Lisa did have a former crush on Nelson... and one of the recent episodes hinting she still does.

It's been years since I last watched Lisa's Date with Density, and I think I only watched it once, but I think that Lisa's crush on him went beyond the "being a jerk" thing; it was more like catering to a wild, dark side she knew she had but couldn't reach on her own. Or something like that. What I'm saying it, I think it was a little deeper, but I may be wrong.

[c_nordlander]

It's been years since I last watched Lisa's Date with Density, and I think I only watched it once, but I think that Lisa's crush on him went beyond the "being a jerk" thing; it was more like catering to a wild, dark side she knew she had but couldn't reach on her own. Or something like that. What I'm saying it, I think it was a little deeper, but I may be wrong.

I kind of want to print this out and stick it on my wall. Hmm, maybe we need to make a distinction between "rebel" and "jerk".

And yeah, regarding so-called "nice guys", I find it hard to call anyone who thinks things like "I did things for you; now I'm entitled to your body" *nice*. Male or female.

[missy_misery]

Holy crap, this.

I love the idea of Lisa/Milhouse too, Chris, not just when they're treating each other badly.