The Simpsons: Treehouse Of Horror XXVI Review

This The Simpsons review contains spoilers.

The Simpsons: Season 27 Episode 5.

The Simpsons gave us an extra treat this season with not one, but two Halloween episodes. Last week, The Simpsons delivered one of their best episodes in a long time, which may or may not be saying much, when they celebrated Samhain in their real time-line. “Treehouse of Horrors” episodes are fantasies and exist outside the dimensional constraints of Springfield USA. Not just because they sometimes happen in 3D. While this year’s “Treehouse of Horrors” installment is good, compared with regular episodes this season, a low bar so far, but it’s only a middling horror episode.

The opening couch gag looks like how Ren and Stimpy might spendA Nightmare Before Christmas, complete with a narrative vocal that sounds like a cross between the Grinch and Oogie Boogie. The gravestone in the opening gag is Frank Grimes, possibly the darkest moment in the series history. Grimes death was completely Homer’s fault but really, nobody cared. It was kind of funny and after all, Grimes brought it on himself. Only Homer can be Homer, unless he’s someone else, like Godzilla, King Kong or Max Power.

Wanted Dead Then Alive

Sideshow Bob finally gets to kill Bart Simson, but finds that sometimes when you get exactly what you want, you want more. This is of course easy in an animated show when you have a reanimator. Although, The Simpsons probably should have stopped reanimating after season 4, but that’s more of an illegal alien issue now.

Kelsey Grammer may be better known for his work on Cheers and Frasier and may have plumbed his best acting on the short lived Boss, but he will forever be Sideshow Bob to me. He brings the perfect mix of pathos and psychosis, tempered by the constant threat of rakes, but always with a song in his heart. In tonight’s case, the dulcet tones of the little hand of concrete, Elvis Costello. Sideshow Bob’s glee is positively infectious, as are the entrails he adorns himself with, but no matter. Even when he lays an egg, he cracks me up. Twenty-four years of trying to kill a ten year old child is a long time to set up a punchline.

Sideshow Bob is no longer an attempted murderer. I mean what is that anyway? You don’t get a Nobel prize for attempting science. It does the heart good to see someone finally live up to their potential, even and most especially when that potential includes plunging out the heart of a 10-year-old boy. What? Too soon?

Sideshow Bob apparently missed out on being a Heisenberg when he broke bad and robbed the Kwik E Mart in Krusty’s oversized shoes. He finds everything he needs to reanimate Bart in the chemistry, engineering and black arts departments of Springfield University and a box of Lucky Charms. If only he used his genius for money instead of evil, who knows how far he could have risen?

Homerzilla

Oh how the mighty have fallen. Homer, who was once King Homer in a “Treehouse of Horrors” rendition of King Kong, is now Godzilla. I can’t wait for him to do double duty when they reanimate King Kong Vs. Godzilla. But do they really believe a Homerzilla could be appeased by one lovingly crafted donut a day? That wouldn’t be enough to fill a cavity, if he weren’t the laziest sea monster in all of Japan. Lisa in the Sailor Moon schoolgirl uniform makes a lot of sense and is clearly empathetic to Homerzilla’s plight. She really is looking out for him, it’s a shame he didn’t eat her.

Just like the megaproduction of ‘Zilla didn’t have the charm of the original black and white low-budget made-to-scale version, “Homerzilla” is not nearly as good as the “King Homer” takeoff, but I did like the homage to Bambi Meets Godzilla, one of my favorite films. But fret, Homerzilla will return as soon as people have forgotten the last one.

Telepaths of Glory

A radioactive explosion gives Lisa and Millhouse the power to move things with their intellect, leaving Bart earthbound. It’s only a matter of time before everything’s coming up Millhouse. We learned on the second episode of Star Trek, “Where No Man Has Gone Before,” and on “Plato’s Stepchildren” to a lesser degree, that telepathic abilities drive people mad with power. If only Millhouse was allowed to watch those old episodes he would have known the horrors that await him.

Maggie doesn’t only end Millhouse’s reign of terror, she turns Homerzilla into a loveable cuddly toy, covers Putin’s ample chest and fries the cold hearts of the French. A much worse fate for the world than the spontaneous statuary of the former Fallout Boy. She learned nothing from her sister Lisa, who now uses her powers for good instead of jazz.

The Simpsons’ “Treehouse of Horror XXVI” is fun and has its share of laughs, but doesn’t raise the dead or leave a dent in the family car.

“Halloween of Horror” was written by Joel Cohen’s Credit 2: The Squeakquel and directed by Uneven Shteven Moore. The Simpsons stars Dan Castellaneta as Homer Simpson, Julie Kavner as Marge Simpson, Nancy Cartwright as Bart Simpson, Yeardley Smith as Lisa Simpson. Hank Azaria plays Chief Wiggum and Apu. Harry Shearer is Mr. Burns. Guest Star: Kilmore Ghoulsman as Sideshow Bob.

But It All Went By So Fast: From Millhouse: Largo stuck in harp. Looks funny. Sounds exquisite. Justine from the mixed up 80s. American Princess. Fiendbook: Sideshow Bob – Status Attempted Murderer. Fat Tony wrote: You won’t be seeing much of Louis no more. Jailbird wrote: Bob, I left my shiv in your ear canal. Russ Cargill is hating 20-year Dome Reunion 2017. View Photos of me (687). View my friends (9). Springfield University: If you can read this, you’re accepted. Springfield Electric – Account Holder: Bart Simpson. Electric Bill: $3,205 due.

High Tension Wires: Never been snapped by monsters. Skinner’s mom, the eagle, claws apart Seymour, the kite. The four sushi groups: Icky, ucky, ooky, gross. Green Hornet Vs. Green Lantern With Special Appearance by Green Arrow. Solitaire The Movie: Don’t See It Alone.  Breaking News Tokyo: Homerzilla stomps the city. Ramen Prices Skyrocket. Geishas Giggle Coyly.

Ice Age squirrel Scrat makes an appearance.