The Simpsons (TV Series) Life on the Fast Lane (1990) User Reviews

A Near Strike

[LedZep712 · 8/10 · 25 November 2007]

Life In The Fast Lane

This episode is one of the best episodes in season 1. It's wackier than many of the other episodes with many bizarre places (such as the shops in the mall and The Singing Sirloin.) But the episode does have a strong emotional centre and is probably one of the best episodes about a problem in Homer and Marge's marriage with both of them hurting in their own ways. The silence in the bedroom being particularly heart-rendering.

Al Brooks gives perhaps his best performance on the show as Jacques the bowling instructor giving the character a level of charm, but also making it hilarious. Julie Kavner also gives one of her funniest performances and Dan, whilst not giving Homer the same zaniness that Homer would have later gives Homer an emotional quality that has probably not been seen before or since.

As I've stated this is one of the better season 1 episodes and probably one of the better Marge/Homer episodes.

This episode really nails some of the dynamics of the Simpsons family

[SLionsCricketreviews · 7/10 · 7 January 2018]

In my opinion, there's half a truly great Simpsons episode here in "Life on the Fast Lane" and half an episode that is a little clunky. What works tremendously well are the emotional dynamics of the Simpsons family, be it Lisa and Bart (whether they're bickering over routine things OR arguing over the possibility of their parents' love life crumbling in front of them) or more importantly, Homer and Marge. There is such a tender heart here when the episode works best but there's also a half I find a little clunky and that is Marge's side of the story where she meets the bowling instructor and is tempted with infidelity.

Both halves are absolutely necessary and while I do admire the scene where Marge realizes losing her husband is invaluable, this side of the story drags a bit. The final scene is beautiful and uplifting at once and is such a classic feel good ending that The Simpsons would master time and time again.

While Homer's actions at the beginning of the episode could be described as kindly as possible as selfish, the manner in which he handles the possibility of his wife falling out of love with him is what the show does so well and this episode really figures out Homer as a person. He does not confront her or loathe her in his mind but rather realizes his oft failure as a husband. If anything, he is full of self-loathing at the time over him losing his wife. Up to this point, I found the show struggle somewhat in how to characterize Homer but here it is fantastic. He can be selfish and inconsiderate but also sympathetic, honest and surprisingly mature and all those traits are on display here.

Perhaps it is because Marge has always been one of the show's lesser interesting characters (at least for me personally) but that side of the story can lack some life in this episode. But there's plenty of wonderful heart and mature drama as well as some necessary comedy that make this a mostly enjoyable, if flawed, episode.

The moment where Homer receives the baseball to the forehead is a classic moment of the show. Hilarious.

Not Too Shabby!

[g-bodyl · 8/10 · 8 November 2013]

The ninth episode in the Simpson's first season is another good one, even though I feel like it lacks in depth and characterization compared to the last two episodes. I felt like it didn't have the best jokes either, but I felt the newly-formed romance by Marge and Homer's reaction to be quite intriguing.

This episode, "Life in the Fast Lane", is about Marge who contemplates an affair with a French bowling instructor after she feels neglected by Homer since he forgot her birthday and hastily gave her a bowling ball much to her dismay.

Overall, this is a decent episode that is worth watching. It's nice to see how Marge got her first episode being the center of attention. I liked the reference to Officer and a Gentleman. Also there are some funny moments such as when Lisa and Bart discuss the stages of marriage failure. Not a bad episode, but it's a little step down than the previous two. I rate this episode 8/10.

A perfect early episode

[Joe X. · 10/10 · 21 September 2020]

There are some harsh ratings for this one. It's a classic, packed with jokes that score from beginning to end. The characters are pretty fully-realized--just 9 episodes in. Patty and Selma especially. Homer's a little more selfish and a little less stupid. Jacques might be the funniest one-off character ever. It's so old now that I bet a lot of people don't even get the Officer and a Gentlemen reference at the end.

A 7.5 is what you give a good episode of Scrubs or How I Met Your Mother. This one deserves a 10.

Maybe the best episode ever !

[nicofreezer · 10/10 · 18 January 2022]

This one has always been a favorite of mine, simple, awesome, touching , charming, funny and smart.

This episode got everything an episode of TV could ask The last line of Homer is so touching and set the show for the next 35 years.

A Classic.

Still has the best definition of 'brunch' I have heard

[CubsandCulture · 9/10 · 19 August 2021]

This is really good rendering of the "will Marge leave?" plot that the show does throughout the years. It combines a lot of laughs with a believable set-up. And I really enjoy the bowling themed flight of fancy Marge has.

But I don't think it is possible to define brunch better than "It's not quite breakfast, it's not quite lunch, but it comes with a slice of cantaloupe at the end. You don't get completely what you would at breakfast, but you get a good meal." That line has remained memorable throughout the years.

Great

[studioAT · 8/10 · 26 February 2020]

The 'Will Marge leave Homer?' plot has since been very much rung dry, but back in S1 it held much more weight.

Without wishing to repeat myself, this is another very good quality episode of the show, with so much heart and humour.

These early episodes are really growing on me.

Marge's fantasy

[safenoe · 8/10 · 30 March 2023]

I remember this from the golden era of The Simpsons (being the first 10 years) and it really was quite a mature episode where Marge contemplates cheating on Homer with her bowing instructor (I mean ten pin bowling, not lawn bowls). Anyway, Albert Brookes plays the instructor and he's quite excited about the prospect of doing the beast with two backs with Marge.

Thankfully Homer comes to his senses and he manages to convince Marge to return to him. At the time, The Simpsons was incredibly popular, but who would have thought it would be running still in 2023, over 30 years later but yes it's still running.

Ineptitude with a Five O'Clock Shadow

[Hitchcoc · 8/10 · 16 February 2022]

Homer forgets Marge's birthday and hustles off to get her a present. He buys her a bowling ball with his name engraved on it. She is so angry, she heads off to the bowling alley by herself and there she meets a wolfie bowling instructor who begins to woo her. It's pretty good, especially his descriptions that involve bowling terms.

Lost virtues: reflecting on the evolution of drama and TV Music in a declining comedy show.

[santifersan · 10/10 · 17 August 2023]

Over time, I've come to appreciate this episode more and more. It possesses a remarkably well-executed dramatic element, reminiscent of the first season, which unfortunately diminished as the series evolved. We witness Homer paying the consequences of his bumbling foolishness within his marriage, but what's truly striking is how he displays a profound sense of dejection - an acknowledgement that he deserves this penalty. Consequently, he refrains from putting up a fight, as he realizes deep down that Marge deserves happiness without him. This episode's pivotal moment tugs at the heartstrings, evoking a desire to shed tears, especially after observing Homer's endearing behavior as he lulls Maggie to sleep. We also bear witness to the children's suffering through a grieving process; they're acutely aware of the situation but powerless to change it, resigned to navigate their bittersweet self-pity as they mourn.

In essence, it's a masterpiece of an episode where drama takes precedence over comedy, yet it's a perfectly executed drama. The comedy finds its place in cleverly associating bowling prowess with the seductive charms of a life-wise master.

Episodes like this also serve as exemplars of why the series lost its quality in the later seasons. A prime illustration lies in the use of music. Just as Marge contemplates her decision in the car - whether to go to Jacques' place or see her husband at the power plant - before the strains of "Up Where We Belong" from "An Officer and a Gentleman" start playing, they set the mood using orchestral or television music, probably composed by Alf Clausen. This music skillfully weaved a tapestry of tension and excitement, leading up to a crescendo accentuated by the resonant clash of cymbals. This orchestral arrangement heightened the overall impact of the narrative. Here, we witness a glimpse of the impressive musical compositions that characterized the show's early episodes, one of the many virtues that have been lost in the modern era.