"The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson" doesn't just belong to the classic era of The Simpsons; it goes beyond, surpassing it. It stands as the pinnacle of the series, rising above most episodes from the golden age, thanks to crucial details that we'll analyze now.
The episode starts brilliantly at Moe's bar. A majestic scene unfolds where each character receives an egg as a test to determine who will be designated as the driver. This scene, reminiscent of a cinematic masterpiece, is accompanied by tense music anticipating the revelation of the black egg. Such details, cherished in the early seasons of The Simpsons, like the use of Clausen's orchestral music to create cinematic tension instead of conventional comedy series, gave the sense of witnessing something truly impressive. Unfortunately, these details have been lost in the modern seasons.
When Duffman enters, making his first appearance in the series, another moment of tension unfolds for Barney. This character genuinely and believably displays his desperation. In contrast to more recent seasons, lacking that deep and authentic emotional distress, the new seasons lack the realism in their despair, often appearing forced and exaggerated for comedic purposes. Here, in contrast, we see Barney genuinely soaked in sweat.
The introduction of a new secondary character is done with wonderful anticipation, making Barney's peanut bowl dance to the rhythm of Duffman's music. This example highlights the masterful use of anticipation in the narrative, something often absent in the modern and declining seasons of the series. Barney's frustrating evening concludes with an impressive stage set, portraying a crazed Barney due to alcohol abstinence against a black backdrop with floating beer mugs. Even the stage sets were elaborate in these magnificent episodes of The Simpsons' golden age.
Upon arriving in New York, the city is impeccably portrayed visually, achieving an authenticity that makes you believe you're truly in New York. From awnings to the subway, graffiti, and Chinatown, every detail has been carefully crafted to capture the unique and faithful style of the big city, especially New York. Even the portrayal of the subway's movement is faithfully reproduced. The frustrating and cruel scene where Homer tries to remove the boot from his car with the pneumatic hammer faithfully portrays the ironic and cruel behavior of physics, with the hammer deflecting and perforating the car's body.
The sunset in New York, frustrating Homer for not having solved his problem, adds a spectacular touch of color to the urban scenery, achieving impressive drama. Even the use of color and shadows to achieve this effect was meticulously worked on in these masterful episodes, something that has disappeared in the modern seasons. The tense music accompanying Homer as he looks at the threatening sun, as if it were a scene from an apocalyptic movie, suggests the possibility of them parodying a similar movie scene.
But the best part is that it not only faithfully portrays the city of New York but also the psychology of its inhabitants when they get angry with Homer or interact with him. Additionally, it captures Homer's genuine desperation at not finding a nearby place to urinate in the midst of the desolation of a big city like New York.
In conclusion, "The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson" stands as an epitome of excellence in The Simpsons' history, surpassing even the acclaimed golden era of the series. The meticulous attention to detail, from the choice of music to elaborate stage setups, sets a standard that, unfortunately, has diluted in the modern seasons.
The sunset that frustrates Homer becomes a visual masterpiece, a nod to cinematography that adds emotional depth to the narrative.
In summary, this episode not only represents the pinnacle of The Simpsons but also serves as a valuable reminder of how the expert combination of music, stage setups, and the use of color can transform an animated series into a true audiovisual masterpiece. The decline of the modern seasons involves not only a change in technical and artistic quality; there are other negative and more serious factors that have accumulated, leading to the complete destruction of the series. However, the disappearance of those specific details I mentioned marked the beginning of the decline in the earliest modern seasons of The Simpsons.
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