There is so much here to think about. Of course, the religious sect that is in control takes over the idiots in Springfield in about five minutes. Marge sees through it but is powerless to stop the brain drain and the money drain. Homer has no problem believing everything these nut jobs tell him. It's intense but well crafted. One high point is when Marge is told she can leave at any time and the compound looks like a Nazi death camp.
8 Reviews
That's what all religions are about
MahyarErshad24 April 2019
Weird rituals and chants...
snoozejonc26 February 2023
Homer joins a religious cult that spreads throughout Springfield.
This is an important episode with strong moments of parody.
The story is an excellent satire of various religious movements like Scientology and this is its biggest strength. These organisations deserve ridiculing by mainstream popular-culture like 'The Simpsons' and 'South Park' as it serves as a warning to potential future victims.
How funny is it? Comedy is in the eye of the beholder, but for me the jokes are quite hit and miss. The Simpson family, Reverend Lovejoy, Mr Burns and Groundskeeper Willie are used very well by the writers. However, I think the social message is stronger than the humour.
This is an important episode with strong moments of parody.
The story is an excellent satire of various religious movements like Scientology and this is its biggest strength. These organisations deserve ridiculing by mainstream popular-culture like 'The Simpsons' and 'South Park' as it serves as a warning to potential future victims.
How funny is it? Comedy is in the eye of the beholder, but for me the jokes are quite hit and miss. The Simpson family, Reverend Lovejoy, Mr Burns and Groundskeeper Willie are used very well by the writers. However, I think the social message is stronger than the humour.
Arguably this was the very last time that The Simpsons perfected it.
zacpetch4 January 2015
Warning: Spoilers
Cults tend to prey upon the weak-minded so it makes perfect sense that one would show up in Springfield and naturally the Movementarians don't take long to conquer most of the townspeople's minds and, more importantly, their wallets. Commanded by the all-powerful but enigmatic figure of The Leader, they promise their victims an eternity of bliss on the planet Blisstonia with all members being granted seats aboard their spaceship.
They are a clever group, presenting the facade of freedom to leave anytime you want but having OTT security measures in place to stop you. It starts simple enough during the initial brainwashing session, with a spotlight of shame, but soon turns into a bubble that will consume you assuming you've already dodged hounds, alligators and barbed wire. Their brainwashing methods are deceptively subtle too, with an extremely poor introductory video and several mindless chants, one of which is to the tune of the Batman theme.
Marge escapes and goes to Reverend Lovejoy and Ned Flanders to rescue and deprogram the family before the cult's team of lawyers (to whom Flanders is a hilariously good host) recapture Homer and take him back to the campus. He immediately tries to prove The Leader is only after their cash. This leads him to discover a real spacecraft does exist!
Of course, it's a fake. Ultimately it is The Leader's love of money that is his downfall as the spaceship is a shambles that swiftly falls apart. It's a ludicrous ending but it feels just right that the cult would have such a failure and it acts as a wonderful payoff to a wonderful episode. 10/10
They are a clever group, presenting the facade of freedom to leave anytime you want but having OTT security measures in place to stop you. It starts simple enough during the initial brainwashing session, with a spotlight of shame, but soon turns into a bubble that will consume you assuming you've already dodged hounds, alligators and barbed wire. Their brainwashing methods are deceptively subtle too, with an extremely poor introductory video and several mindless chants, one of which is to the tune of the Batman theme.
Marge escapes and goes to Reverend Lovejoy and Ned Flanders to rescue and deprogram the family before the cult's team of lawyers (to whom Flanders is a hilariously good host) recapture Homer and take him back to the campus. He immediately tries to prove The Leader is only after their cash. This leads him to discover a real spacecraft does exist!
Of course, it's a fake. Ultimately it is The Leader's love of money that is his downfall as the spaceship is a shambles that swiftly falls apart. It's a ludicrous ending but it feels just right that the cult would have such a failure and it acts as a wonderful payoff to a wonderful episode. 10/10
Witty and funny episode about brainwashing!
Theraxorterminate6 November 2013
Now this is a great Simpsons episode, I think I would called this a classic. Why? Because it shows smart and witty jokes upon the situations where Homer suddenly takes advantage of the sect and then he and his children becomes so easily brainwashed of the sect. Not only that, this episode really shows the Simpsons being a smarter and better plot writing instead of trying too hard on fart jokes like Family Guy.
I think this episode deserves to be shown more often, it's witty, smart and interesting to look at what happens when a sect want's to take over you and become one of them? Is it true or fake? I won't tell you, see this episode I would highly recommend this to anyone.
I defy people who can't enjoy this episode. But of course if your'e religious you might not like it, but if you don't have any beliefs or you'd like to see a strange religion being mocked then here you go.
I think this episode deserves to be shown more often, it's witty, smart and interesting to look at what happens when a sect want's to take over you and become one of them? Is it true or fake? I won't tell you, see this episode I would highly recommend this to anyone.
I defy people who can't enjoy this episode. But of course if your'e religious you might not like it, but if you don't have any beliefs or you'd like to see a strange religion being mocked then here you go.
An Above Average "Cult" Classic
bscottcork7 June 2017
Warning: Spoilers
***Spoiler Alert**** Season 9 offered a wide variety of memorable episodes, with "The Joy of Sect" being at or near the top of the heap. This take on religious cults is hilarious from beginning to end, the funniest moments being when the Simpsons are herded up and moved into the Sect Compound where Homer and the kids are swept up into a zombie-like state of "Leader-mania". Marge steadfastly holds on to her own wits and is the only hope against total family surrender. Some of the funnier bits during the middle of the episode include takes on the theme from "Batman", Homer's collection of dried kidney beans that resemble the Leader, and Marge winning the kids over during a deprogramming effort with promises of hover bikes. At one point, Ned Flanders has a group of cult authorities assembled in his rumpus room for beer and gets so mad at one of them that he promises "mostly head", saying it in the only way Ned can, i.e., sexually ambiguous....hilarious indeed! The leader is ultimately exposed as a money-grabber and the Simpsons return to their home safe and sound.
Interesting ending
10086cn15 January 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Regarding the ending to this episode (where the Simpson family are "brainwashed" into watching Fox), we actually have an equivalent over here in Britain! (and no, I'm not making this up)
The equivalent here is the BBC brainwashing people into paying the TV license!
The equivalent here is the BBC brainwashing people into paying the TV license!
Nanananana Leader
Mark_Shine19 August 2023
A very necessary episode in a society like ours, with its rationality and its space for spirituality, but which takes advantage, when it can, of the excess of innocence so that some fall into the hands of harmful sects. Here the background of the sect does not matter, what is relevant is to see what is behind all of them, how their impossible promises conceal an eagerness to appropriate all our possessions. Like a coarse initial kindness they cover up a later tyranny. This episode is a comic shot at Heaven's Gate and Peoples Temple. It almost makes you feel sorry that religious documentaries on Netflix didn't exist then, since there would have been more space to complete the parody.
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