When you're watching like 12-15 seasons and you can see fantastic humour in those episodes. Then you come to 30 season and all you can see gays promotion, Russian spy, Donald Trump....
9 Reviews
Can't Help But Be Compared to its Competition
EvelioandZgroup17 August 2020
The episode won the Emmy for Outstanding Animated Program in 2019. Not surprisingly, this marks the 11th win for the series in this category, but, once you realize that it won against BoJack Horseman's "Free Churro" and Adventure Time's series finale "Come Along with Me", you begin to ask yourself, "Why did this episode win?"
Before I start, I am neglecting to mention that Bob's Burgers and Big Mouth were also nominated that year (Bob's 8th nomination and Big Mouth's 1st in this category), mainly because I haven't seen "Just One of the Boyz 4 Now for Now" and "The Planned Parenthood Show". So full discourse if (and by "if", I mean "most definitely") I come off as biased towards a certain episode from my favorite show...wait, where was I going this?
Any-who, the review.
"Mad About the Toy" follows Grandpa after having an episode when he sees toy army soldiers while babysitting the Simpsons kids. This embarks on a journey of identity, sexuality, and not signing a check that could've gotten you hundreds of millions of dollars just left on the table.
On its own, the episode is pretty funny. The sped-up anniversary date is a fun visual gag, and nearly all the jokes land. Does it compare to the Golden Age of Simpson episodes? Well, that depends on how you categorize great episodes. The best episodes are hilarious, boasting great satire, amazing commentary on pop culture, and the human condition at its most emotionally earnest. This episode is funny, but also explore's masculinity and sexuality using Grandpa as a template through a confused gay encounter. But while Grandpa does go through an arc, the episode is more concerned about being funny and satirical, while also commenting on current day events and people. "Reluctant Home of Ted Cruz" anybody? It still follows the classic Simpson's format, but it isn't an episode I would consider great. And I believe that has to do with timing.
This episode came out on January 9th, 2019. The 2010s have premiered great animated shows since then: Ricky and Morty, Archer, The Legend of Korra, Star vs The Forces of Evil, Regular Show, Steven Universe, Gravity Falls, F is for Family, Amazing World of Gumball, and the shows that were nominated year.
Needless to say, during the 90s the Simpson's was the frontrunner of animated programs, comedy, and writing. Now, they're considered more of a hollow shell of their former glory. Since then, cartoons have progressed and evolved to the point that we can have them ranked among the best TV has to offer. That's not to say The Simpsons can't evolve with the time, but there's so only much you can do with these characters and settings.
Although cartoons have yet to reach the same level of award recognition, (the only two to have been nominated for Outstanding Comedy Series at the Emmys were the Flintstones in 1961 for its 1st and Family Guy in 2009 for its 7th season, with neither winning) cartoons have and continue to appeal to every age possible. There's a variety for all, and we aren't bound to even one specific genre for animation. They can be funny, sure, but they can dark and thrilling with concerns over control and morality (Death Note, anyone?), sad and depressing with issues centered around religion (Moral Orel), straight-up surreal and absurd (Xavier: Renegade Angel), etc.
2019 saw BoJack Horseman deliver an episode-long monologue/eulogy about his mother and life ("Free Churro") and is considered to be a groundbreaking game-changer by almost redefining and to define what animation can do. Adventure Time saw the culmination of several story arcs that resulted in an epic family that had kids who matured into their adolescence and adulthood to witness their favorite characters ("Come Along with Me"). Big Mouth is able to tackle such raunchy material of puberty...with kids!?!?! and manage to tackle issues like sexuality, abortion, interracial relationships, masturbation, etc. Bob's Burgers is essentially the 2010s version of The Simpsons, having an animated family sitcom tackle current day and absurd topics. Kind of like how Family Guy and American tried to be that for the 2000s and succeeded but aged poorly. Bob's Burgers, however, has succeeded by focusing on the heart of all great stories: caring about its character.
Yes, this has been a ramble over a solid episode of animation, but what propelled me to write about this were the reviews. Most seemed to deem this attempting to "woke" or rage against what should've won the Emmy that year. I decided to give the episode a fair chance and critique it from a different perspective. But what I wound up doing was just write about what the win signifies and how we are part of a new generation of TV consumers, and our tastes have changed drastically since the 90s consumer, and the 2000s. But we still hunger for the same thing we always have from cartoons: to feel something and enjoy ourselves.
Before I start, I am neglecting to mention that Bob's Burgers and Big Mouth were also nominated that year (Bob's 8th nomination and Big Mouth's 1st in this category), mainly because I haven't seen "Just One of the Boyz 4 Now for Now" and "The Planned Parenthood Show". So full discourse if (and by "if", I mean "most definitely") I come off as biased towards a certain episode from my favorite show...wait, where was I going this?
Any-who, the review.
"Mad About the Toy" follows Grandpa after having an episode when he sees toy army soldiers while babysitting the Simpsons kids. This embarks on a journey of identity, sexuality, and not signing a check that could've gotten you hundreds of millions of dollars just left on the table.
On its own, the episode is pretty funny. The sped-up anniversary date is a fun visual gag, and nearly all the jokes land. Does it compare to the Golden Age of Simpson episodes? Well, that depends on how you categorize great episodes. The best episodes are hilarious, boasting great satire, amazing commentary on pop culture, and the human condition at its most emotionally earnest. This episode is funny, but also explore's masculinity and sexuality using Grandpa as a template through a confused gay encounter. But while Grandpa does go through an arc, the episode is more concerned about being funny and satirical, while also commenting on current day events and people. "Reluctant Home of Ted Cruz" anybody? It still follows the classic Simpson's format, but it isn't an episode I would consider great. And I believe that has to do with timing.
This episode came out on January 9th, 2019. The 2010s have premiered great animated shows since then: Ricky and Morty, Archer, The Legend of Korra, Star vs The Forces of Evil, Regular Show, Steven Universe, Gravity Falls, F is for Family, Amazing World of Gumball, and the shows that were nominated year.
Needless to say, during the 90s the Simpson's was the frontrunner of animated programs, comedy, and writing. Now, they're considered more of a hollow shell of their former glory. Since then, cartoons have progressed and evolved to the point that we can have them ranked among the best TV has to offer. That's not to say The Simpsons can't evolve with the time, but there's so only much you can do with these characters and settings.
Although cartoons have yet to reach the same level of award recognition, (the only two to have been nominated for Outstanding Comedy Series at the Emmys were the Flintstones in 1961 for its 1st and Family Guy in 2009 for its 7th season, with neither winning) cartoons have and continue to appeal to every age possible. There's a variety for all, and we aren't bound to even one specific genre for animation. They can be funny, sure, but they can dark and thrilling with concerns over control and morality (Death Note, anyone?), sad and depressing with issues centered around religion (Moral Orel), straight-up surreal and absurd (Xavier: Renegade Angel), etc.
2019 saw BoJack Horseman deliver an episode-long monologue/eulogy about his mother and life ("Free Churro") and is considered to be a groundbreaking game-changer by almost redefining and to define what animation can do. Adventure Time saw the culmination of several story arcs that resulted in an epic family that had kids who matured into their adolescence and adulthood to witness their favorite characters ("Come Along with Me"). Big Mouth is able to tackle such raunchy material of puberty...with kids!?!?! and manage to tackle issues like sexuality, abortion, interracial relationships, masturbation, etc. Bob's Burgers is essentially the 2010s version of The Simpsons, having an animated family sitcom tackle current day and absurd topics. Kind of like how Family Guy and American tried to be that for the 2000s and succeeded but aged poorly. Bob's Burgers, however, has succeeded by focusing on the heart of all great stories: caring about its character.
Yes, this has been a ramble over a solid episode of animation, but what propelled me to write about this were the reviews. Most seemed to deem this attempting to "woke" or rage against what should've won the Emmy that year. I decided to give the episode a fair chance and critique it from a different perspective. But what I wound up doing was just write about what the win signifies and how we are part of a new generation of TV consumers, and our tastes have changed drastically since the 90s consumer, and the 2000s. But we still hunger for the same thing we always have from cartoons: to feel something and enjoy ourselves.
Won above Free Churro in Emmies
Oktay_Tuna3 February 2020
Amazing
JQPbannana55789 December 2020
NOT an award winning episode.
nathanjhunt110 April 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Firstly, how on Earth did this episode win an Emmy? How embarrassing! Shows just how corrupt those award shows are, as I haven't seen one person who actually enjoyed the episode.
Simply put, The Simpsons has run on for too long. For Abe to have been in his mid-20s or 30s fighting in WWII, he would now be over 100 years old. This is a serious plot hole in modern Simpsons, as he clearly isn't quite that old in the show.
That aside, the first 5 minutes of the show has a few moments of brief, but the plot really went downhill. We could of had an episode confronting the bad things Abe may or may not have done during the war... a real deep-meaning and hard-hitting episode. But instead Abe turns out to be a model and potentially gay...(?)
Abe says a man kissed him in 1947. So for some reason, 72 years later, he goes to Texas to find him after realising he loves this man. Seriously? 7 decades later, after one unrequited kiss? This plot is stupid! And simply put, offensive to homosexuals.
Some things gave me a chuckle through the episode - so not as terrible as most modern episodes - but the plot was very bad. I really don't understand the point of this episode, as nothing comes out of it.
Simply put, The Simpsons has run on for too long. For Abe to have been in his mid-20s or 30s fighting in WWII, he would now be over 100 years old. This is a serious plot hole in modern Simpsons, as he clearly isn't quite that old in the show.
That aside, the first 5 minutes of the show has a few moments of brief, but the plot really went downhill. We could of had an episode confronting the bad things Abe may or may not have done during the war... a real deep-meaning and hard-hitting episode. But instead Abe turns out to be a model and potentially gay...(?)
Abe says a man kissed him in 1947. So for some reason, 72 years later, he goes to Texas to find him after realising he loves this man. Seriously? 7 decades later, after one unrequited kiss? This plot is stupid! And simply put, offensive to homosexuals.
Some things gave me a chuckle through the episode - so not as terrible as most modern episodes - but the plot was very bad. I really don't understand the point of this episode, as nothing comes out of it.
Woke crap
promontorium19975 May 2019
Grandpa Simpson was once shown as a woman after mixing up some medicine, long way back in the heyday of the series. It was hysterical. Specially when he flirted with Jasper.
This thing, on the other, is just the same woke agenda that's been killing once upon a time funny shows. Plus, it's also quite disrespectful with WW2 veterans.
This thing, on the other, is just the same woke agenda that's been killing once upon a time funny shows. Plus, it's also quite disrespectful with WW2 veterans.
The sun has set...
Sweetigal8515 January 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Let me start by saying that my beloved brother is gay and I truly believe that this episode is offensive to homosexuals and soldiers. The starter plot was great and reminded me of classic simpsons. I couldn't wait to see how it turned out and was shockingly disappointed. The simpsons used to be about springfield and the wacky adventures of their whimsical characters (many of which are gay and always have been) So why would they choose to make this clumsy, nonsensical episode where Grampa Simpson randomly goes on a strange quest to find out if he may be gay? Because now the writers like to crowbar politics into every episode, the entirety of America has been crammed into Springfield which has now been swallowed whole. The Simpsons used to be more veiled and creative when it came to politics but now every line is just a sharp jab at non-liberals. Again, my brother is gay, the simpsons have several wonderful gay characters who I thoroughly enjoy and they have created great episodes in the past which feature gay storylines. This is not one of them. Shameless, ridiculous plot to prove...what, exactly? The worst part is the end when the boys are repeatedly mocking the Iraq war. Any neutrality they once mastered is now gone, seemingly forever. I am done with new simpsons for a while. I miss when they were intricate, lovable characters and not just mouthpieces for raging liberals.
Inconsistent
SureCommaNot8 January 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Really strange episode, where we witness two men committing on-the-job sexual assaults. One is seemingly excused for it, and seen as a misunderstood victim of sorts, and a hero. The other gets horribly poisoned over time, in a way meant to elicit laughter and applause from the viewer.
I thought assault was assault.
I thought assault was assault.
C'mon... really?
Deadprix27 July 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Just... awful, this was a horrible episode, it didn't even have funny moments in it. Just more past this past that, it didn't matter Grandpa was with several female women he was incredibly happy with, those past episodes where they made jokes about his sexuality, ( Like the gag about " Boys you both can have me! " or cross dressing for H*tler, or even the bit where Marge thinks he was gay. ) Funny ACTUAL funny moments.
This was some sort of " cry " episode supposed to make you feel like Grandpa could ( should in their view ) be gay. Just No. I mean, No. It's not even just about the bad story line, but there were NO jokes either.
This was some sort of " cry " episode supposed to make you feel like Grandpa could ( should in their view ) be gay. Just No. I mean, No. It's not even just about the bad story line, but there were NO jokes either.
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