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Homer's Odyssey
The Simpsons Season 01, Episode 03
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
This episode features introduction of Otto the bus driver. "Sorry little dudes, party hardy equals tardy."
You know, maybe Matt Groening has a pair of twins in his family that he doesn't like because in addition to Patty and Selma, Terry and Sherry are identical female twins that aren't portrayed in the best light.
Oh yeah! Smithers looks black in this episode. I forgot about that. Then again, Sherry and Terry's father looks about the same shade, so maybe they're both just over-tanned.
This episode features the first of many instructional videos that were supposedly made in the '50s (and they are viewed using a projector). This one features Smilin' Joe Fission.
Blinky the three-eyed fish makes a cameo in this episode.
The series really starts with some deep financial woes, Homer doesn't get his Christmas bonus in the first episode. He loses his job and contemplates suicide in the third. Even suicide itself is hard, "nothing's easy" he says. It's pretty dark. They seem to lighten up as time passes.
Homer's colleague at the rally is dressed suspiciously similarly to Bill Cosby.
CONCLUSION
I think I've learned that there's a little Homer Simpson inside all of us. All told, it didn't actually seem like I was watching a sitcom, but I guess every show has its "serious" episodes. It does serve to give Homer's character a little depth. It's already clear that, dysfunctional or not, the Simpsons are supposed to be a loving family, but I think this episode is really about building the bedrock of Homer's character so that all the absurd things he does in the future will be easy to forgive. It's hard not to love this guy.
THIS EPISODE'S RATINGS
  4/5 donuts from Statler
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RATINGS LEGEND
= LAME
= BAD
= MEH
= GOOD
= CLASSIC
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PLOT SUMMARY FROM WIKIPEDIA
Bart's class attends a field trip to the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant. On the bus, Bart must sit next to Wendell; a classmate with horrible motion sickness. Bart is warned not to complain and is told that if he makes one more outburst, he will be forced to sing in front of the class. Sherri and Terri, the twins sitting behind Bart, both kiss him, causing him to yell. His annoyed teacher, Edna Krabappel, forces him to sing.
At the power plant Mr. Smithers shows the class an educational video about nuclear energy. During a tour of the plant, Homer greets Bart and causes an accident in this moment of distraction. Homer's supervisor (who is also Sherri's and Terri's father) immediately fires him.
Unable to find a job, Homer turns to alcohol as a "temporary solution" to his depression. However, there is no beer in his fridge and Moe will not add one to Homer's tab because he believes that Homer will never be able to repay him. In a moment of desperation, Homer smashes Bart's piggy bank. He then realizes that he hates the man he has become and decides to commit suicide. While the family is asleep, Homer writes them a goodbye letter, quietly ties a large boulder to his waist, and leaves the house. The rest of the family eventually awaken to find Homer's letter. They run to the bridge that Homer intends to jump from. When they all step into a street, a car almost hits them, but Homer saves them by pushing them off the road. Experiencing a eureka moment, Homer realizes that he profoundly cares not only for the safety of his own family but for that of the general public as well.
Homer motions City Hall for a stop sign at the intersection where his family was almost killed. Encouraged by the successful passing of this motion, he begins a crusade for public safety, erecting various warning signs all over Springfield. He soon realizes that the power plant is the town's most dangerous feature and with a growing mass of supporters, begins a campaign to shut it down. A nervous Mr. Burns offers to rehire Homer to a higher position (as nuclear safety inspector) with a larger paycheck, and uses an egg timer to give Homer 30 seconds to confer with himself. Homer decides that he would rather be a good provider to his family than a public savior, and that he cannot have Marge keep working as a carhop waitress. He takes the job, and Mr. Burns says that Homer's first assignment as safety inspector will be to end his campaign by announcing to the protestors that the SNPP is a safe plant. He tells his supporters to continue without him while he works to ensure the safety of the plant.
Accessed from Wikipedia on Feb. 20, 2010