The Computer Wore Menace Shoes

Homer starts to dish the goss on Springfield life in this episode from the 12th series.

For me for all the good moments in this episode, and there are some, there's also evidence of a darker humour, which is apparent through a few of these Mike Scully exec produced episodes, and I found that off putting.

People often says older Simpsons are the better Simpsons and is true. Until 2000 the series was a long stretch of victories. This is the first episode when you feel something has changed and not for better. The episode have one of the stellar moments of the series with MR X tale: first half is flawless and very memorable 20 years after. Thing become very awful in the last part: that about that British series nobody knows. The Simpsons always made references to pop culture (i see the plot of The Shining in the Simpsons before the movie or TV serie) but always work as stand alone piece: was not a prerequisite to know what they were making reference.

In this episode simply don't work: there was a over reliance on "The Prisioner" to understand what was happening and that was a big mistake. The last part ot the episode is a mess.

I thought this was a strange episode until I saw the credits... and the name Patrick McGoohan.

A little research explained the strangeness. The Island is a take-off of the cult TV show "The Prisoner", with McGoohan. And wouldn't you know it, an obscure cable station was airing that very show! Viewing ensued...

I now understand every reference this episode makes. BUT, if you have never seen "The Prisoner", you will be VERY clueless. (Incidentally, there were no flamingos in the original, not sure where those are from UNLESS maybe Fantasy Island?)

As far as I know, this was the last role that McGoohan took, and I find it interesting that a man who shunned the press and seemed to want to keep his show's secrets secret, would lend his voice to his famous alter-ego once more, in cartoon form! I only wish he had been given more lines...

"The Computer Wore Menace Shoes" is an impressive episode of The Simpsons. While many praise the first half for its relatable humor, I consider the entire episode to be a gem, and I'll explain why.

The first half is solid, but it truly comes to life with the introduction of the second half when Homer gets kidnapped. At that point, the episode takes on a kind of enviable cinematic quality reminiscent of action movies. It becomes weird, but not in a bad way; quite the opposite, it's an impressively weird take on action, kidnappings, or spy films.

As soon as Homer arrives on the island, the episode's soundtrack undergoes a transformation, now mimicking the spy movie scores of the '60s or '70s. The moment when the villain descends from the ceiling, clinging to a suction cup attached to his bald head, is particularly impressive, with the music intensifying and building as he descends. This is why, my friends, I strongly recommend using my viewing method, as I've discussed in previous reviews, when watching anthological and animated series where characters don't age. It allows you to appreciate these details much better.

Of course, the episode is also filled with countless hilarious moments. As someone who watched this episode as a child, I can assure you that it is genuinely surprising and entertaining for younger viewers.

This is one of the weaker episodes I've seen. When I was going through my Simpsons re-education (I guess a better word than binge, since I was playing catch-up on a show I damn well should have been watching all these years). It attracted me for the third-act reference to "The Prisoner", and I do like that Patrick McGoohan was game for an appearance on this show. But a better spoof it could've been.

There are some decent laughs in the lead-up; the computer salesman, the gag on late-nineties Hamster Dance websites (jeez, that was a lifetime ago) and Lisa's hand-wringing over Homer's disregard of the First Amendment. But having him sent to the island for a series of wink-wink references just falls flat.

6/10