No, not a declarative statement there. The Simpsons does have a lot of episodes about the theme of love, not many of them take place on or around Valentine's Day. Here we do have one and a famous on at that. It's from season 4, and it's episode 15, under the name "I love Lisa".
I think an episode starting with "The Monster Mash" is a funny way to start a Valentine's Day episode. The radio DJ, who played it as a mistake trying to figure out a way to make it fit Valentine's Day is top tier.
Various members of Springfield are in Valentine's Day moments. Homer forgets, magically remembers, Bart knows he didn't remember and eggs him on, then he runs to get a gift. Ned Flanders doing his own over of the hit Rod Stewart "If you think I'm Sexy" is fun. Finally, it gets to the 2nd grade classroom with Lisa and also the other star of this episode, Ralph Wiggum.
It sets up that Ralph is a little strange and that the class thinks he's that too. After the Valentines exchange, Lisa sees that Ralph didn't get one, so she decides to kindly give him one. This makes Ralph very happy and sets up the plot. A line the show didn't know would become famous is born, "You Choo-Choo- choose me"
Ralph is so happy he decides to walk home with his Valentine, Lisa. We can declare that Ralph is a sweet character and awkward talking with him and Lisa is cute. He's brave talking to her though he didn't have trouble with that, so powerful for him. Lisa is being kind, but she's not really interested in Ralph. It makes a relatable episode. There's a charm to Homer's advice and its funny, Marge offering her simple advice is fitting and charming too.
Lisa tells Ralph she's not that interested. Ralph decides to ask his dad for advice about how to get a girl to like you. Now he's going to try to win Lisa's affections. There's the 29th Anniversary of the "Krusty Show" which will be playing into the episode, they mentioned it more than once. This episode also happens to be a Presidents' Day episode Lisa will be playing Maratha Washington and Ralph will be George. (Chief Wiggum extorting the teacher for his son is kind of sweet in a twisted way. Ralph also got Lisa two gifts: a new Malibu Stacy car toy and tickets to that anniversary show.
Bart is willing to do anything to go to see that show. even pretend to be Lisa and go as far as he has too. You have to admire his love of Krusty going that hard. Sadly, for Bart, Lisa goes with Ralph to the show. This episode will also make one wonder what exactly is Krusty's show?
We get the other most remembered scene form this episode where Krusty does a talking to the audience thing and goes to Ralph who declares his love for Lisa Simpson and this causes Lisa to explode, figuratively, and say that she does like him. We get the famous part were Bart uses the tape to show Lisa right where Ralph's heart break.
The Chief Wiggum being there for his son his really sweet, even if he does some dodgy things. I like that it shows he cares for his son and will do anything for him. Bart gets some funny and wild scenes in this episode, they sprinkle him to just add something funny each time and works to perfection. The play starts and there's also the fun "lesser presidents" song number. Homer at the play is funny too, he encourages Bart -as John Wilks Booth- to finish off some other presidents and cheers at the play being almost over.
Ralph playing Washington is great, they should give cartoon characters Oscars and then retroactively give Ralph one, because that was art. The ending is sweet to give a moment of Lisa giving Ralph a card saying let them be friends. Also capping off the episode with "The Monster Mash"
The hard part of talking about an exceptionally good episode and one that's pretty old is that it has been talked about a lot a lot. This episode is good because how strong it works. There's a great amount of little moments that are funny or sweet that bring it together, but also makes a good story with Lisa and Ralph. Lisa doesn't like Ralph- in that way- and tried to tell him but it didn't work, she really only takes advantage by going to the Krusty show, but otherwise doesn't play with his heart. Ralph's understandable that he first thought Lisa liked-him that way- but got the wrong message. The ending is sweet because it's Lisa trying to correct from hurting Ralph but still knowing her feelings, so being friends is great.
This episode isn't totally in comedy, but it has some great funny moments. Bart has the funniest moments in this, Homer coming up second. I'm also glad that thing where Homer kind of forgets Valentine's Day wasn't a b-plot, and kind of interested in how there really wasn't a b-plot story. Instead more side things happen that smaller and either add to the atmosphere or add something in the main plot.
I did stretch it's kind of only partially a Valentine's Day episode, but it works and yeah. I like this one, it's fun, there's a good amount of sweetness and the classic wholesomeness.
That's it for now, tune in next time when we choo-choose a different something.
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