S1E11: The Crepes of Wraith
I guess what I'm saying is...don't mess up France the way you messed up your room.
I’ve made the parallel between ‘Homer & Homers’ and ‘Julie & Julia’ before. Both blogs, documenting daily practice, containing ampersands, and lamenting the shared bravery such discipline demands (French cooking and watching The Simpsons are equally difficult and noble pursuits).
What’s distinct and memorable about Julie’s blog (…as it was depicted in the movie) is the affinity she gains with Julia Child. She ‘talks’ to her, as she cooks.
John Swartzwelder is my Julia Child.
Here’s when I first knew we had something special.
In Call of The Simpsons, when Homer and Bart go over a waterfall, Homer thinks Bart is dead because he’s found his ‘lucky red hat’.
This gag is repeated in S5E12 (‘Bart Gets Famous’) when Bart is at the box factory. Another episode written by John (and an episode which stars Conan O’Brien, my other Julia Child).
The first frame of The Crepes of Wraith, is Bart, in his lucky red hat.
And one of the episode’s writers? John Swartzwelder.
I can only hope that by the time I finish this blog, John hates me marginally less than Julia Child hated Julie.
The byline of The Crepes of Wraith reads:
‘A story about how Bart saves France after blowing up Principal Skinner’s mom with a cherry bomb’.
Which sounds awesome. Feels more Season Five-y (Bart Gets an Elephant, Deep Space Homer, Marge on the Lam).
I’m reminded…of my review of The Call of The Simpsons, in which I commented:
It’s his holistic storytelling ability, I think, which speaks to his genius. The pace at which the story develops is unexpected yet believable.
The Crepes of Wraith further proves this theory (that’s my theory we’re talking about. I’m quoting myself. Me. Me.) You hardly bat an eye as we transition from Bart planting a cherry bomb to Bart being placed on an exchange program to France (as punishment…is this what life was like before the GFC?).
While Bart is in France, basically an indentured servant in a vineyard, The Simpsons get their own exchange student: Adil from Albania, who brings an Eastern European philosophy to the dinner table (‘How can you defend a country where 5% of the people control 95% of the wealth?).
HOMER: Please, please, kids. Stop fighting. Maybe Lisa's right about America being a land of opportunity, and maybe Adil has a point about the machinery of capitalism being oiled with the blood of the workers.
Between Bart’s abuse at the hands of the French and Adil’s increasing interest in the goings-on at the Nuclear Powerplant we’ve got us a classic Simpsons A/B storyline.
Bart learns French, so he can communicate the criminal conduct of his exchange ‘family’ (child abuse, adding anti-freeze to wine). The FBI closes in on and arrests Adil ‘The Sparrow’.
In the end, Bart returns, Adil leaves. The golden rule of sit-coms is met with moments to spare. Lots has happened, but nothing has changed.
Except Bart can speak French now. Sure that will be relevant in episodes to come…
Review: 4/5
Chalkboard Gag: Garlic Gum is Not Funny
Couch Gag: A repeat of S1E2, S1E4 and S1E6 except instead of Homer or Bart getting launched off the couch, it’s Homer. Again.