The Simpsons Season 7 Episode 14: Scenes from the Class Struggle in Springfield

The Simpsons go to the Ogdenville outlet mall to buy a new television. When Marge and Lisa wander off to a discount store, Marge finds a fancy Chanel suit. As she buys the suit, she encounters an old classmate, Evelyn, who likes Marge's fashion and invites her to the Springfield Country Club.

While Marge tries to fit in with her group, the rest of the family is uncomfortable at the country club. When she wears her same suit again, her group tell her that it is "old news," and suggests her to wear a new suit. Marge tries to alter her suit for the club membership ceremony, but accidentally destroys it. Feeling desperate, Marge purchases a new expensive dress. When the Simpsons arrive at the club, Marge criticizes the behavior of everyone in her family. But when Homer tells his children that they should thank their mother for pointing out how bad they really are, Marge realizes that she has changed for the worse. They decided to go to Krusty Burger for dinner.

Meanwhile, Homer begins playing golf. Mr. Burns, having seen Homer's skill in the bathroom at work, challenges him to a match. However, once they begin playing, Homer, who is in disbelief at one of Mr. Burns' shots, runs over to the green and finds Mr. Smithers replacing the ball Mr. Burns hit with a new one that is close to the hole. Burns is shocked that Smithers was cheating in the golf gameby helping him. Homer wants to reveal the cheating to the entire club, but Burns threatens to block Homer's membership if he tells. Homer reluctantly agrees.

My thoughts:

How many times have I watched it: Thrice.

Couch Gag: The living room is bathed in black light, with the Simpsons in fluorescent colors while a hard rock guitar riff plays. Homer turns the light on and it returns back to normal.

My thoughts: This was a semi-pointless episode, although the ending was not too bad. The first act was pointless, revolving around a TV and a Chanel suit. The subplot, where Homer and Burns try to blackmail each other, was great at times. Most of the Simpsons characters were out of character. Marge, for example, goes against her values so willingly. Lisa is annoying (Really? Who would ask so many questions about a suit, while the person can mess up his/her knitting?) and Bart barely appears.

That leaves Homer as the best of the Simpsons characters. Along with Mr. Burns, he prevents the episode from becoming a complete dud. The first time I saw this, I knew that Burns was cheating, but I didn't expect Smithers was going to be a part of it! And golf was a good game to test who was better at the sport.

Overall, this was a mediocre episode. The subplot saved this one.

My grade; C+/B-