Simpson Tide
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"Simpson Tide" is the nineteenth episode of The Simpsons' ninth season. The episode first aired on March 29, 1998. The episode title puns on the film Crimson Tide.
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[edit] Synopsis
Homer, Lenny and Carl all want a doughnut, but only one is left. Homer thinks up a solution: he places the donut in the reactor core in an attempt to make it huge. Within ten minutes, the power plant is on fire and Homer is fired.
After seeing a recruitment advert on TV, Homer decides to enlist in "America's seventeenth line of defense," the United States Naval Reserve. Moe, Barney, and Apu join him.
Meanwhile, Bart is impressed when Milhouse gets an earring. As earrings become a fad, Bart gets his ear pierced, much to Homer's outrage.
Soon after Homer and the others graduate, they are subjected to the annual war games. Bart and Homer have an argument as Homer prepares to board the submarine and Bart gives Homer the earring.
When the captain of Homer's vessel, Cpt. Tenille, goes to check on a problem in the torpedo hatch, Homer is left in charge. At this point, an enemy submarine approaches Homer's, and Homer immediately responds by giving the order to fire a torpedo. Unfortunately, as Cpt. Tenille is in the torpedo hatch, he is fired at the other submarine. The other sub fires back at them, and Homer gives the order to retreat.
Homer fails to find his way back to Springfield, and ends up going entirely the wrong way, ending up in Russian waters. This is interpreted by the United States government as an attempt to hi-jack the sub, and the media brands Homer a traitor. This event creates a political schism between the USA and Russia; the Russian government reveals that the Soviet Union still exists, and that its fall was merely a ruse. As such, the diplomat switches his name plate to "Soviet Union" mode, and curious changes occur in Russia. Tanks emerge from within floats depicting teddy bears in a parade in front of the Kremlin, goosestepping troops parade, the Berlin Wall reappears from nowhere and Lenin returns from the dead.
Nuclear war is anticipated until the US Navy drops depth charges on the sub, aiming either to destroy it or force it to surface. The consequent explosion causes a pinhole leak in the submarine's wall. The crew all believe their situation is fatal until Homer remembers the earring he took from Bart. He uses it to plug the leak and saves the submarine.
The vessel surfaces and Homer is taken to be prosecuted; however, he is let off the hook because all of the officers at his hearing are under indictment for various offenses. Homer receives a dishonorable discharge and forgives Bart, as the earring saved his life. Homer gives it back to Bart.
[edit] Cultural references
- Many parts of this episode refer to the 1995 film Crimson Tide, including the episode title, the story taking place in a nuclear submarine, and Homer's meeting with the naval court.
- Homer's dream is reminiscent of the film The Planet of the Apes.
- Grampa Simpson attacked John F. Kennedy on the PT 109 when Kennedy states "Ich bin ein Berliner" (one of Kennedy's famous quotes) and Grampa mistakes him for a Nazi.
- One of the submarine crew's name is Mr. Sulu, the character from Star Trek. He is a "simpsonised" version of the character.
- The name Capt. Tennille is inspired by the 1970s musical duo Captain and Tennille.
- The Russian roulette scene parodies a similar scene from The Deer Hunter.
- The opening couch gag is a perfect recreation of the old Rocky and Bullwinkle animated bumper seen at the end of each Bullwinkle short. In the Simpsons version, we see clouds with thunder and lightning, and then silhouettes of the Simpsons family run back and forth on a cliff that is collapsing. Next, the family falls headfirst through a prepice in the gorge. Then we see the outline of the Simpson family form piece-by-piece, floating through a mosiac of colors. Finally, under a red happy sun, pink daisies sprout out of the ground and the Simpsons family sprouts out from the dirt, too. Bart spits out a clod of dirt with a flower in it. The music accompanying the Simpson remake is also adapted from the original music in the Rocky and Bullwinkle bumper.
- The Village People's song "In The Navy" is the "ancient sea shanty" sung after the sub is cast off. The Village People also appear during the song sequence (though the cop is shown as yellow instead of black) and Smithers appears briefly.
[edit] Trivia
- This was the last episode Al Jean and Mike Reiss show-ran together, both would return in season 13 Jean as show runner and Reiss as producer
- Reiss on DVD commentary for episode:"This is my last commentary after March 29, 1998 I never did anything for the show worth commentating on"
- This episode was originally pitched before Crimson Tide came out, when it was produced a few years later some of the plot and the title were changed.
- This episode keeps up the running gag about the dark nature of the backroom of Moe's bar. In it we see a game of Russian Roulette being played, (much like The Deer Hunter), with several people involved, including Krusty the Clown and Principal Skinner. Other episodes which feature this running gag are Cape Feare and The Springfield Files.
- When the captain talks about "the nitrogen bubbles in my brain" it is an inaccurate reference to the bends. A submarine maintained at sea level air pressure so there is no risk of excess nitrogen dissolving in the blood.
[edit] External links
- "Simpson Tide" episode capsule at The Simpsons Archive
