REVIEW: The Great Louse Detective

Topic: Sometimes the voices tell me to change the topic.

Users: @SuzyQ

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[Molloy the Catburglar]

Lots of spoilers, of course.  Read at your own risk.

SYNOPSIS:  After somebody starts haunting Homer and trying to kill him, Police Chief Wiggum has Sideshow Bob go everywhere with Homer to try and figure out who the attempted killer is (y'know, in a Hannibal Lector sort of way).  Sideshow Bob also still has a few things in mind concerning Bart.

Oh, man....I feared the worst, but this episode rocked hard.  Sure, there were a few 'meh' moments and one or two unfunny jokes, but this is easily the best episode of the season so far.  Sideshow Bob is utterly fantastic in characterization, participation in the plot and is very well-animated; Bob's participation in this episode almost wipes out the memory of 'Day of the Jackanapes'.  Homer is very funny instead of jerk-ass-y, and Maggie, the rest of the family and several supporting characters had good parts too.  Lots of great jokes, asides and scenes, I just kept laughing throughout most of the episode.  The first act was a little slow, but it was setting the stage and the following two acts were excellent.  There was even this hysterical song-sequence with Bart and Bob in the third act (yep, Bob sings again) that nearly had me in tears here and there.  And as far as who the attempted killer turns out to be, I'll only say this:  it totally shocked me.

All in all, a great episode and loads and loads of great Bob.  I give it an A-.

SIDESHOW BOB:  [watching a show, talking conversationally to Maggie]  You know, Bob Hale gave this show a good review.  [twirls a bit of hair]  And I'm the one in prison.

[Missing Person]

A great episode, I agree. Homer's list of enemies was pretty funny. All the clues are there, so you could figure out who's trying to kill Homer (except for his name) before the episode ends. There isn't much for me to say that Sheana hasn't already said, so I'll just shut up now and list some of my favorite quotes like I always do.

[Chief Wiggum attempts to use the hand scanner to open the cell]
Computer: Access denied.
Wiggum: Aw, geez, I gotta use the fork.
[He pries the lock open with a fork and the doors open, revealing Sideshow Bob in lots and lots of restraints.]
Bart and Lisa: AHH! SIDESHOW BOB!!!
Bob: Please, we've been through so much together. Just call me Bob.
Bart and Lisa: AHH! BOB!!!

Bob: Now, I'll need 'round the clock access to the Simpson's home. And I'll need to monitor their everyday routines.
Homer: Why don't you just move in with us?
Bart: Dad! You'd risk my life to save yours?!
Homer: You'll understand when you have kids.

[Wiggum tapes a device to Bob's leg, then hands Bart a remote]
Wiggum: Now, if he even so much as looks at you funny, you can just press that button and zap him with a jolt of electricity. [to Bob] And don't even try to take it off! It's taped to your leg hairs!

Bob: How can one ordinary man have so many enemies?!
Homer: I'm a real people person... who drinks.

[Bob sets up a dummy Homer in the front yard, and the family watches from the bushes to see if the killer appears. Moe runs up and beats it with a bat.]
Moe: Ha! Now who's the sociopath, huh? [runs away]
Homer: I don't believe it!
Bob: And there you have it. Your killer is- wait a moment!
[Patty and Selma stop their car in front of the house and throw a cinderblock at the dummy, which knocks it's head off]
Selma: Yes! He's hurt! Floor it! [they speed away]
Marge: These aren't Homer's enemies! They're just friends and family who want to see him suffer!
[Groundskeeper Willie runs by and impales the dummy with a hoe, then Reverend Lovejoy starts kicking it in the crotch]
Lovejoy: Thank you, Lord! [kicks some more, then runs]
[Homer tackles the dummy and starts beating it]
Homer Ha ha! If I kill you, then I'll be the real Homer!
Bob: [to the rest of the family] And none of this is strange to you?

[At the Mardis Gras celebration (of which Homer is King) the attempted killer flees on stilts, and Homer and Bob give chase. Jimbo and one of the other bullies (can't remember which one) walk by on stilts]
Homer: We need to commandeer these! Your King commands it!
Jimbo: Jesus is our only King!

There were so many great lines in this one.

[Robowolf]

The song at the end was great.

BART: [Takes off gag tape] He's gotten used to my face...
ROBERT: This isn't a duet.
BART: Sorry. [Puts gag tape back on]

I didn't quote know what to make of this episode; it was a puzzle. I loved it, but I don't quite know why...

[delta3030]

i find it wierd that bob would still have his vendetta against bart....remember the one where his brother cecil comes...i thought he actually took a liking to the simpsons siblings


BOB: BUT I SAVED THE CHILDREN'S LIVES....IM' A HERO!!!

CECIL: tell them they'll live to regret this.

BOB:YOU'LL LIVE TO REGRET THIS!!!!.....o great now it looks like i'm the criminal

[Molloy the Catburglar]

Bob: [to the rest of the family] And none of this is strange to you?

Ah, that part really cracked me up.

[Stretch Dude]

My only complaint about this episode is that they made the culprit look too much like Grimey. I predicted a relation as soon as I saw him. If they had at least given him one o' them spiffy mechanic hats to hide his hair and/or eyes, it would have been more of a surprise. Other than that, it was good old-fashioned brilliance. Hail to thee, Al Jean!

(I'd say, "Al Jean is my only king," but that's not really true. )

[Lilith]

I thought it was awesome, somewhere I knew it had something to do with Frank Grimes, but I just thought he would fake his own death! I was surprised to find out he had a son!
 And this time Lisa didn't exactley figure out the murderer, which is funny in itself cause they thought it to be the bumblebee man! LOL

[Stretch Dude]

I thought it was awesome, somewhere I knew it had something to do with Frank Grimes, but I just thought he would fake his own death!

How exactly could he have done that? He electrocuted himself in full view of several people.

[A Spy in Mancunia]

Oh my...

Frank Grimes came back? I didn't think F*x could go *this* low.

[Jon]

Er...no, Frank Grimes is definitely dead...

[Molloy the Catburglar]

Uh....Frank Grimes is dead.  Don't worry, Chris.  It'll make more sense when you see the episode.

(And way to go, guys.  Ever hear of not revealing who the surprise culprit is to a room full of people who have not seen the episode?)

[Robowolf]

Bob: [to the rest of the family] And none of this is strange to you?

I loved the family's reaction to that question. This was truly a great episode. [Sobs with joy]

[Jon]

Wow. I'd give it a B-
Some great jokes, but way to many so-so ones. And the ending song? Did they really have to let it go on for that long?

At least it was better than 'Day of the Jackanapes'.

[Robowolf]

Kill the heretic!

[Friz]

I did enjoy this episode. The whole "If I kill you, they'll think I'm the real Homer!" was a great line. The whole Homer pullling skin/collar thing was a tad "Eww...". And yes, Frank Grimes Is dead. But he happened to like hookers.