Alone Again, Natura-Diddly (13 Feb. 2000)

Ned deals with his grief after Maude's untimely death.

Director:

Jim Reardon

Writers:

Matt Groening (creator), James L. Brooks (developer),

Stars:

Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright

Cast

Episode cast overview:
Dan Castellaneta	...	Homer Simpson / Clay Babcock / Willie (voice)
Julie Kavner	...	Marge Simpson (voice)
Nancy Cartwright	...	Bart Simpson / Ralph / Todd Flanders (voice)
Yeardley Smith	...	Lisa Simpson (voice)
Hank Azaria	...	Moe Szyslak / Cletus / Bumblebee Man / Frink / Apu / Kirk Van Houten / Pyro / Videogame Announcer / Carl (voice)
Harry Shearer	...	Ned Flanders / Track Announcer / Crew Chief / Dr. Hibbert / Lenny / Reverend Lovejoy / Captain McAllister / Skinner (voice)
Shawn Colvin	...	Rachel Jordan (voice)
Marcia Wallace	...	Mrs. Krabappel (voice)
Frank Welker	...	Parrot (voice)
Pamela Hayden	...	Rod Flanders (voice)
Tress MacNeille	...	Agnes Skinner / Mrs. Babcock / Brandine / Bernice Hibbert / Dating Service Clerk / Wharton Lady (voice)
Marcia Mitzman Gaven	...	Maude Flanders / Fan-demonium Girl / Diane (voice)

Storyline

Homer's juvenile antics at the speedway track result in Maude Flanders falling to her death. For once Homer is genuinely sorry for his bereaved neighbour and attempts to help Ned find a new lady-friend via video dating. However, it does not work and Ned is in danger of losing his faith - until he meets the lead singer in a Christian rock band, Rachel Jordan, with whom he strikes up a new friendship.

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Plot Keywords:

returning character killed off | death of wife | 2d animation | death of mother

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Genres:

Animation | Comedy | Family

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 February 2000 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

20th Century Fox Television, Gracie Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Quotes

Reverend Lovejoy: In many ways, Maude Flanders was a supporting player in our lives. She didn't grab our attention with memorable catchphrases, or comical accents.
Willie: Aye.
Captain McAllister: Yar.
Frink: Oh, glaven, why, glaven?
Reverend Lovejoy: But, whether you noticed her or not, Maude was always there... and we thought she always would be.

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Connections

References Cannibal! The Musical (1993)

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Soundtracks

"Bringing In the Sheaves"
(uncredited)
Music by George A. Minor

User Reviews

"Alone Again, Natura-Diddily" is a morally complex emotional powerhouse of an episode, and the best of the eleventh season!

This is without a doubt the best episode of the entire eleventh season of the series. It revolves around Flanders (my second most favorite character in the entire series). Basically, Homer and his family are at a race car competition... and Flanders is there also, with his dear wife, Maude. What happens here is a huge deal for hardcore Simpsons fans. Maude Flanders is accidentally killed! Homer goofs off when he asks for rolled up T-Shirt's to be flung in his direction... and he kneels down... causing an unsuspecting Maude (who was standing up) to be knocked off the stadium... and to her painful yet quick demise. This of course leaves Ned Flanders devastated for the rest of the episode. It's an emotional ride as Flanders struggles with his inner torment to withstand this great loss. Flanders is tremendously depressed at the funeral proceedings. He goes home to a lonely bed and holds air where his wife used to be. Homer is rather sweet to Flanders although he tries to make a video of him in order to find him another woman. Flanders doesn't want to betray Maude's memory as he's so loyal to her essence and being... and finds himself struggling to hold God close to his heart. The episode greatly portrays the challenge of staying true to religious beliefs regardless of conflicted emotions. Flanders questions God and why he's the one who's being punished... he can't accept this as he's the most loving and caring man and yet he is the one who suffers most of all... (with the pain of loss, the pain of his childhood, and the pain of withstanding numerous forms of anguish and torment. Flanders turns the image of God from the table beside his bed... and promises not to go to church... although he finds himself rushing to church and asking for forgiveness in the morning. As Flanders reaches the church, he sees a woman named Rachel Jordan, who sings a song at the church... and proceeds to move along with her band after the church proceeding ends. Flanders notices she needs help with her baggage and equipment and helps her load her traveling truck... and he ends up telling her that he'll be at church in Springfield if she ever decides to come back and visit. This adds a great deal of hope for Flanders and gives him a purpose for survival. God works in mysterious ways, and this episode portrays this to a powerful end... even under the worst circumstances, Flanders doesn't lose hope... and this makes this episode a rising and plummeting powerhouse of emotion, which solidifies it as a morally challenging and complex collision of struggle and healing... and in turn makes it the best episode of the season.