This episode isn't memorable for its many laughs inasmuch as its subject. In this one, the cute, always indulgent, Ned Flanders discovers that he lived too indulgent life, too indulgent to be bearable for any human being. Though, he goes through some journey where he knows himself better, and learns that anger is a human act which he sinned when refused the license to it.
Although it's simple episode, but it's smart in the same time. Look at the scene in which Ned expresses his confusion to God at night in the church, concentrate well on how the camera goes higher and higher like Ned's pain increases, or maybe because this catastrophes that he meets along with his very confusion are for a higher purpose that he didn't know yet. I liked how his afflictions led him to anger, and then this anger led him to explore himself, so reaching his hidden problem (his beatnik parents).
Ned hated his parents' way of life, and tried all what he could to be unlike them.. inordinately unlike them; and that's a problem. Plus when I rethought about the way which the doctor treated young Ned (the 8 months spanking), I discovered how this made him suppress his negative feelings too early in his life. This characterization got my esteem for being plain, short and sharp.
It was wonderful as well to see how the whole thing was solved nearly by Homer at the end; not because he's the one that can gets on Ned's nerves best, but because he's his total opposite, where Ned can clearly see what he's missing; so the design of the climactic scene was metaphorically representing, by the direct confrontation, kind of antithesis mirror that doesn't show Ned what he already has, instead it shows him the "more human" type that he refuses to be, or rather his complete contrary that he needs part of it to be balanced.
(Harry Shearer) is a vocal force of nature; this man redefines the word 'fabulous'. For anyone who doesn't aware, the talented Mr. (Shearer) is the one who performs the voices of: Montgomery Burns, Waylon Smithers, Ned Flanders, Kent Brockman, Rev. Lovejoy, Principal Skinner, Dr. Hibbert, Rainer Wolfcastle and many more. It must be exhausting to act dozen of characters every episode, though he always handled it sweetly, providing every character with its own characteristics so creatively (to be Burns and Smithers together in more than scene.. just WAW!). Here, he astonished me utterly. His tone was remarkable when he was in the middle of his house's debris. Or at his hysteric explosion when we're allowed finally to hear Ned's loud voice and long-curbed anger!
I loved exploiting Ned's funny catchphrase, "diddle-e-diddle-e-diddle-e", as the defense mechanism that he uses unconsciously, or showing how it doesn't work this time. Actually the dialogue of the Hurricane Neddy scene was perfect, especially the 2 lines: "Homer, you're the worst human being I've ever met / I got off easy!".
Many sitcoms use stereotypes to make laughs, but don't venture to go and explore them, showing the mild surface and the droll manners more than making human characters that can make you think and feel about the others and yourself. However, this cartoon show did what countless live shows didn't, achieving quite fine result. Sometimes The Simpsons got this exceptional capacity to touch and teach while being entertaining. Re-watch (Hurricane Neddy) again to understand why it, along with its show, will live longer indeed.
4 out of 7 found this helpful.
Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
