The Simpsons (TV Series) Secrets of a Successful Marriage (1994) User Reviews

Some things stay sacred

[snoozejonc · 9/10 · 16 October 2022]

Homer becomes an teacher of marital success.

This is a memorable episode that mixes comedy and good observations about human behaviour.

It is a quintessential Homer Simpson episode that portrays the character at his most well meaning, needy and embarrassingly inept. As much as I cringe at certain moments that come as a result of his quest for admiration, I despair at those who egg him on. I have see a lot of this dynamic for real in gossipy workplaces over the years.

Of course it's all done with great Simpsons humour and the irony of watching his marriage almost disintegrate as he attempts to show others how it's meant to be done is fantastic. I think my favourite moment is when the whole class turns up at the house.

Season five wraps up

[safenoe · 7/10 · 26 April 2024]

Secrets of a Successful Marriage is the season five finale, and this episode gets quite serious when it comes to love and marriage, and how Homer becomes famous amongst his group when he reveals the secrets of his successful marriage with Marge, but in a way it's quite prescient now with social media being quite open about relationships and all init, along with reality TV that follow the real housewives quite ironically. Anyway, I'm enjoying reflecting on The Simpsons and especially the golden era, being the first 10 seasons, so this episode kind of represents the halfway point of the golden years.

See You Later, Educator

[Hitchcoc · 9/10 · 26 May 2022]

Homer is depressed after being told he is slow that he decide to teach an adult education class on how to have a successful marriage. Of course, he goes overboard with information about his and Marge's relationship. Soon the family is being assaulted by peeping eyes. Homer ends up being thrown out of the house and must win back Marge's trust.

S5: Continues the high standard even if some of the plots are silly

[bob the moo · 26 August 2013]

In some ways it is hard to look back on the Simpsons for me since I have seen so many of the episodes so many times and often know some episodes inside out. That said it is to its credit that I still find it funny and still continue to find lots of little things that I may have missed (or been too young for) the first time around. This fifth season pretty much continues the very high standard of the previous season. The only slight difference that stood out for me was that a higher percentage of the plots than before seemed to be more fantastic in nature rather than grounded in a semi-real world. So Homer goes to space, Bart becomes famous, the family get an elephant, Bart becomes Burns' heir etc; I had no problem with any of these, but it felt stepped up a little bit and it stuck in my mind. Even the writers acknowledge this a little bit by having a joke about going along with the adventures knowing that all will be back to normal the following week.

Outside of this though it is business as normal. Each episode is quite brilliant – delivering a story but packing it full of sight-jokes, great dialogue and tones of cultural references, the vast majority of which are smartly done. There were a couple of times this season again when I had to Google to get the full context of some of the references. The animation is consistent and the supporting characters continue to be well used whether it is to drive a specific plot or just little asides which are both funny but also build up the understanding of who the character is. This ensemble feel is well done and adds a lot of value to the show.

This fifth season may have seen a few more plots which stretch the Simpsons universe, but they all work and are very funny, so this really doesn't matter at all. Very strong season – consistently clever and funny.

classic

[Cinema2kMendoza · 10/10 · 14 September 2021]

This episode have so many jokes that you can laugh at any point, from start to finish is funny, the fact homer is a teacher and think he is smart than anybody make the episode even more funny.