In my opinion, there's half a truly great Simpsons episode here in "Life on the Fast Lane" and half an episode that is a little clunky. What works tremendously well are the emotional dynamics of the Simpsons family, be it Lisa and Bart (whether they're bickering over routine things OR arguing over the possibility of their parents' love life crumbling in front of them) or more importantly, Homer and Marge. There is such a tender heart here when the episode works best but there's also a half I find a little clunky and that is Marge's side of the story where she meets the bowling instructor and is tempted with infidelity.
Both halves are absolutely necessary and while I do admire the scene where Marge realizes losing her husband is invaluable, this side of the story drags a bit. The final scene is beautiful and uplifting at once and is such a classic feel good ending that The Simpsons would master time and time again.
While Homer's actions at the beginning of the episode could be described as kindly as possible as selfish, the manner in which he handles the possibility of his wife falling out of love with him is what the show does so well and this episode really figures out Homer as a person. He does not confront her or loathe her in his mind but rather realizes his oft failure as a husband. If anything, he is full of self-loathing at the time over him losing his wife. Up to this point, I found the show struggle somewhat in how to characterize Homer but here it is fantastic. He can be selfish and inconsiderate but also sympathetic, honest and surprisingly mature and all those traits are on display here.
Perhaps it is because Marge has always been one of the show's lesser interesting characters (at least for me personally) but that side of the story can lack some life in this episode. But there's plenty of wonderful heart and mature drama as well as some necessary comedy that make this a mostly enjoyable, if flawed, episode.
The moment where Homer receives the baseball to the forehead is a classic moment of the show. Hilarious.
Both halves are absolutely necessary and while I do admire the scene where Marge realizes losing her husband is invaluable, this side of the story drags a bit. The final scene is beautiful and uplifting at once and is such a classic feel good ending that The Simpsons would master time and time again.
While Homer's actions at the beginning of the episode could be described as kindly as possible as selfish, the manner in which he handles the possibility of his wife falling out of love with him is what the show does so well and this episode really figures out Homer as a person. He does not confront her or loathe her in his mind but rather realizes his oft failure as a husband. If anything, he is full of self-loathing at the time over him losing his wife. Up to this point, I found the show struggle somewhat in how to characterize Homer but here it is fantastic. He can be selfish and inconsiderate but also sympathetic, honest and surprisingly mature and all those traits are on display here.
Perhaps it is because Marge has always been one of the show's lesser interesting characters (at least for me personally) but that side of the story can lack some life in this episode. But there's plenty of wonderful heart and mature drama as well as some necessary comedy that make this a mostly enjoyable, if flawed, episode.
The moment where Homer receives the baseball to the forehead is a classic moment of the show. Hilarious.