Dad Behavior
| "Dad Behavior" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Simpsons episode | ||||
| Episode no. | 604 | |||
| Directed by | Steven Dean Moore | |||
| Written by | Ryan Koh | |||
| Showrunner(s) | Al Jean | |||
| Production code | WABF01 | |||
| Original air date | November 20, 2016 | |||
| Chalkboard gag | I will watch all 600 episodes without sleeping. | |||
| Couch gag | Following an altered opening sequence where Barney destroys Bart's skateboard and the rest of the family dies in various ways, Bart, alone at home, gathers portraits of his family on the couch and turns on the TV, exclaiming, "Finally, I get the remote!" | |||
| Guest appearance(s) | Matt Leinart as himself | |||
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"Dad Behavior" is the eighth episode of the twenty-eighth season of the animated television series The Simpsons, and the 604th episode of the series overall. It aired in the United States on Fox on November 20, 2016.
Plot
When Homer has to do carpentry work, Barney recommends him a new app called "Chore Monkey" that makes his life easier by calling people to do his various chores. He begins to use it for all his wanted needs. Homer even uses it call a substitute father Matt Leinart for Bart. But when they start to get close, Homer begins to feel jealous and left out.
He goes to Grampa Abraham Simpson who learns he's going to be a father again and is terrified, as Simpsons men don't make good fathers. Milhouse Van Houten isn't getting along with his father and starts to bond with Homer. Bart discovers that Matt is making sure Bart feels like a winner and not treating them like a normal father and son. When he sees Milhouse and Homer bond, he also becomes jealous and meets up with Milhouse's dad Kirk. Grampa confides his fears in Marge. Upon seeing Homer and Milhouse (whom he mistakes as Bart), he believes that he could possibly be a good father.
Homer, Milhouse, Bart and Kirk all go to Itchy and Scratchy Land, where Bart flies off of a ride and hits a sign. Homer rushes to help him, and Bart calls him dad, which pleases Homer greatly, rekindling their relationship. Kirk, confesses that being with Bart, was the best time in his life, but Milhouse is still his son and they all ride out of the park. Grampa discovers that he is not the father and he begins to celebrate.
Reception
Dennis Perkins of the The A.V. Club gave "Dad Behavior" a B- stating, "In short, there’s nothing especially wrong with 'Dad Behavior,' the first credited Simpsons script from series producer and New Girl writer Ryan Koh. It sails along without violating the characters or the show’s world in any objectionable way, it has a handful of decent, low key jokes...and there’s a serviceable symmetry to the overall narrative. That the episode doesn’t turn out more memorably for all that is one of those elusive near-misses that’s maddeningly tough to pin down. In the end, the lack of stakes is what undermines the story. Bart and Homer’s estrangement just doesn’t feel weighty or immediate enough...It’s sweet in theory, perfunctory in practice, the episode’s all-around easygoing vibe sanding down their dilemma to a smoothly forgettable sameness."[1]
Tony Sokol of Den of Geek scored the episode 4.5 out 5 stars stating, "The episode is very funny, very clever and ends on a classic sequence...Although The Simpsons play out the family jealousies a lot, this one kept it fresh. The first segment was completely perfect. Every joke lands. The animators are really taking care of the smaller details. The Simpsons had been lagging on layering on all these multiple background gags for years. This season has been filthy with them. Music is very important on The Simpsons. The theme is a classic, and most of their parodies are spot on. But it’s the incidental music that makes it. Tonight’s highlight was the rising orchestral tension in the scene where Abe finds out about the baby’s lineage. The music builds on Abe’s face, the mother’s face and lingers on Jasper’s beard. Thrilling. Chilling. Ultimately freeing."[2]
"Dad Behavior" scored a 1.3 rating and was watched by 2.88 million people, making it Fox's highest rated show of the night.[3]
References
- ↑ Perkins, Dennis (2016-11-20). ""Dad Behavior" · The Simpsons · TV Review Homer outsources his parenting on a forgettable Simpsons · TV Club · The A.V. Club". Avclub.com. Retrieved 2016-11-26.
- ↑ Tony Sokol (2016-11-20). "The Simpsons: Dad Behavior Review". Denofgeek.com. Retrieved 2016-11-26.
- ↑ Porter, Rick (November 22, 2016). "'Family Guy' and 'Bob's Burgers' adjust up, 'NCIS: LA' and 'Elementary' adjust down: Sunday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved November 22, 2016.