Warning do not read unless seen episode.
"Satan isn't in these books, it's in here it's in your hearts."
Reverend Shaw
"Footloose"
This is another honorable mention, this is an interesting one as it's one centered on Marge. I'm not normally a fan of the character but I do stand alone episodes on her as it's a break from the usual central focused characters and once again broadens the scope of the world they inhabit.
Though what's interesting is that here Marge for once is the villain of the story, but the thing is she doesn't really know that which is a common feeling with most villains thinking they're in the right but are more wrong than ever.
The episode satirizes and deals with the issue of censorship and its ridiculous nature, but also simply on cancel culture how hypocritical, nonsensical, and worst of all hazardous to your health it truly is.
We see Maggie is the culprit of violence, all because she saw an episode of a cartoon. But as we see each act is directed toward her father. This shows that Maggie has some deep seeded dark tendencies and probably harbors deep dark hatred to her father that seeing those episodes of "Itchy and Scratchy" just inspired her to act and manifest those tendencies.
Though also there was some irresponsibility going on in the Simpsons household (as usual) where no one was really watching Maggie, keeping her from watching a program that isn't appropriate for her age but just simply not watching her in general on where she might go, do, or even get hurt unintentionally. Both these things show how expressive entertainment isn't the culprit of bad and violent behavior but it's in issues of bad parenting and even unchecked mental health that produce it.
But as we see Marge doesn't see it that way or is just complete unaware/oblivious on the real issues and just singles out an easy target which is the cartoon. Granted Marge has good intentions but as an old saying goes, "the road to Hell is paved with good intentions" and Marge has just taken her first step.
From the amount of time and energy Marge and the rest put into the campaign, I can't help but think of all the other more important issues out there that are affecting our world like Pollution, Crime, Disease etc. Take your pick. It just goes to show how easy it is to scape goat instead of dealing with what really matters.
Really like the creator of "Itchy and Scratchy" whom is a jerk and is more doing the cartoon for the money, which is true about most franchises produced, but all the same like with every legal business he has a right to do what he does. There's a good "Smartline" scene where two characters raise some good arguments from the creator saying violence happened way before cartoons were invented which is true and Dr. Monroe who states certain psychological issues that are dealt with every day. From what they stated it shows it's may 'be Marge that's a little out of touch with reality and just simply what's going on in the present, though that sort of makes sense as she's someone that barely gets out of the house much, let alone read USA Today or a History book.
It's funny in one scene how he's having the hardest time trying to make the next "Itchy and Scratchy" cartoon appropriate for the masses but must consult Marge. It's understandable why the creator is having a hard time, appealing to the masses is impossible and when we resign creative control to them you're just going to wind up with a lot of nothing and no one comes home happy.
Which is what happening when we see the reworked "Itchy and Scratchy" episode which is one of the most boring cartoons ever, in a way this is almost prolific on the recent long string of bad revivals we've had which didn't look and feel right; part of why this cartoon isn't good is simply because it has no conflict/struggle which mean no real story.
We see this did create a positive change as ever kid is playing outside in sort of the old America style. Or at least it seems that way as there's a worm in one of the apples Marge has grown, because the thing is their all doing it because their other option of entertainment is gone. And that's what I didn't have a good feeling about, yeah, I like to play outside or get out of the house myself but at least I have the options open on whether I want to or not.
And we see another worm in another of the apples as there are protests now to ban Michelangelo's famous David sculpture. It's funny they would be against a cultural masterpiece hundreds of years old, I wonder when Mike after making the sculpture was under fire back then. Probably Mickey right now seeing this down from Heaven is thinking, "are these people fraking crazy"? Marge's banning crusade has turned into an epidemic completely out of control and worst of all made them truly blind to what's right and wrong.
Marge does in the end does the right thing when she admits she was wrong and everything is back the way it was, it may not be perfect but at least it's right and strangely normal.
And for Marge it was a small price to pay for her to see and enjoy a work of art which celebrates the beauty of life itself, which are what arts and entertainment are really and should be about.
Rating: 4 stars.
