The Penguin "Gold Summit" Review (Spoilers)

[matt_zimmer]

The Penguin "Gold Summit"

The show is so cool. This show is so good.

The scene with Sal and Sophia at the beginning was kind of heartbreaking. Sal just breaking down like that. He's treating her like his daughter and it's a wonder these two lonely people didn't find each other before this.

Oz's scene with his mother in the bathroom was golden. If Colin Farrell and Diedre O'Connell don't put it in on their Emmy reels, I'll be shocked.

It's ALMOST a moving moment when Oz hugs Vic to comfort him after his first kill. But when he leans in and says, "It gets easier," it becomes chilling instead.

Sophia's scene with Eve was also riveting. Part of me is angry she betrayed Oz, but he betrayed her first, so it's no surprise.

The Gold summit (or more like the beer summit) was pretty great too. Popping open the cans was a great affirmation of solidarity and as big of a bastard as Oz is, the dude can make speech.

I'll say this for next week. Oz is going to have to pay for his sins. We know he isn't gonna die, but chances are the price is going to be high.

I loved the episode. *****.




The Simpsons "Shoddy Heat"

Well, the episode has a ton of selling points. No denying that.

But negative continuity still doesn't work for me. 1982? Just... No. The show needs to stop setting stuff in specific years. And if Homer can never get fired due to a deal Burns had with Grandpa, that would have come up earlier. Also, Homer has actually been fired. A lot.

My favorite bit was after Grandpa is told he's a person of interest, Bart is amazed that he's finally interesting. He asks if they can hang out but Grandpa gruffly says he isn't talking. Bart loves that idea. This just gets better and better.

I also love that the doctor's note Wiggum had against running was written by Dr. Nick to get out of jail. The show has still got it when it comes to freeze frame gags.

Brief cameo from Smithers' not dead yet father so not ENITRELY negative continuity. Also didn't miss the crayon that fell out of Homer's nose as a kid.

Lot of clever jokes in this one. But for some reason the negative continuity is bugging me more than usual. ***1/2.




Bob's Burgers "For Whom The Doll Toes"

I thought that was pretty cool. I think what I appreciated most about it is that I dislike Gene personally. I think he's gross. It was a very good and necessary idea for the show to play his simple nature as reflexive kindness. As gross as he is, there is no meanness to him. And considering I usually hate the character, that is a good thing to remind the audience.

I thought Miss Bisselbend was a pretty good sport. Were I in her place I never would have gone along with it. But she may be a sub who does nothing but show movies, but at least she nurtures Louise's creativity. And Louise being so impressed with the murder dollhouse pictures suggests she had a kindred spirit there anyways.

I don't like Gene. That won't change. But it is essential for the show to occasionally show his good points. Hell, I wish they'd do that more often. ****.




Law & Order: Special Victims Unit "Constricted"

I thought it was disturbing. Mostly because the kids at the beginning are so sweet and I knew the bottom would drop out.

It was a very interesting narrative choice to have the asshole father actually take responsibility during his guilty plea. Say what you will about the bastard, I've never heard a guilty plea on this show where the perp says "It turns out I was the problem."

It was a solid episode with a very distasteful premise. ***1/2.

Comments

[classicswim]

Feels like the reasoning for Homer being at the nuclear plant changes almost as much as the timeline itself.

They have you dead sold in the first season that he’s incompetent. I’m not sure why they’re constantly writing him into corners over that of all things. Shouldn’t be that complex.

Abe also isn’t the right character to use for typical viewer reaction bait like ‘90s Show. No amount of retconning could change him fighting in WWII.

They did a Treehouse of Horror some time ago that kept Homer and Marge’s 1970s story intact. I liked how it was fan service, but also less contrived than if they had attempted revisiting the flashback normally.

[matt_zimmer]

You are so right on every point. Abe IS a WWII Veteran. That's part of who he is. Trying to pretend he's something else is bullshit.