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Mother Simpson

 "Mother Simpson" has a terrific mystery plot: The Simpson children must reconstruct Mona's past even as events in the present become distracting.


Mona's elaborate story spills out. But the core of the episode is how Homer relates to his mother. Homer is mortified to ruin a tender moment after a hyperactive fish falls from the sky and lands in his underpants. Mona (appropriately) soothes Homer. Later, Mona tries to have a serious conversation with Lisa while occasionally reassuring Homer that his cartwheels are "very impressive."

A detail I love is that Mona uses the word "rapport" with Lisa. Lisa doesn't bother to brag that she knows what the word means. Instead, she expresses her delight that Mona--unlike so many other adults--has not tried to condescend to Lisa by searching for a monosyllabic synonym. Condescension is belittling *both* to the teacher *and* to the student. Of course Lisa would understand this.

Finally, the episode carries its elegant plotting all the way to the climax. Mona risks public exposure because she wants to prove to Homer that she has been diligent about sending care packages. At the post office, the clerk shrugs at Homer. "You have 7,000 packages here. You never heard? This is what happens when you don't tip your mailman at Christmas." (Monty Burns then appears--and the gears of Act Three are set in motion.)

The producers unwisely submitted "Treehouse of Terror" for Emmy consideration--if the choice had been "Mother Simpson," history may have unfolded in a different way.
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