Homer's Enemy - Hit or Miss?

Which really says alot about the absurdity of the premise. Grimes is hired on a whim after Burns sees him on TV, the next day he does it with another TV hero and shoves Grimes in a corner. Can anyone honestly tell me they lost a job to a Lassie wannabe?
 
Burns: Now, to the plant! We'll take the Spruce Moose. [picks up the model] Hop in!
Smithers: But, sir --
Burns: [pointing a gun] I said, hop in.
 
In that case, I'm thinking of another episode where it showed that tombstone or it was a picture of him titled "Frank "Grimey" Grimes" shown quickly as a joke.

Speedy said something earlier about liking the episode but not thinking it was super funny. I think that's why many of us who hate "Homer's Enemy" are offended by the reactions of those who like it - people are thinking many actions in this episode are flat out hilarious. And really, when you're calling it "dark comedy", it means deep down you know it's not right to laugh. In other words, I'm glad Speedy mentioned that point to justify praise for the episode.
 
I think, but I'm not sure, that in Alone Again, Natura-Diddly during Maude's funeral they show a brief shot of his grave and that it reads "Grimey."
 
This is dark comedy? "Slaps forehead" Dang, I didn't know that when I watched it! :shrug:

So, lemme get this straight...if I don't want to laugh at it, then it's dark comedy? So does that mean the last ten seasons of the Simpsons have been a dark comedy, too?
 
Talk about completely missing a point. I'm basically saying that saying something is a "dark comedy" comes off as a poor excuse without explaining yourself. Therefore, I'm happy Speedy explained where he stood towards those who may be confused on where he stands.
 
Well but here's the thing: The show has done a LOT of jokes over the years about dark subject matter. Yet I still laugh at them. Like all the quick gags where someone is maimed or killed. (Remember the unfortunate man who was struck by all sorts of construction tools in "King Size Homer"?)

The difference with "Homer's Enemy" is the whole overtone of the episode, save for the light-hearted Bart/Milhouse stuff, is dark. There's a sense of hate, contempt, and dread in the air, thanks to Grimes. Even if you were to take out the ending where Grimes accidentally kills himself (death is a popular dark comedy subject, but it only amounts to the last minute of the show), I would still call this episode dark, just from the way it's executed.

So I guess what I'm saying is, it's not that there are many jokes in the episode that I know I shouldn't laugh at but do (aside from the ending, which I still have mixed feelings about), but that the more serious tone of it all makes the comedy not as light-hearted, madcap and zany as it usually is.

As I'm 100% sure this was a facetious remark and you're not confused, I have to ask what the point of this post was, other than to bash the later seasons (which is not only off-topic but beating a dead horse).
 
That's not what it means at all. It means that sometimes the world is dark and it's cathartic to be able to laugh about it. This episode's comedy comes from the unfortunately true fact that sometimes stupid people have a much easier time in life than smart people. Some people get everything handed to them and other people have to work hard every day of their life. It often seems arbitrary. Which seems absurd. Which is why it can be funny.
 
The reason I didn't say anything was because I hadn't realized this post was revived until now. It's extremely annoying when people do that, regardless of wheter it triggers new conversation or not.
 
On paper, HE was an awesome sounding episode, but the level of stupidty Homer displayed is why I didn't care for it, regardless how popular a character he is on the show. And that's the end of my chapter...
 
I think we all worry sometimes that we are a lot like Grimes. That's part of where the ambiguousness of the episode comes in. I imagine a lot of people loathe the episode because Grimes IS a hard worker and he gets killed at the end and his death is unnoticed. Like I said you can get almost any interpretation from it and I got that Homer really IS a pretty decent guy but yours is not any less valid.

For the record I've never seen any of Grimes in you from your posts. You are much more laid back and not concerned with pettiness like he is. But, I DO understand how if someone sympathized with him the episode could be a slap in the face, although as you pointed out it is kind of realistic for the way the world seems to work.
 
I just re-watched this episode after reading this thread, and it didn't really see any of the stuff people were complaining about. I just accepted everything that happened in it, because Grimes was clearly just not that nice a person. He was hard-working, yes, but he seemed to have a lot of contempt for anyone who didn't agree with what he thought or did. I respected his work ethic, but I didn't find him endearing or sympathetic or anything, except for obvious bits like getting blamed for saving Homer.

After a while I didn't find Homer that sympathetic in this one either, obviously, because his stupidity just became so over-the-top, but it was still very funny, and a memorable, interesting stand-out episode. I'd say 'Hit.'
 
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