The Simpsons Bible Stories is one of the first episodes outside the Halloween specials to use the Simpsons characters to retell legendary stories; in this case, stories from the Old Testament. In a way it was a misstep for the series, which after all is supposed to cover the real-life struggles of an ordinary, modern middle class family. But it's the tenth season, so the makers of the show were already running out of good ideas (and, amazingly, they're still going ten years later!). They probably thought, even if they couldn't do a more relevant episode, they could at least be entertaining. And indeed, Simpsons Bible Stories isn't bad.
First, Marge dreams about her and Homer being Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. What does this segment have to offer besides an excuse to get Marge and Homer naked? (Matt Groening identifies this as a highlight of the season in the DVD introduction, but note we don't see much- the season 9 episode Natural Born Kissers was more revealing.) Well, the dead unicorn was funny. Moreover, it was an interesting take on the legend to have Homer eat the forbidden fruit first, with only Marge caught when she reluctantly has a little. Kind of like a feminist take on the story, where the woman is the more sensible one.
Next, Lisa dreams she's a slave in Egypt, along with all the children, with Milhouse as Moses and the adults as the Egyptians. This kids vs. adults theme was already done earlier in the season in one of my least favourite episodes, Wild Barts Can't Be Broken, which I think takes away from The Simpsons as an adult cartoon. The spin on the Moses story is that there are no miracles; the children themselves simulate the plague. Kind of like a secular version of the story. Homer's dream is brief and funny. Then we have Bart's dream that he's David and Nelson is Goliath. Ralph's funny as usual, but I think Marge and Homer's dreams were better.
Simpsons Bible Stories is a typical season 10 episode, a step down from the earlier, classic first nine seasons, but not too bad, mostly better than later Simpsons episodes.
First, Marge dreams about her and Homer being Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. What does this segment have to offer besides an excuse to get Marge and Homer naked? (Matt Groening identifies this as a highlight of the season in the DVD introduction, but note we don't see much- the season 9 episode Natural Born Kissers was more revealing.) Well, the dead unicorn was funny. Moreover, it was an interesting take on the legend to have Homer eat the forbidden fruit first, with only Marge caught when she reluctantly has a little. Kind of like a feminist take on the story, where the woman is the more sensible one.
Next, Lisa dreams she's a slave in Egypt, along with all the children, with Milhouse as Moses and the adults as the Egyptians. This kids vs. adults theme was already done earlier in the season in one of my least favourite episodes, Wild Barts Can't Be Broken, which I think takes away from The Simpsons as an adult cartoon. The spin on the Moses story is that there are no miracles; the children themselves simulate the plague. Kind of like a secular version of the story. Homer's dream is brief and funny. Then we have Bart's dream that he's David and Nelson is Goliath. Ralph's funny as usual, but I think Marge and Homer's dreams were better.
Simpsons Bible Stories is a typical season 10 episode, a step down from the earlier, classic first nine seasons, but not too bad, mostly better than later Simpsons episodes.