The Simpsons have done it again this season with another great episode! "The Man Who Flew Too Much" had so many excellent points to its storyline while keeping the heart of the series intact. It was a masterful 22 minutes, and while not directly a Christmas episode, "The Man Who Flew Too Much" embraced much of the holiday spirit and will. It also amplified survivalism and shed light on an actual event that occurred over fifty years ago.
I loved every second of "The Man Who Flew Too Much," (written by Al as Homer was the man of the plot and man, did he serve the piece well! The scope of the Simpson patriarch is that while his "brain doesn't always brain," his caring heart makes up for it. These character traits are what make Homer an outstanding individual despite his quirks.
Let's fly in into the review of "The Man Who Flew Too Much." But please buckle your seatbelts as it's going to be a bumpy ride!
Reviewing The Simpsons "The Man Who Flew Too Much"
Let's here it for the Pin Pals! After years of not hearing from them, the bowling team- captained by Homer, then joined by Flanders, Moe, Carl, and the new guy, Fausto. Springfield is overjoyed when the team makes it to the Captial Championship, bringing faith into town sports again.
The guys are off to Capital City in a helicopter piloted by Barney Gumble, who's in one of his rare sober moments. Joy and excitement quickly turn to terror as the chopper crashes due to being overweight. You'd think the guys would follow FAA regulations for carry-on luggage, but nope.
Following the crash, the guys must find ways to survive the mountain elements, given that there's only a hopeful thread, and they will likely not see another day. It's a terrible predicament for anyone. Hallucinations, starvation, Fausto seemingly dying, and Flanders clinging to his Christian faith.
But that'll be the very thing that will save them.
However, it's Homer who saves his friends after a spiritual visit from his mother, Mona. Her return gave him new strength, and he built up on that. By tying the group with rope, Homer makes it back to Springfield, much to everyone's shock and surprise.
Meanwhile, Marge never gave up hope that her husband passed on (nor her kids), despite everyone else's. This plot element proves how much she adores Homer, even though their marriage has experienced some turbulence throughout the years.
As I mentioned earlier, the episode is not a direct Christmas one, but it references it by allowing Marge to put up holiday decorations in October. The act on her behalf reflected that the holidays always brought her family together and she wasn't going to have the holy day without Homer this year.
Homer and the other men's funerals take place, but miraculously, they enter the congregation alive. Even Fausto survives. Marge is over the moon, and everyone celebrates the gift of life.
More "The Man Who Flew Too Much" gulps
Here are some interesting facts about the episode that you might have missed.
- The tenth episode of this season references the 1972 Andes Plane Crash or the Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 tragedy. The plane crash resulted in the survivors (who were flying to a Rugby tournament) fighting for their lives in the sub-zero mountains and turning to cannibalism to survive. Although Catholic,the practice is forbidden, it was absolutely necessary. The event also led to the 1993 movie Alive.
- Speaking of Catholicism, Flanders vows to become friends with Fausto, who is Catholic, while he is a Christian. Someone needs to remind Flanders that Catholicism is one of the earliest forms of Christianity.
- I loved the connections Homer and Flanders made, with the former suggesting in one pivotal scene, the former suggests that they pray to get out of the mountains.
- Ancient Simpsons fans would recoginize the "pank calling" arc between Bart and Moe. Bart wasn't pranking, and Moe threw his phone, eliminating communication.