Season 23 - Episode 4
Fox (US)
The Simpsons isn't the show it used to be. There can be no doubting that. While in seasons 3-9 almost every episode was amazing with a few being pretty average, it's pretty much the opposite now. Every now and then a great episode will present itself. "Replaceable You" isn' one of them.
Jane Lynch is the guest star of the week, playing Homer's new assistant, Roz. Now, I love Jane Lynch, she is a fantastic actress, but everyone just sees her as Sue Sylvester these days, and it's pretty much a version of Sue who just happens to work in the power plant that shows up here, rather than the type of character Lynch is capable of playing. The payoff, with Flanders knowing her one weakness as well, is pretty trite. Not a great a-plot by any stretch of the imagination.
The b-plot to be honest has a lot to be desired too. Bart teams up with Martin Prince to make a cute robotic pet for the science fair. Soon after (although not before beating Lisa, who moans like fuck - because that's all she ever does) all the seniors in the retirement home want one. But flick a switch, and they turn evil. Surely a genius like Martin wouldn't have put such an obvious flaw in. The fix for this is ridiculous - although Homer's nerd friends making an appearance was nice - and they're making a mockery of what Professor Frink once was.
It's easy to have a go at The Simpsons just because these days. "Replacebale You" though isn't actually as bad as I may have suggested. It's just not very good either.
** 1/2
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