History Recap / TheSimpsonsS1E4TheresNoDisgraceLikeHome

* CharacterizationMarchesOn: Homer's most popular characterization as a crude, clumsy, lazy, ignorant man, with alcoholic tendencies, makes this an ''extremely'' odd episode to watch, especially for those who have ''never'' seen the show in its early days. He is embarrassed by his family's boorish behavior, including Marge getting drunk at his boss's party, and takes them to family therapy. If this was written after the first season, the roles would undoubtedly be reversed. Adding to this, ''Homer sells the TV'' in order to pay for the therapy; again, something he'd never even ''contemplate'' doing post-season one. While Homer is somewhat called out on it later that episode, since most of the things he was ashamed of them doing were ''his'' fault in the first place, he shows a lot more devotion to his family here than in later seasons. Then again, Homer has yet to discover the joys of taking out the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, ect... mortgage which he does in later seasons.

* WouldHurtAChild: At least one member of the family targeted one year old Maggie in the shock therapy session.

-->'''Devil Simpsons''': There's room in this car for one more! (chanting) One more! One more! One more!

* BrickJoke: The "perfect" family that Homer idolizes at the beginning of the episode is later seen at Dr. Marvin Monroe's center all angrily looking away from each other. Looks like they weren't as good a family as Homer thought they were.

* CharacterizationMarchesOn: Homer's most popular characterization as a crude, clumsy, lazy, ignorant man, with alcoholic tendencies, makes this an ''extremely'' odd episode to watch, especially for those who have ''never'' seen the show in its early days. He is embarrassed by his family's boorish behavior, including Marge getting drunk at his boss's party, and takes them to family therapy. If this was written after the first season, the roles would undoubtedly be reversed. Adding to this, ''Homer sells the TV'' in order to pay for the therapy; again, something he'd never even ''contemplate'' doing post-season one. While Homer is somewhat called out on it later that episode, since most of the things he was ashamed of them doing were ''his'' fault in the first place, he shows a lot more devotion to his family here than in later seasons.

--> Bart: Whoa, look at this place. What a dump.
--> Homer: That's what you think. I just trampled this poor sap's flower bed. (laughs)
--> Marge: Homer, this is our house.
--> Homer: D'oh!

%%* OutOfCharacterMoment: Even compared to the previous three episodes, Lisa and Marge (''especially'' Marge) feel... off.

* TherapyBackfire: The episode has Homer insist the family go to a therapy session. They all blame him (although this might have been annoyance at [[EarlyInstallmentWeirdness him having sold their TV to pay for it]]). Even escalating to '''electroconvulsive aversion therapy''' can stop the family from feuding with each other (if anything, they end up browning out the clinic and several surrounding blocks in the ensuing electroshock fight). Dr. Monroe gives up, refunds Homer's money, and begs them to never tell anybody that they visited the clinic.

* TherapyBackfire: The episode has Homer insist the family go to a therapy session. They all blame him (although this might have been annoyance at [[EarlyInstallmentWeirdness him having sold their TV to pay for it]]).

** This episode is notably the ''last'' proper appearance of Homer's CatchPhrase "Let's all go out for some frosty chocolate milkshakes", a RunningGag from the ''Tracey Ullman'' era. Every time the show has referenced the line since, it has been a CallBack to how [[EarlyInstallmentWeirdness old and weird]] it is.

* WouldHurtAChild: At least one member of the family pressed Maggie's switch in the shock therapy session.

* [[CantHoldHisLiquor Can't Hold Her Liquor]]: At the company picnic, Marge--who admits she's "not much of a drinker"--joins the other wives for a glass of punch. IntoxicationEnsues.

* OutOfCharacterMoment: Even compared to the previous three episodes, Lisa and Marge (''especially'' Marge) feel... off.
* OutOfOrder: When The Simpsons finally premiered in the UK terrestrial television - BBC One, to be exact - on 23 November 1996, it ended up being the first shown episode, as opposed to "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire". Previously, the Simpsons was available in the UK on the Sky1 cable network, starting on 2 September 1990, with the episodes in the correct order.

* RunningGag: This is the first time Mr. Burns mentions releasing "the hounds" and the first time that he has to consult Smithers on who Homer is. Though the latter is probably justified since Burns doesn't seem to care to know the names of ALL his employees.
** This was also meant to be a ShoutOut to UsefulNotes/RonaldReagan, who would have info about people he was meeting on index cards.

* OutofCharacterMoment: Even compared to the previous three episodes, Lisa and Marge (''especially'' Marge) feel... off.

* ContrivedClumsiness: Bart shocks Lisa and claims that "My finger slipped." Lisa shocks him back and says "So did mine."

* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: As noted in the commentary, ''everything'' about the episode is wrong compared to what the show soon became, with Homer being the one embarrassed by his family's antics being the most glaring (as usually this is a characteristic more appropriate for Marge or Lisa). Bart and Maggie (and maybe some of the ancillary characters, like Moe, Mr. Burns, Dr. Monroe, and the two cops, Eddie and Lou) are the only ones whose personalities aren't altered.

* IdenticalStranger: A whole family of identical strangers to the Simpsons (only much more kempt) are seen exiting Marvin Monroe's office, with the Homer lookalike even spouting Homer's old CatchPhrase. Homer takes this as a sign that Monroe knows his stuff. Earlier in the episode, [[FreezeFrameBonus they can briefly be seen in the background]] at Mr. Burns' company picnic.

-->'''Mr. Burns:''' And this must be... (''glances at flash card given by Smithers'') Brat.

-->'''Mr. Burns:''' And this must be... Brat.

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* IdenticalStranger: A whole family of identical strangers to the Simpsons (only much more kempt) are seen exiting Marvin Monroe's office, with the Homer lookalike even spouting Homer's old CatchPhrase. Homer takes this as a sign that Monroe knows his stuff.