After receiving an insurance payout, the Simpson family decide to take Grampa to Denmark so that he can benefit from the country's free healthcare.
Tropes:
- Adaptation Displacement: In-Universe: Bart is surprised to learn The Little Mermaid was not invented by Disney but based on a fairy tale from Denmark.
- Ask a Stupid Question...: When Homer sees the "Mona" tattoo Grandpa has, he asks if it's about his mother. Grandpa reponds "no, Mona Malloy", before slapping Homer for his stupidity.
- Artistic License – Law: American tourists can't receive free healthcare in Denmark. Generally, they would get treated, but would have to pay for it themselves.
- Bait-and-Switch: Homer and Abe are seen riding bicycles. They're tied on a car.
- Bait-and-Switch Comment: When Homer reaches for his crotch and says he has Lisa's research right there, he actually means a printed research.
- Big Brother Instinct: In Lisa’s fantasy about falling in love and getting married to a Danish prince, Bart inserts himself saving Lisa from an assassin.
- Bilingual Bonus: In Lisa's fantasy she's seen writing an e-mail to Prince Christian. The text is in perfect Danish and is mostly about Lisa confessing her love for the prince while trying to goad him into confessing back at her.
- The Cameo: Bender casually floats around in the water when the house is flooded. This also counts as a Continuity Nod to "Simpsorama", showing that Bender's still waiting in their basement.
- Epic Fail: Gil can't figure out how cell phone batteries are recharged.
- Heh Heh, You Said "X": Homer forces the Denmark tour to stop so he could laugh at a sign saying "fartkontrol", even after their tour guide explains it means "speed change" in Danish.Marge: I apologize for my husband. In our language, that sign means something else.
Tour guide: Yes, I know — I'm speaking to you in your language. - Imagine Spotting:
- The Simpsons consider staying in the Van Houtens' Airbnb, an idea Lisa doesn't like, imagining Milhouse bothering her while she tries to sleep. Bart then says he doesn't like the idea either because he doesn't want to be in a room where "guys walked around with their dinguses out." His image of this gets as far as a Feet-First Introduction before Marge disperses his thought balloon with her hands.Marge: No! No, don't imagine that!
- Lisa imagines herself romantically involved with a prince. Bart imagines himself as a ninja saving their lives.(before fantasy)
Lisa: Oh, no. Here it comes. The fantasy about becoming a princess that no girl can resist.
(after fantasy)
Lisa: Bart, get out of my fantasy!
Bart: Ah, geez, I saved your life. How about a "you're welcome"?
- The Simpsons consider staying in the Van Houtens' Airbnb, an idea Lisa doesn't like, imagining Milhouse bothering her while she tries to sleep. Bart then says he doesn't like the idea either because he doesn't want to be in a room where "guys walked around with their dinguses out." His image of this gets as far as a Feet-First Introduction before Marge disperses his thought balloon with her hands.
- Mistaken for Cheating: Marge sees Homer dancing with a Danish woman and assumes he was cheating on her.
- My Country Tis of Thee That I Sting: From Homer describing US healthcare as the third-best in North America to various jabs at then-president Donald Trump, America comes up short in every way to Denmark throughout the episode. This gets reversed near the end with the family discovering Denmark's various drawbacks, cumulating in the tattoo artist who covers Abe's tattoo for free noting that the country just went bankrupt and making a break for Norway.
- Naked People Are Funny: Happens twice to Grandpa:
- First, after his visit to Dr. Nick, he returns to his family while still dressed in only his hospital gown, exposing his bare butt.
- Later, while trying to get an "accident" in the The Snow Queen exhibit of the Hans Christian Anderson museum, it only results in him losing his clothes and landing naked in the exhibit for The Emperor's New Clothes.
- Not So Above It All: Lisa can't help but chuckle over the unintended meaning behind the "fart kontrol" sign.
- Replacement Goldfish: Marge initially refuses to leave with Homer, causing him to say "The kids can't just replace me!" They've already glommed on to an endearingly big, chubby cat in their Airbnb.Lisa: He's so cozy! He can sleep with Mom!Bart: Can I get you a beer?
- The Reveal: The operation Grampa needs is to remove a tattoo of Mona.
- Sarcasm Mode: Grampa's answer when Homer asks if the Mona the tattoo is about Homer's mother.
- Second-Act Breakup: Marge won't return to America with Homer. He tries to go home but comes back vowing to stay with her to find she's getting sick of Denmark anyway.
- Shout-Out to Shakespeare: Homer gives a hilarious paraphrasing of the soliloquy from Hamlet.Homer: Tubby or not tubby? That is the question. Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to withstand the wings and nachos of outrageous portions, or just have fish and end it. Aye, there's the rub! Brisket rub, Memphis rub, all the rubs I'll miss when I shuffle off from Buffalo mozzarella…
- Something We Forgot: Homer feels like he and his family forgot something. They forgot Grampa.
- Take That!: Bart claims that Sebastian the Crab was the only funny character in The Little Mermaid (1989), and Homer agrees with him.
- "Ugly American" Stereotype: Homer, as always:Marge: Think about how happy we'd be here. It's healthy, it's clean, it's incredibly civilized, and everything is done in moderation.Homer: You're not describing a country. You're describing everything that's the opposite of me.
- Technologically Blind Elders: Subverted and Inverted. Gil needs help with his computer and it's provided by someone older than him but he insists on speaking of her like she's younger than him.
