[WEEK 3] treehouse of horror watchthrough!!

hey betch ;p sorry i don't know why i called you that... that was freaked up of me.... anyways so now that i've lost several of you, welcome back to the treehouse of horror annual rewatch extravaganza 2025! same ground rules as previously stated, you understand this.. so let's just hop right in!

this week's episodes were...

day 1 - treehouse of horror XVII

1. married to the blob: its um, well it's a segment for sure, it has scenes, and a story. it's. it's a concept for sure. um. hm. somebody out there likes it. for what reasons? not my business, frankly. ALSO THEY GOT ACTUAL SIR-MIX-A-LOT FOR THE SONG PARODY HELLO??
   
   
2. you gotta know when to golem: a neat concept! i like the writers tapping into specific folklore. as far as i know atleast one of the writers on this episode, david silverman, is jewish, so both from that fact and also just the general vibe of this segment itself - the humour in this, to me, seems to be in earnest. so that's cool! otherwise, for me personally it's a fine segment, couple jokes tickled me, like "kill the tsar? now that's an old one!", rather funny.. yah. good for them (the golems) i hope they have a happy marriage. also i was quite tired the day i watched this and so i was laying down and it just so happened a big ass waterbottle was perfectly positioned on the coffee table in front of me in a way that obscured most characters faces while i was watching and it made for a slightly more interesting experience. (consistent use of rule of thirds i guess?)
   
   
3. the day the earth looked stupid: i just want to preface this by saying during french in grade 11 i once or maybe multiple times listened to an archive of the orson welles broadcast of war of the worlds that i downloaded from wikipedia while i was doing a series of unfinished worksheets. just btw. anyways, this is a fun concept also! i love a period piece like this, call me a.. i don't know what you'd call me.. a shill for the retro?? anyways i love the sort of depression era aesthetic, which is maybe one of the more embarassing sentences i've said.. there's a couple zingers that got me in this one, like "first world war? why do you keep calling it that?" "oh.. you'll see..", and the delivery of "nose-bud..." is great, i haven't seen citizen kane (admittedly i also. was not aware it was a reference to citizen kane until today, i just kept thinking of the simpsons episode lol) but still a fun reference! also i was not aware that this was a commentary on the u.s. occupation of iraq?? that's quite interesting. if anybody has further thoughts on that feel free to share! also crazy aside but i think marge's outfit is cute

day 2 - treehouse of horror XVIII

1. e.t., go home: i've had very middling thoughts on this one for a while now, it's a fun premise but i feel like it wasn't as expanded upon as it could've been? like the emphasis was moreso on comedy than the spooks, which is honestly fine, it seems to the case for this episode generally. i feel like i've come to accept it? anywho, there's some japes i like in this one, like "i'm helping, i'm helping!" which was very funny and cute to me i love my son. also i haven't seen avenue q but i've heard it's good. i've heard the one iconic song used in animatics back in the day and that's about my level of knowledge. my dad was kinda surprised it took them this long to do an e.t. one, which, yeah hey huh that is interesting aint it? such is the way i spose
   
   
2. mr. & mrs. simpson: i quite like this one, despite it, again, not being particularly spooky/halloweeny.. but i think the concept is fun! i vaguely recall seeing like, insert fanart and stuff of the original movie poster back in the day, like people drawing their faves as the titular characters.. maybe we should bring that back, i think that's fun. anyways, this ones funny! i love the absurdness of the fight between homer and marge (in the words of john mulaney, "what? we're bullets free back then??"), also my dad was very tickled by "anonymous neighbourino" also i think marge in the dress is a great look but that's an aside, also kent brockman in that mugshot looked like tumblr fanart it was awesome
   
   
3. heck house: one i tend not to think about (despite it being the thumbnail for the episode on disney+), i kinda see why? i feel like there's not a lot that happens in it (despite the kids ruining the neighbourhood lmao) but it's still got merit yaknow? there's some silly jokes, like "i was just in it for the sin...", or the kids just stealing lenny's shit, or dr. hibbert being punished for being proud of his child's accomplishments.. fricked up.. also the little speech about fox network watchers going to hell is pretty amusing.. also i think ned looks very dapper in his initial little heck house get up.

day 3 - treehouse of horror XIX

1. untitled robot parody: this ones, pretty forgettable to be honest sorry.. another i tend to skip when i'm casually revisiting.. it's not extraordinarily bad, but it's not particularly good either? like, a couple jokes tickled me, like grandpa passing out in the yard good lord.... but otherwise, very middling. i feel like very little is explored in this one idk. i like melody though. she appears for one scene but i like her.
   
   
2. how to get ahead in dead-vertising: i looove the intro of this one so bad, there have been a couple times where i've rewatched this episode just to see this intro.. it's based on mad men i believe? like shot for shot? im pretty sure? and it's cool!! otherwise, it's a fun premise but i feel like the execution gets kinda stale in the last bit? like if i'm casually watching, during that fight i'm pretty consistently mentally clocked out.. so :p
   
   
3. it's the grand pumpkin, milhouse: i like the peanuts style being channelled in some of the scenes in this one - it's fun! this one isn't like, a top five or anything for me, but it's kinda silly idk! i think it almost becomes kinda stale once the grand pumpkin realizes how people use pumpkins, but there's a couple bits that tickled me enough to gaf so to speak... "your god is wrong." from ralph is, incredible. "all pumpkins are racist, the difference is i admit it!", absurd line?? great work. milhouse's earnestness also brought this up in the ranks for me, i know that's kinda baked into the bread of parodying this story, but still. just a silly little guy.

day 4 - treehouse of horror XX

1. dial 'm' for murder or press '#' to return to main menu: is this the first time they've killed a kid onscreen? i've wanted to try and keep track of that this watchthrough, but i haven't super paid attention to that so maybe im wrong, but.. i think so... what a pattern they've started.... my dad had a rather visceral reaction to it.. fair enough... anyways, of the segments in this episode, i tend not to pay attention to this one? but idk i think it's fun! one could argue it has that sort of, not much happening quality to it, but i think it's got enough charm for that to not be an issue for me. i like the black and white stylings, i think that's neat! as well as the cool set pieces during the little chase sequence (that i'm assuming are referencing various hitchcock films?) and there's some funny jokes in here! is good.
   
   also i've never known what the asterisk thing means.. my dad doesn't know either, he literally asked about it and i was like man i don't know... only recently did i get an idea, which was maybe like, a silly way for lisa to swear? just by saying asterisks so it's written like ***** ? i couldn't really find any answers online? but it's possible i didn't search thoroughly enough :p let me know if you know!
   
   
2. don't have a cow, mankind: lisa's right that is an abomination... i enjoy a zombie story myself, so this is just conceptually fun to me.. there's some amusing bits in here too, such as "but these cows have made a different choice.".. i wasn't busting a gut laughing or anything, but idk, it wasn't as eyeroll inducing as some other segments can for me. also bart being inexplicably immune, "the chosen one" so to speak, is silly to me. that's my special little guy, of course he's the chosen one. also i should watch 28 days later.
   
   
3. there's no business like moe business: surprisingly less halloween-y than the other segments, despite being based on sweeney todd, which i feel like is very conducive to halloween vibes? not complaining really, just interesting. i like this one! there's some funny shit in here, like some of the stage specific gags (à la homer being late for his quick change), homer's awesome gay song happy pride everybody, amongst others. also dan castellaneta has like, a pretty good singing voice? i've noticed this in a couple other episodes as well.. i spose it makes sense, voice acting and singing are only a few degrees away from eachother, but it's still interesting! does anybody know if he's had prior singing experience? or if he trained while on the simpsons or something? wikipedia's got nothing for me but i could research further... also i like watching the audience members around agnes when she's on the phone.. it tickles me so..

1. war and pieces: it's the jumanji one... i normally find this one kinda boring? but i think this time i watched it with a bit more, idk, optimism?? in my eyes?? it's a fun concept! and there's some clever little bits here and there. also when i heard "B7" my mind went to "i'm B11 and i'm in love with B7".. like from american dad.. boyz 12.. i have never sat down to watch american dad i just have friends who love the boyz 12 song... anyways, just throughout the treehouse of horror series, you notice how they loosen up with gore (and just general edge) overtime, and this is not new information, but in this one i particularly noticed it (partially cause of my dad's reactions), like damn they really killed rod and todd like that huh.. they said that's right guys that wasn't a one time thing, we killing kids on-screen nowMILHOUSE NOOO
   
   though... admittedly, i did laugh at milhouse getting hit in the eye twice. that kid's misfortune is my treasure. i guess?? hello?? what did i mean by this.
   
   
2. master and cadaver: i actually like this one! i say actually because it feels (to me) like one i wouldn't like? but, i do. so. yay :) fun fact - my dad also saw the original film this was based on in theatres! or maybe at somebody's house. i forget. sorry dad :P anyways, the humour in this one is definitely hit or miss for me, i feel like some jokes go on slightly too long and even if not, some just, aren't super my style of humour.. but i think the concept and mood were interesting, and the silly twist conclusion amused me.. also marge is. is that where your ears are..? why are. why. why are you doing that.
   
   
3. tweenlight: obligatory twilight parody.. i'm actually mildly curious about watching those films.. not that i think they'll be favourites or anything, but there's some neat cinematography and unintentionally funny lines ("you nicknamed my daughter after the loch ness monster??") that intrigue me... and i'd personally like to spite the antagonism that any media with a majority teen girl audience gets, because like, fuck that; however, there's also a lot of problems with both the movies and the original books that many people have rightfully critiqued so. we'll see. anywho, segment itself is fine. again, i think it has the issue of some jokes going on for a little longer than they need to? though i think that length works in favor for some, like the excess of vehicles driving towards lisa for no reason?? i find that funny :p otherwise, it's alright.. i like poodle milhouse that's silly.. also my dad found homer and santa's little helper dancing together very cute and i must concur. also okayy dracula with the jazz you should come to the jam session dont hurt em now

1. the diving bell and butterball: this ones, fine. idk. i think my dad was a bit more amused than i was.. i don't hate it or anything, there's some funny jokes, like homer getting distracted by marge's cleavage mid genuine appreciation for her care, and the concept itself i think was quite humorous, i think i'm just not much of a fart joke guy? not sure what else to add, sorry!
   
   also this one's based on a true story?? i did not know that until today wow!!
   
   
2. dial d for diddly: this is a very neat concept to me! i like the whole opening sequence a lot, which i'm sure is referencing some scenes in dexter (which my gf has also been watching? wow crazy), and the wildness of what's actually going on tickles me.. the conclusion is a little abrupt to me, like pacing wise, but it's still pretty silly.. yeah! idk! it's alright!
   
   
3. in the na'vi: hey remember when i said there are some segments i'd have an issue with... yeah. man. like. (blue people) avatar based segment? not that halloween-y sure, but that's not new. it could still be really fun! but no... no i guess not... like. there's some bits that are sort of funny?? but i think the whole thing with bart and kamala was just way too off-putting to me that i've written this one off entirely. it's not even like. a side thing?? it's like the whole main plot basically?? and like??? WHY?? WEIRD? EW?? HUH??? HELLO?? i. don't like this one. can you tell did you know

1. the greatest story ever holed: also an interesting one for my simpsons of metnal ilnes... still, a fun idea! space is condusive to horror, in my pseronal opinione. did i get hit by a rock. what's happening here. why am i spelling in this way. anyways, it's silly and i enjoy the trans-dimensional travel aliens on the other side who are chill like that. they just wanna listen to they zune. zune, zune, zune, zune
   
   
2. un-normal activity: this one is fun! i think just a found footage horror format in general is very fun (which obviously comes from the basis of this segment, paranormal activity) but the execution is also fun! i like the visual aspect, the camera filter is neat and the very modern cartoon way the camera moves around when homer is holding it is fun to me too (reminds me of the gravity falls shorts).. there's some funny stuff too.. like "we have stairs??", proceeded by homer falling down the stairs really tickles me.. and a demon + demon + homer threesome is, frankly absurd, i love it, also patty and selma's little chant gets stuck in my head on occasion. the minister of sinister.. rude dude with a bad tude...
   
   
3. bart & homer's excellent adventure: woooah another time travel one! but this one is explicitly back to the future based! right..? i think so.. anyways, it's. it's alright :p there's a couple funny bits in here, like renaissance homer, and bart just tossing the comic right after reading it lmao?? like bart my boy nooo that's a piece of history.... and i'm sure it was exciting for some people to see artie ziff.. maybe.. possibly.. i don't like him that much and i assume most people don't so.. oops. besides a couple jokes i liked, i feel like a fair bit of the humour in this one doesn't fully land for me? i also find the language around marge and homer, like, slightly too incel-ish for my tastes.. i know the idea is meant to be like, no they literally are supposed to be together, like in the show.. which is fair. i don't know, just a thought i spose.
   
   

and that's all for this week!

hooh boy it's been a busy week i feel like.. but i'm glad to keep up with this tradition! tis fun, even if i don't love every single episode. hope you're all doing well, and again, thank you so much if you read this all the way through! have a great day, and i'll see you next week! ~☆