Review: The Simpsons “Holidays of Future Passed”

Episode Synopsis: Flash-forward to 2041: Bart and Lisa are heading home for the holidays with their own kids in tow. And when they turn to Marge and Homer for parenting advice, they come to realize that the apple doesn’t fall far from the Christmas tree. Original Air Date: Dec 11, 2011

Spoilers Below

That’s right kids its another “Back to the Future” episode from the Simpsons. Not that’s a bad thing, and it seems like everyone’s futures change with each revisit of the storyline. In this episode we learn a few things, like Bart is divorced with two kids, Lisa is married to Milhouse with a daughter named Zia, and even Maggie has a kid on the way. Also, we learn that none of the parents, prospective or otherwise are very good at raising their children. That is until the grandparents step in and show the ids how its done. Sure enough, Bart and Lisa actually do find one of the cures of such worries, that being alcohol…turns out Homer taught them well.

Soon enough, Bart and Lisa set out to be better connected with their children, but while all this is going on, Maggie is in labor!  Lisa, using Google, eventually finds Zia in the ultra-net a Tron-like world that requires you to plug-in to cyberspace via a wire plugged into your neck. Homer on the other hand, takes his grand-kids to a cryogenic chamber where they keep Grampa. Its here we are taught the value of family and the true meaning of Christmas.

As mentioned, yes the episode wasn’t all that original but it wasn’t terrible either. I just couldn’t understand how this was really a Christmas episode? The Christmas picture setup was just a lame gateway to a plot that could’ve been applied to any week’s episode, and as such didn’t have any merit for a holiday special.