Review: The Simpsons “Portrait of a Lackey on Fire”

Overview (Spoilers Below):
Smithers finds true love with a famous fashion designer. However, his new relationship may destroy Springfield.

Our Take:
It looks like Moe isn’t the only character with love problems this season. Following the season’s two-part event, Springfield is on its way to returning to normalcy…sort of. This week’s episode sees another character experiencing the power of love. This time, it’s none other than Mr. Burns’s assistant, Smithers. Unfortunately, despite its title, this new love affair has nothing to do with pictures of ladies being on fire or the acclaimed 2019 French romance film it referenced.

The episode continues the show’s representation of Waylon Smithers as homosexual, which started with the season 27 episode, “The Burns Cage”. As someone who hasn’t been keeping up with the show, I thought it was pretty nice to see Burns’s assistant in a different light. I also appreciate that it’s showing its support for the LGBTQ community with these types of episodes.
The story in this episode sees Homer setting Smithers up with Michael DeGraaf (Victor Garber), a famous fashion artist, thanks to a lovable puppy. Smithers believed that he might have found the love of his life. However, this relationship didn’t last very long. When Homer and the kids discover that Michael’s factory is a sweatshop that’s polluting Lake Springfield with plaid, Smithers would have to face Michael’s true colors.

When it comes to the storyline, this episode didn’t offer anything too much with its formula. First, it’s Smithers in a relationship with a perfect guy, thanks to Homer’s matchmaking skills. That “perfect” guy is then revealed to be an asshole who hates the environment and puppies, and that’s it. Fun fact: kicking a defenseless puppy is an automatic breakup. Other than that, it’s a likable episode that isn’t without a couple of saving graces.

One of them is the humor. The comedy delivered a couple of chuckle-worthy moments to keep this relationship smooth and steady without suffering from tasteless schlock. However, it was Mr. Burns’ puzzle dilemma that ultimately won me over. Throughout the episode, Burns is over-analyzing the simplest of tasks, which is completing a jigsaw puzzle. What made it hilarious was that it distracted him from his work schedule. The other was Victor Garber’s vocal performance as Michael. He did a decent job portraying Michael as both a wise and caring person and someone who resembles Mr. Burns.
Overall, “Portrait of a Lackey on Fire” is an exemplary depiction of Smithers’ quest to find true love. Even though the story wasn’t entirely new, the episode is another suitable example of the show’s LGBTQ representation and a likable showcase for Springfield’s closeted character. Let’s hope that Smithers will find the right guy for him someday.