Review: The Simpsons “Pixelated and Afraid”

Overview (Spoilers Below):
When Homer and Marge are lost in an icy wilderness, they must push themselves to their limits to survive.

Our Take:
Fox’s Animation Domination is back to deliver more brand new adventures featuring our beloved characters from the animation department. It may have been a month since we last saw them, but it felt like an eternity to us fans. Today, we kick things off with the continuation of the thirty-third season of America’s favorite yellow-skinned family. In this case, we see them on an adventure that takes them to the wintery wilderness.
The episode sees Homer and Marge getting out of the couch to get their relationship “fixed,” according to Lisa. When the kids are concerned about their parents lying around watching television all the time, Lisa sends them to the Saffron Togetherness Center for a week without technology. Unfortunately, their relaxing trip turns into a fight for survival when they unexpectedly land in the middle of the wilderness.
The episode features a familiar storyline involving characters getting the taste of the wildlife instead of staying at home with their technological items, mainly children. For “Pixelated and Afraid”, the show puts the parents in that same situation as Homer and Marge attempt to regain their romantic spark in the wild. While it may not help provide much originality in its plot, the episode offered enough romance and comedy to make this unfortunate detour worthwhile.
Much of the humor centers only on Homer and Marge, with the main highlights being the former wearing a trash bin around his waist and, of course, pixelated nudity. What made the latter humorous was how their private parts are censored with pixels. Understandably, Marge’s private parts and Homer’s penis were pixelated. However, I failed to understand why Homer’s nipples have to be blocked off as well since they’re not as risqué as Marge’s boobs. I also think that the episode wasted a huge opportunity to have Homer and Marge spend the entire episode in the nude. There could’ve been plenty of visual gags that’ll test the limitations of pixelated censorship.
This is one of the episodes that don’t rely heavily on slapstick and concentrate on telling the story. The writers attempt to have Homer and Marge working together to survive against the wild and the deadly wolverine while providing a message about the beauty of the great outdoors. We also see more of Homer being a caring husband for Marge instead of a careless grouch like in some previous episodes, which is great for people who needed a break from his negligent attitude. The result is far from perfect, but it is as attractive as the couple’s spark regardless.
Overall, “Pixelated and Afraid” has it all: romance, humor, survival, and pixels. The storyline is nothing new aside from the parents being in a familiar situation instead of the children. However, the episode managed to make its familiarity a somewhat relaxing getaway that’s worth my time, thanks to its good use of humor. Let’s hope that Homer and Marge will be extra prepared when they get stuck in the wilderness again.