Review: The Simpsons “When Nelson Met Lisa”

Overview:

In the seemingly mundane, not-so-distant future, Lisa reconnects with Nelson while at college and the two quickly fall for each other while discussing their past flirtations with romance. But their lives drive them apart as they each head in opposite directions. Over the years, their lives intersect with each other and they reconnect for one fleeting moment at a time. 

Despite a mutual attraction, Lisa and Nelson are always at an arm’s length apart. In the wrong place at the wrong time or incompatible with where their lives are leading them. Can the two of them find the time to explore their love, or will they always be left wondering “what if?” 

Our Take:

If the title of the episode wasn’t obvious, this episode followed a When Harry Met Sally-type story, and for the most part, it was an effective narrative. There were some really honest and charming moments that added a nice heartwarming touch to a relationship arc that’s been played with throughout the show’s 34-year run. Nelson’s recollection of his and Lisa’s interactions from past episodes was a touching moment. It’s always great to see old clips from the show, especially when realizing just how far the show has come. And the montage between Lisa and Nelson, while they reconnected in the cafe, was a clever and sweet way of forwarding their romantic story. It almost had a Futurama feel to it with some very strong Fry and Lela vibes. 

Although Lisa and Nelson finally getting together was a predictable and somewhat hammy conclusion, the story was a rewarding enough journey with two characters who have shared more than a few romantic encounters with each other. “When Nelson Met Lisa” weaves a tale of star-crossed lovers around some typical Simpsons’ hijinks and lightheadedness. Since there wasn’t an introduction to the story, we’re left to speculate whether or not this should be considered the true fate of Lisa and Nelson. We have been teased before in previous seasons, but this time it does feels different. 

Seeing Chief Wigum as a morbidly obese version of himself was the biggest laugh of the episode. And Lou anguishing in disgust and disdain for his life only made the bit even funnier. Milhouse’s and Ralph’s brief appearances were funny and very on-brand for the lovable dorks. “The church is eating me” is up there with some of Ralph’s greatest lines. A few of the other jokes had some great potential but lacked overall execution. Principal Skinner committing “mattress-cide” could have been hilarious but instead, it felt like a missed opportunity. They didn’t even bother to give Skinner a line! And again, when Lisa got engaged with Hubert Wong (Simu Liu) while on the surface of the moon, there was a real chance to create a laugh-centric spectacle, but it simply fizzled out and was brushed to the side rather hastily. 

“When Nelson Met Lisa” was a solid effort with a decent amount of laughs and a few touching moments sprinkled throughout the episode. It’s not the best or most original love story, but it captures the essence of The Simpsons’ charm. The episode showcased as real of a human element as our beloved four-fingered could hope for. There were incidental misunderstandings, inconvenient relationships, and irresponsible buffoonery, all hallmarks of two people seeking love in all the wrong places. Although not perfect, the writing in “When Nelson Met Lisa” was sharp and there were enough decent laughs to keep things light and humorous. This was an above-average episode that won’t win any awards but will reward fans for their patience.