Todd, Todd, Why Hast Thou Forsaken Me?

Last updated

"Todd, Todd, Why Hast Thou Forsaken Me?"
The Simpsons episode
Episode no.Season 31
Episode 9
Directed by Chris Clements
Written by Tim Long
Miranda Thompson
Production codeZABF04
Original air dateDecember 1, 2019 (2019-12-01)
Guest appearances
Episode features
Chalkboard gag Todd writes "Idle hands are the Devil's tools" with two hands.
Couch gag Ned, Todd and Rod arrive at where their couch would be, but Ned tells his sons he gave it to the poor and they cheer.
Episode chronology
← Previous
"Thanksgiving of Horror"		Next →
"Bobby, It's Cold Outside"
The Simpsons season 31
List of episodes

"Todd, Todd, Why Hast Thou Forsaken Me?" is the ninth episode of the thirty-first season of the American animated television series The Simpsons , and the 671st episode overall. It aired in the United States on Fox on December 1, 2019. [1] [2] [3] The episode was written by Tim Long & Miranda Thompson and was directed by Chris Clements.

Contents

In this episode, Todd rejects God because his mother is dead, so Ned turns to Homer for help. The episode received mixed reviews.

Plot

Maude Flanders appears in a dream to Ned as a ghost. Ned cries and asks Todd if he ever dreams about his mother. Todd confesses he no longer remembers what she looks like. After watching Christmas tapes of their family in an attempt to jog his memories of Maude, Todd starts having doubts about Maude being in a better place.

At church, Reverend Lovejoy invites the kids to say what they would want to say to baby Jesus if they could speak to him and Todd says he would angrily tell him thanks for nothing because his mom is dead and that he no longer believes in God, shocking everyone. Ned is shocked to the core and reprimands his actions, while Todd keeps questioning God's existence. The next morning, Todd refuses to say Amen to the prayer for the breakfast and Ned asks himself what can put fear of God back in Todd. After seeing Bart trick Homer into staying outside in his underwear, Ned asks the Simpsons to look after Todd for a while and help him rediscover his beliefs in God. This proves futile.

Eventually, Todd tells Homer the reason he does not believe is because his mother is never coming back and asks Homer if he knows what he feels. Homer remembers his mother, Mona, and when she died, making him cry, too. Homer goes to Moe's Tavern to forget, but is surprisingly joined by Ned. The two get drunk before getting hit by Hans Moleman's car. They are greeted in Heaven by Ned's second wife, Edna Krabappel, and Maude, John the Baptist, and God. After a movie argument with Abraham Lincoln, God informs them they are not dead. They are merely in a coma with their families at their hospital beds. After seeing even Bart praying, Todd prays to God, Jesus, and Buddha to bring his dad back. Ned returns to his body. Homer is then met by Mona and finally has a chance to say goodbye to her before he, too, regains consciousness and the families are reunited.

At night, Rod and Todd dream of Maude tucking them in while Edna's ghost shouts "Ha" to Ned. [3]

Reception

Viewing figures

The episode earned a 0.7 rating with a 3 share and was watched by 1.99 million viewers, which was the most watched show on Fox that night. [4]

Critical response

Dennis Perkins of The A.V. Club gave this episode a B−, stating, “‘Todd, Todd, Why Hast Thou Forsaken Me?’ zooms in on—spoiler alert—Todd Flanders, and comes just about this close to making its exercise in shifting narrative focus on the Simpsons’ younger neighbor, the perpetual half of one-joke, something interesting." [5]

Jesse Bereta of Bubbleblabber gave this episode 6.5 out of 10 points. [6]

Tony Sokol of Den of Geek gave this episode four and a half stars out of five and said, “it is as perfect an installment as any modern day Simpson episode.” [2]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edna Krabappel</span> Character from The Simpsons

Edna Krabappel-Flanders is a fictional character from the American animated sitcom The Simpsons, voiced by Marcia Wallace. A 4th-grade teacher, she teaches Bart Simpson's class at Springfield Elementary School. In the twenty-third season, she marries Ned Flanders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ned Flanders</span> Fictional character from The Simpsons franchise

Nedward "Ned" Flanders Jr., commonly referred to by his surname, is a fictional character in the animated television series The Simpsons, voiced by Harry Shearer and first appearing in the series premiere episode "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire." He is the good-natured, cheery next-door neighbor to the Simpson family and is generally loathed by Homer Simpson, though there are numerous instances where the two are portrayed as good friends. A scrupulous and devout Evangelical Christian, he is among the friendliest and most compassionate of Springfield's residents and is generally considered a pillar of the Springfield community.

Joseph Stewart Burns, better known as J. Stewart Burns or simply just Stewart Burns is a television writer and producer most notable for his work on The Simpsons, Futurama, and Unhappily Ever After.

"Alone Again, Natura-Diddily" is the fourteenth episode of the eleventh season of the American television series The Simpsons, and marks the final regular appearance of the character Maude Flanders. The episode aired on Fox on February 13, 2000. In the episode, she is killed in an accident while watching an auto race, devastating Ned Flanders and prompting Homer to find a new woman for his grieving friend. After a series of unsuccessful dates, Ned begins to question his faith in God. However, his faith is restored after hearing the female lead singer of a Christian rock band, played by guest star Shawn Colvin, sing in church. The episode's title is a parody of the song title "Alone Again (Naturally)" by Gilbert O'Sullivan.

"Bart the Lover" is the sixteenth episode of the third season of the American animated television series The Simpsons. It first aired on Fox in the United States on February 13, 1992. In the episode, Bart, playing a prank on his teacher Edna Krabappel, responds to her personal ad as a man named Woodrow. In the subplot, Ned Flanders asks Homer to curtail his swearing, so Homer starts using a swear jar.

Religion is one of many recurring themes on the American animated television series The Simpsons. Much of the series' religious humor satirizes aspects of Christianity and religion in general. However, some episodes, such as "Bart Sells His Soul" and "Alone Again, Natura-Diddily", can be interpreted as having a spiritual theme. The show has been both praised and criticized by atheists, agnostics, liberals, conservatives and religious people in general for its portrayal of faith and religion in society. The show can function as a mediator of biblical literacy among younger generations of irreligious viewers.

Tim Long is a comedy writer born in Brandon, Manitoba, Canada. Long calls Exeter, Ontario, his home town and has written for The Simpsons, Politically Incorrect, Spy magazine and the Late Show with David Letterman. Currently credited as a consulting producer on The Simpsons, Long was - until Season 20 - credited as an executive producer. His work has also recently appeared in The New York Times and The New Yorker. He also wrote the episode "Mr Roboto" for YTV's Mr. Young.

"The Ned-Liest Catch" is the twenty-second and final episode of the twenty-second season of the American animated television series The Simpsons. The episode was directed by Chuck Sheetz and written by Jeff Westbrook. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on May 22, 2011.

"Left Behind" is the nineteenth episode of the twenty-ninth season of the American animated television series The Simpsons, and the 637th episode of the series overall. The episode was directed by Lance Kramer with a story by Al Jean and teleplay by Joel H. Cohen and John Frink. It aired in the United States on Fox on May 6, 2018.

"Flanders' Ladder" is the twenty-first and final episode of the twenty-ninth season of the American animated television series The Simpsons, and the 639th episode of the series overall. The episode was directed by Matthew Nastuk and written by J. Stewart Burns. It aired in the United States on Fox on May 20, 2018.

"My Way or the Highway to Heaven" is the 642nd episode of the American animated television series The Simpsons and the third episode of the thirtieth season. It aired in the United States on Fox on October 14, 2018. The episode was directed by Rob Oliver and written by Deb Lacusta, Dan Castellaneta, and Vince Waldron.

"The Hateful Eight-Year-Olds" is the 21st and penultimate episode of the thirty-first season of the American animated television series The Simpsons, and the 683rd episode overall. It aired in the United States on Fox on May 10, 2020. The episode was written by Joel H. Cohen and was directed by Jennifer Moller.

"Diary Queen" is the twelfth episode of the thirty-second season of the American animated television series The Simpsons and the 696th episode overall. It aired in the United States on Fox on February 21, 2021. The episode was directed by Matthew Nastuk and written by Jeff Westbrook.

<i>The Simpsons</i> season 32 Season of television series

The thirty-second season of the American animated television series The Simpsons premiered on Fox on September 27, 2020, and ended on May 23, 2021. On February 6, 2019, the season was ordered along with the previous season. It was produced by Gracie Films and 20th Television. This season contained twenty-two episodes. It includes the series' 700th episode "Manger Things". In March 2021, the series was renewed for a thirty-third and thirty-fourth season.

"The Last Barfighter" is the twenty-second and final episode of the thirty-second season of the American animated television series The Simpsons, and the 706th episode overall. It aired in the United States on Fox on May 23, 2021. The episode was directed by Timothy Bailey and written by Dan Vebber.

"Manger Things" is the sixteenth episode of the thirty-second season of the American animated television series The Simpsons, and the 700th episode overall. It aired in the United States on Fox on March 21, 2021. The episode was directed by Steven Dean Moore and written by Rob LaZebnik.

"The Dad-Feelings Limited" is the 11th episode of the thirty-second season of the American animated television series The Simpsons, and the 695th episode overall. It aired in the United States on Fox on January 3, 2021. The episode was directed by Chris Clements and written by Ryan Koh.

<i>The Simpsons</i> and Portland, Oregon

There are many connections between the American animated sitcom The Simpsons and the city of Portland, Oregon, the hometown of series creator Matt Groening.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A Serious Flanders</span> 6th and 7th episodes of the 33rd season of The Simpsons

"A Serious Flanders" is a two-part episode of the American animated television series The Simpsons. It is the sixth and seventh episodes of the thirty-third season and the 712th and 713th episodes overall. Part One premiered on the Fox network in the United States on November 7, 2021, while Part Two premiered on November 14, 2021. Both parts are written by Cesar Mazariegos. Part One is directed by Debbie Mahan, while Part Two is directed by Matthew Faughnan.

"A Made Maggie" is the tenth episode of the thirty-third season of the American animated television series The Simpsons, and the 716th episode overall. It aired in the United States on Fox on December 19, 2021. The episode was directed by Timothy Bailey and written by Elisabeth Kiernan Averick.

References

  1. ↑ Ellis, Joseph (December 2, 2019). "The Simpsons Season 31 Episode 9 Evaluation: Todd, Todd, Why Hast Thou Forsaken Me?". Sunriseread. Archived from the original on December 4, 2019. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
  2. 1 2 Sokol, Tony (December 2, 2019). "The Simpsons Season 31 Episode 9 Review: Todd, Todd, Why Hast Thou Forsaken Me?". Den of Geek . Archived from the original on October 22, 2020. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  3. 1 2 Hale, Jason H. (November 30, 2019). "The Simpsons Season 31 Episode 9: 'Todd, Todd, Why Hast Thou Forsaken Me?', Streaming And Disney+ Details". OtakuKart News. Archived from the original on December 4, 2019. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  4. ↑ Welch, Alex (December 4, 2019). "'SNF,' 'NCIS: Los Angeles,' and 'Madam Secretary' adjust up: Sunday final ratings". TV by the Numbers . Archived from the original on December 4, 2019. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
  5. ↑ Perkins, Dennis (December 2, 2019). "An intriguing Simpsons shifts focus to Todd Flanders, but can't follow through". The A.V. Club . Archived from the original on January 8, 2021. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  6. ↑ Bereta, Jesse (December 2, 2019). "Review: The Simpsons "Todd, Todd, Why Hast Thou Forsaken Me?"". Bubbleblabber. Archived from the original on January 7, 2021. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.