• Directed by: Wes Archer
• Written by: Nell Scovell
• Airdate: January 24th, 1991

     When the family grows tired of their usual routine of food-named nights, they decide to go out to a new sushi place. At first skeptical, Homer tries the fish cautiously, but then soon proceeds to try everything on the menu because of its tastiness. He orders a blowfish, and with the Master cook busy with one Mrs. Krabappel, a younger cook cuts the blowfish, which could be poisonous. Believing it to have been served wrong, and having been accidentally poisoned, Homer and Marge go to Dr. Hibbert's, who confirms the fact that Homer is poisoned and only has a day to live.
     Homer makes a list of things he wants to do for his last day, but sleeps in, and most of his day is spent with his time hogging father. All of this is followed up with Homer being thrown in jail for speeding and mouthing off to the police while in a rush, Barney bailing him out, and Homer having to spend time with the boys at the bar once he informs Barney of his predicament. Homer soon notices how much time he's wasted and hurries home to Marge.
     After being intimate, he says goodbye to his sleeping children and sits in the living room, listening to an audio tape of The Good Book (as read by Larry King). There, he seemingly dies. The next morning, Marge goes to him and starts to mourn, only to realize that Homer's drool is warm, and that he simply fell asleep. Waking Homer up, the two embrace and Homer swears that he will live life to the fullest. The episodes end credits roll over Homer sitting on the couch, bag of chips in hand, watching bowling on TV.

     What has always been great about The Simpsons is that, whilst watching the first act, you're never sure where the story is going to go. I realized watching this episode that even though an episode is only 22 minutes long, and the first act usually doesn't really have anything to do with the main story, the writers are able to fill the piece with such a strong story and such great emotion that it works as a movie in and of itself. The plot is strong, and there are many set pieces and events, yet there are still off jokes and gags there to keep us entertained.

     This episode does what many shows try to do but many times fail; it makes a situation we know honestly isn't going to happen (come on, Homer wouldn't die) and yet still makes us care and depressed to see or think about such a thing happening. The thing about the first 10 years of Simpsons Homer is that he was entertaining, loving, caring, and, alright, he was stupid. But I'll honestly tell you right now. If Homer were to have died in the first ten years, before he got overtly stupid and more mean-spirited in cases in later episodes, I would have been devastated. At this point in your life, you consider these people to be real, in terms of being connected to them and having them be such an integral part of your life. And the realistic, emotional parts of the story between Homer and Marge are so brilliantly done and touching:
     - Homer and Marge decide not to tell the kids of their father's apparent upcoming death as to not have the last day a depressing one.
     - Homer asking Marge, while writing his list, about what she calls it when they "oh...you know", "being intimate?"
     - Marge staring out the window during the dinner, looking for Homer, and depressingly answering Bart's series of question about why they're eating from the good china and wearing their good clothes is heartbreaking.
     - Homer racing home on foot to spend their last loving moment together (with a swift nod to The Graduate) is also an insight into how much Homer cares about his wife.
     - Marge's poem to Homer is also touching, and the choice to keep the camera on Homer while it is read, showing his changing emotion, is fantastic.
     - And finally, the slight mourning of Marge before realizing that her husband is still alive.

     The episode is one that is constantly tugging at you. We've seen many episodes like this over the years, but this was one of the first that truly showed that, no matter what they go through and what kind of stupidity Homer stirs up, him and Marge truly are meant for each other and care about each other more than anything.

     This episode also has some of the most rapid changing, yet hilarious, sections I've ever seen in a Simpsons episode. All of them have become well remembered over the years and are etched into minds of viewers, even if they don't remember which exact episode it is from. I thought I'd go through these in the Quotes and Bits section, but instead I'm making a list of them here, since there are so many amazing moments:
     - Bart and Lisa singing Shaft to a room full of Japanese business men.
     - Akira and Master Chef arguing in Japanese over the blowfish, only for Homer to turn to Marge and say "beautiful language isn't it?"
     - Homer's rapid process of the Stages Of Dying.
     - The pamphlet- "So You're Going to Die"
     - The man to man with Bart, from teaching him the three sentences to get through life, to teaching him out to shave.
     - Homer listening to Lisa play the Sax, only to start crying, and Lisa cheering him up by playing 'When The Saints Go Marching In.'
     - Making the videotape for Maggie.
     - Homer and Abe's family day, with Abe taking up most of Homer's time.
     - Marge staring out the window during dinner, waiting for Homer.
    - Burns' checking out women's ankles at the park (usually cut form syndication unfortunately).
     - Barney's apartment next to the jail and subsequent goodbye at the bar.
     - The gag of Homer looking out the window of Barney's car, telling him to hurry up. Zoom out to see Barney fixing a tire on the car on the freeway.
     - Homer's Graduate like run home.
     - The Good Book, on tape, as read by Larry King.

     The episode never lets up on its sight gags and storytelling. It is amazingly crafted and, like most of my other posts, could be considered an overlooked episode these days. This has everything; emotion, story, a hell of a lot of characters fit into its small time, and all having a nice role, and some great gags and sequences. It is undoubtedly one of the best of the second season. It also has George Takei and Sab Shimono in small, yet wonderful roles.

Favourite Quotes And Bits:
5) The Happy Sumo is located on Elm Street.
4) More of a personal question; do any 8 and 10- years olds actually know the lyrics to the Shaft theme song? That'd be quite entertaining to see at a karaoke.
3) Homer: Goodbye, Bart… I like your sheets.
2) Homer: Okay, where do you want to go?
     Lisa: Anywhere but hamburgers, pizza, or fried chicken.
     Homer: Fine, we'll go to Mars!
1) Dr. Hibbert: You have 24 hours to live.
     Homer: 24 hours!?
     Dr. Hibbert: Well… 22. I'm sorry to have kept you waiting so long.