The Simpsons was designed to be a sitcom with real heart. If you listen to the DVD commentaries, this is expressed repeatedly, and any fan of the show can think back to many episodes over the years that had some real touching moments in them. Not in a sappy, Full House, kind of way, but just moments that show that deep down, these characters are good people who, despite being extremely dysfunctional, really love one another. This week, a Simpsons family member dies for the first time on-screen (excluding pets, of course) and instead of a bittersweet episode reflecting on this loss, we get a James Bond parody.

Here’s an excerpt from my “Mona Leaves-a” Review:

Then things got simply ridiculous, and not in a good way. Mona had set up the ashes to sabotage a missile full of nuclear waste from being sent by Mr. Burns to the heart of the Amazon rainforest. Excuse me, but what? Where did all that come from? All of a sudden, Homer is playing 007 as he and his family use the things Mona left them to help Homer escape and blow up the base. This entire act felt incredibly hollow and irrelevant to Homer saying goodbye to his mother. The tacked on montage at the very end of the episode was a more fitting tribute, but because it came right after Homer was playing a super spy, it didn’t carry anywhere near as emotional weight as it should have.

For the full review, please click here.