Review: The Simpsons “Mothers and Other Strangers”

Overview (Spoilers Below):

Teenage Homer and Grampa go on a road trip to look for Homer’s mother.

Our Take:  

Thanksgiving may be over, but that doesn’t mean the family drama has to end as well. This week sees one more Simpsons episode before its brief hiatus next month, and boy, did it pick an exciting story to tell. It features the “greatest tragedy” Homer has ever faced this season. How great is this tragedy? Well, this episode pretty much sums up our answer.

“Mothers and Other Strangers” starts with the family celebrating Mother’s Day. Well, everyone except Homer who suddenly remembers missing his mother Mona (Glenn Close). He then uses the Nutz therapy app to help him reflect on the predicament. It then flashes back to when Homer was a teenager. When he discovers that his mother is alive in Utah and that his father Abe lied about her fate, Homer sets out on a road trip to find her while the FBI sneakily follows them. 

Flashback episodes are pretty standard in the show’s 32-year run. Not only do they showcase the younger versions of our favorite characters in their adventures, but they also provide some more depth into the characters and their relationships. “Mothers and Other Strangers” is no exception as it explores Homer’s quest to find his mother, who is wanted by the FBI.

Mona Simpson has previously appeared in several episodes throughout the show and plays a crucial role in Homer’s life, including the season 31 episode “Todd, Todd, Why Hast Thou Forsaken Me?”. This episode further represents Mona’s disappearance, as explained in season seven’s “Mother Simpson”, in which she was on the run for sabotaging a biological warfare laboratory. While it’s a story that should’ve been explored in one of the earlier seasons, the episode still offers plenty of heart and humor to provide a reasonable return of Homer’s long-lost mother.

Glenn Close has been voicing the character since 1995, and her vocal performance here proves that we’re ready to see her play the role for many more years. Close’s voice perfectly resembled Mona as a kind and caring mother who’s willing to protect her family by running away from them. The episode also focused on the relationship between Homer and Abe, who lied to Homer about Mona. Abe seeks to make up for his mistake by joining Homer on his quest. There were a few moments in this relationship that felt a bit rushed, but it still managed to earn its tenderheartedness regardless.

The episode also had its share of decent gags that fit well into its tone. One of them is another fictional streaming service that parodies Netflix. This time, it’s “Muttflix”, a service filled with content made for dogs. The Simpflix gag in “A Serious Flanders” was honestly better, but this one worked enough to get me barking with glee. Another joke I liked was Abe and Homer forgetting to give the dying soldier’s war tags to his wife.

Overall, “Mothers and Other Strangers” is another enjoyable episode that further explores Homer’s history with his mother. Its humorous jokes work well alongside its heartfelt moments despite its pacing, and Glenn Close’s performance was once again heavenly to the ears. It’s a very late Mother’s Day present for us Simpsons fans, but hey, better late than never.