This previous weekend on Fox the most recent episode of the long-running animated sitcom The Simpsons aired, and it was all a couple of faux sport known as Boblox, a not-subtle-at-all reference to the real-life Roblox. And it ended up being one of many season’s higher episodes thus far.
Anytime you speak about The Simpsons lately you inevitably must cope with the feedback in regards to the present’s declining high quality. And sure, it’s true that fashionable episodes typically don’t examine to previous classics. However this season (34!) and the final one have been fairly good, that includes some all-time unbelievable episodes like “Pixelated And Afraid.” And whereas this latest Roblox-themed episode isn’t that good, it’s nonetheless a enjoyable half-hour that feels prefer it was written by somebody who has performed (or talked to somebody who has performed Roblox) not less than as soon as.
After opening with a fast Murderer’s Creed parody, full with hidden blades and useless historic figures, Bart is compelled by Marge to play a nicer, much less violent online game known as Boblox. And in a pleasant contact, at any time when the episode reveals stuff occurring within the sport, it makes use of 3D CG animation that appears sharp and flat, similar to Roblox. Nevertheless, due to his mother and father being poor and never having a brand new PC, his outdated laptop glitches when enjoying the sport, letting the Simpsons promote a mohawk hair merchandise again and again. Rapidly this rip-off turns into a full-fledged operation using children at Springfield Elementary and the college’s equally outdated, shitty PCs.
This can be a enjoyable sufficient setup and it’s clear that author Ryan Koh is aware of Roblox and likewise on-line online game tradition. At one level we see two streamers summarizing an ongoing Boblox on-line conflict between Bart’s group and a distinct college utilizing an identical in-game rip-off. The bit feels genuine and likewise ends with the good line of the 2 younger children asking their commenters to not depart something racist beneath.
However what actually elevates this episode is when principal Skinner enters the image. Determined for cash and wanting to show the college right into a performing arts college (to dodge check scores and grade evaluations) the usually good boy Skinner groups up with Bart. Collectively the 2 of them develop the rip-off. At one level Skinner makes use of his energy as principal to even scare Martin Prince into conserving his mouth shut with the specter of an A- on his subsequent report card. I at all times love when The Simpsons pair up Bart with Skinner, as you may inform Skinner each hates Bart and has a bizarre respect for him, and this episode reveals that Bart additionally feels the identical manner towards Skinner.
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Oh and likewise, I do know this was apparently a parody of The Wire, too. However I’ve by no means seen that present so I can’t say if the episode nailed that half or not. I’ll depart that as much as you Wire followers on the market to determine.
It’s attention-grabbing to see one other animated FOX present tackling video video games and succeeding. Simply final month Bob’s Burgers did a whole episode devoted to digital actuality gaming, how crappy it may be, and all the problems individuals put up with to play stuff like Beat Saber. Now all I would like is The Nice North to do an episode about cellular video games or free-to-play looter shooters.
