This was quite an interesting watch. I even dare to say it was better than Eternal Moonshine of the Simpson Mind! There was a serious A-plot about Bart and Lisa killing Martin Prince and a silly B-plot about Homer cheating on his bell pepper diet. I actually thought Dial N for Nerder did a good job balancing both plots and no one was flanderized to be out of character at all. The only thing missing from the episode was Martin's parents crying about their missing son. It's up to Nelson Muntz to solve this Martin Murder Mystery! This ain't your typical Martin Mystery.
The best part of the A-plot is the Martin tribute video of scenes with him from Girls Just Want to Have Sums, Fat Man and Little Boy, Treehouse of Horror III, and Three Men and a Comic Book. The best part of the B-plot is Homer kissing and making out with a rack of lamb. This challenged the Simpsons' dynamics because the reality show Sneakers wanted to see if Marge would break up with Homer for not sticking to his bell pepper diet, and when Bart wanted to confess to his murder prank before his guilt got to him, Lisa told him no because they shouldn't ruin their own lives over an accidental murder, since confessing would not bring Martin back. There's also more tension and stakes when Bart and Lisa need to hide from the police they saw on the news, and Nelson because he was investigating Martin's murder and knew Martin didn't just "fall by accident" as Police Chief Wiggum said because Martin was afraid of heights, meaning someone else knocked him off a cliff.
This review is dedicated to the loving memory of Russi Taylor (May 4, 1944-July 26, 2019). That Martin slideshow meant everything to Russi Taylor fans, and it has gotten more meaningful after Russi Taylor's death. What will happen to Martin, Sherri, Terri and Uter, and who will voice Minnie Mouse now? 5 years ago, I said goodbye to Edna Krabappel after 25 seasons, and now I say goodbye to Martin Prince after 30 seasons. "Martin was like Jesus, only real!"-Bart Simpson, 2008
The best part of the A-plot is the Martin tribute video of scenes with him from Girls Just Want to Have Sums, Fat Man and Little Boy, Treehouse of Horror III, and Three Men and a Comic Book. The best part of the B-plot is Homer kissing and making out with a rack of lamb. This challenged the Simpsons' dynamics because the reality show Sneakers wanted to see if Marge would break up with Homer for not sticking to his bell pepper diet, and when Bart wanted to confess to his murder prank before his guilt got to him, Lisa told him no because they shouldn't ruin their own lives over an accidental murder, since confessing would not bring Martin back. There's also more tension and stakes when Bart and Lisa need to hide from the police they saw on the news, and Nelson because he was investigating Martin's murder and knew Martin didn't just "fall by accident" as Police Chief Wiggum said because Martin was afraid of heights, meaning someone else knocked him off a cliff.
This review is dedicated to the loving memory of Russi Taylor (May 4, 1944-July 26, 2019). That Martin slideshow meant everything to Russi Taylor fans, and it has gotten more meaningful after Russi Taylor's death. What will happen to Martin, Sherri, Terri and Uter, and who will voice Minnie Mouse now? 5 years ago, I said goodbye to Edna Krabappel after 25 seasons, and now I say goodbye to Martin Prince after 30 seasons. "Martin was like Jesus, only real!"-Bart Simpson, 2008