Leading up to this episode, I was equally perplexed and intrigued. Being a long time Simpsons fan, but never having seen the original seasons 1-10, I just finished this episode on a chronological rewatch. It's interesting to see that Marge and Maggie, characters that often have ample gags or small arcs in modern episodes, aren't tapped into much in the early days of the program. This episode finally focuses on the two women of the Simpsons clan that are woefully underused, but thankfully, live up to their potential in "A Streetcar Named Marge". Marge's non-commitment to the part of Blanche is honestly very sad to watch as Homer exhibits his most careless attitude since Season 2's "The War of the Simpsons". This isn't done in vain, however, as these respective episodes focus on the tricky balance Marge and Homer must retain to succeed as couple. This episode was often more melancholy and introspective than many of the episodes have been so far, which is thankfully offset by Maggie's inventive and incredibly entertaining aside at daycare.
This is one of the best episodes for me thus far. Not a single character feels wasted, Jon Lovitz is excellent as the exacerbated playwright and the visual and auditory gags in this entry stand out. "A Streetcar Named Marge" is a terrific example of the range "The Simpsons" showcases as a television show. The commitment to the musical and rugrats-esque B-plot are superb, and the heartfelt and understated ending between Marge and Homer made me tear up. Watch this one for sure!
This is one of the best episodes for me thus far. Not a single character feels wasted, Jon Lovitz is excellent as the exacerbated playwright and the visual and auditory gags in this entry stand out. "A Streetcar Named Marge" is a terrific example of the range "The Simpsons" showcases as a television show. The commitment to the musical and rugrats-esque B-plot are superb, and the heartfelt and understated ending between Marge and Homer made me tear up. Watch this one for sure!