The Dad-Feelings Limited
"The Dad-Feelings Limited" is the 11th episode of the thirty-second season of the American animated television series The Simpsons, and the 695th episode overall. It aired in the United States on Fox on January 3, 2021.[1] The episode was directed by Chris Clements,[2] and written by Ryan Koh.[3]
| "The Dad-Feelings Limited" | |
|---|---|
| The Simpsons episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 32 Episode 11 |
| Directed by | Chris Clements |
| Written by | Ryan Koh |
| Featured music | "Ooh La La" by Faces |
| Production code | QABF04 |
| Original air date | January 3, 2021 |
| Guest appearances | |
| |
Plot
Comic Book Guy and his wife Kumiko enjoy a lazy Sunday while Marge and Homer attend multiple children's birthday parties. Desperate for adult company, Marge and Homer leave the kids with Ned Flanders and go to Moe's for trivia night. Teaming up with Comic Book Guy and Kumiko, they win first place, and Marge and Kumiko relate over having overweight husbands. When Kumiko visits Marge, she bonds with Maggie and tells her husband she wants to have a child. Comic Book Guy, who works with children at his store every day and knows that he is an emotionally distant man, does not want to become a father.
Kumiko arranges for her husband to attend a movie with the Simpsons, and he finds he truly enjoys introducing Bart and Lisa to classic movies. When the children become upset, however, he is unable to comfort them, and returns to his family. After being shamed by Kumiko, they head to his home where they meet Comic Book Guy’s philatelist father Postage Stamp Fellow. Then in a flash-back narrated by Bob Balaban, it is explained that Comic Book Guy lived with his father and two aunts and uncles. Like him they also were obsessed with collecting meaningless things and showed little attention to him. Comic Book Guy also was part of his town's baseball team and on the biggest game of his life, he choked when his father didn’t show up and thus causing his team to lose and his team to throw him in a dumpster where several comics are dumped causing him to become Comic Book Guy.
Marge confronts Comic Book Guy’s father and after threatening to destroy one of his stamps, Postage Stamp Fellow reveals he didn’t go to his game because he was afraid that if he lost, he wouldn’t know how to comfort him. So he bought a baseball signed by Sandy Koufax that he didn’t have the heart to give him till now. The two reconcile and CBG return home to make a baby with Kumiko.
Production
Casting
Dan Aykroyd guest-starred in the episode as Postage Stamp Fellow, Bob Balaban appeared as the narrator, and Jenny Yokobori appeared as Kumiko.[1]
Release
The episode originally aired on January 3, 2021 at 9:01 PM.[1]
Reception
Viewing figures
In the United States, the episode was watched live by 1.89 million viewers.[5]
Critical response
Tony Sokol with Den of Geek, said "'The Simpsons goes back to the past to make way for the future on Season 32, episode 11. “The Dad Feelings-Limited” is an origin story, revealing the sad and lonely tale of Comic Book Guy. No, it isn't done in panel layouts, and his super strength turns out to be his greatest weakness." He gave the episode 4.5/5 stars.[6]
References
- "Listings - SIMPSONS, THE on FOX | TheFutonCritic.com". www.thefutoncritic.com. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
- @AlJean (January 21, 2020). "Bob Anderson" (Tweet). Retrieved August 17, 2020 – via Twitter.
- Garbutt, Herb (August 16, 2020). "'Simpson, eh?' GTA man writes episode for long-running show after pitching executive producer on Twitter". Toronto Star. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
- "The Simpsons". FoxFlash. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
- Metcalf, Mitch (January 6, 2021). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 1.3.2021". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on January 6, 2021. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
- "The Simpsons Season 32 Episode 11 Review: The Dad Feelings-Limited". Den of Geek. 2021-01-04. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
