Line #0 Recap/TheSimpsonsS18E4TreehouseOfHorrorXVII


1	[[quoteright:199:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/treehouse_of_horror_xvii.png]]
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3	'''Original air date:''' 11/5/2006
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5	'''Production code:''' HABF-17
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7	This Treehouse of Horror's terrifying tales consist of Homer as an ExtremeOmnivore thanks to a space marshmallow, Bart using Krusty's {{Golem}} to wreak havoc, and a trip back to the 1938 where Springfield suffers an AlienInvasion, but the residents don't believe it as they've already been fooled by Creator/OrsonWelles' radio broadcast of ''Radio/{{The War of the Worlds\|1938}}''.
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9	----
10	!!Tropes:
11	* AnachronismStew: The third story takes place in 1938 and portrays Abe as a UsefulNotes/WorldWarI veteran. When Lenny asks why he insists on calling it "World War One", he answers [[UsefulNotes/WorldWarII "You'll see"]].
12	** However, given Abe's age he would be likelier to be a Spanish-American War veteran than World War I.
13	* AndYouThoughtItWasReal: The citizens of Springfield end up mistaking a radio broadcast for a report of an actual alien invasion. Realizing their mistake they vow to never be fooled again.
14	** It becomes inverted the next day when aliens do actually invade and the entire town, despite plenty of evidence to the contrary, simply believe that they are being tricked again.
15	* ArsonMurderAndJaywalking: Krusty's Golem on his deeds in the past:
16	-->'''Golem:''' I feel so guilty! I've mangled and maimed 37 people and I told a telemarketer I was busy when I wasn't! I'm not a good man.
17	* ArtisticLicenseHistory: There's quite a number of liberties taken in "The Day the Earth Looked Stupid" when it comes to the ''War of the Worlds'' broadcast:
18	** Most of the scenes involving the town of Springfield listening to the broadcast happened during the middle of the day, when the actual broadcast happened during the evening hours.
19	** One scene involves a group of school students listening to the broadcast in their classroom, which would have been impossible, as the broadcast happened on a Sunday.
20	** Homer and Marge, who were listening to the broadcast from the very beginning, actually believed that the fictional news reports of Martians landing in the East Coast was real. Those who were actually listening to the broadcast from the very beginning would have known that this was really an episode of ''The Mercury Theatre on the Air'', with the real paranoia being the result of people who were listening to ''The Chase and Sanborn Hour'' tuning into this broadcast while the other program was having a musical segment.
21	** There was little actual panic among the public; the stories about panic and paranoia were mostly made up by newspapers in their NewMediaAreEvil campaign against radio.
22	* BaitAndSwitchComment: When Homer says he has a job for the Golem, he makes it sound like it'll be something evil. He actually wants the Golem to "open the pickle jar".
23	** After Skinner gets [[HalfTheManHeUsedToBe cut in half by the golem]], Superintendent Chalmers bellows "SKINNER!" in his usual tone, then sadly laments "I wish we'd been closer".
24	* BlatantLies: One of the aliens tries to justify the invasion by claiming the humans were making mass-disintegration weapons. Even the other alien doesn't believe it.
25	* BlobMonster: Homer eats a small blob from outer space, and becomes a big blob monster himself.
26	* BreadEggsBreadedEggs: In "Married to the Blob", Homer at one point mindlessly drones that he must eat, poop, eat some more and eat while pooping.
27	* TheCameo: One of the Germans that Homer eats during Oktoberfest is Uter!
28	* CastingGag: Creator/OrsonWelles in this episode is voiced by Creator/MauriceLaMarche, who's well-known for his dead-on impression of Welles, most famously using it for the voice of [[WesternAnimation/PinkyAndTheBrain The]] [[WesternAnimation/{{Animaniacs}} Brain]].
29	* DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything:
30	** The aliens' justification to invade Earth is the expressed belief that humans were creating weapons of mass disintegration. This is lampshaded to the point of being stated outright.
31	** Plus, the following line is about how the aliens expected to win the "hearts and minds" of humans with the invasion. Except, [[ToServeMan they mean]] [[ExactWords literally]].
32	* DownerEnding: The third segment has Springfield still in ruins three years after Kang and Kodos took over the town, with the aliens bemoaning that the humans still hate their presence, it's implied that they're all enslaved and dissected and with explosions going off every so often. This isn't helped by the gloomy-sounding instrumental of the closing theme song heard in the credits.
33	* EveryoneHasStandards: The whole of Springfield in the "War of the Worlds" segment are horrified by Homer's DecapitationPresentation of the Sea Captain's head.
34	* EvilDetectingDog: Blue the dog was able to sense something was wrong about the Mayor's so-called shelter for the homeless. After sniffing it, he ran off in fear as while the Mayor shoved the dog's owner right into the "shelter" which is actually just a roofless facade with hungry Homer behind it.
35	* FoodAsBribe: Chief Wiggum is talked out of arresting the Golem for murdering Principal Skinner by being offered latkes and being told they're pan-fried.
36	* {{Golem}}: Krusty somehow got hold of the Golem of Prague itself.
37	* GroinAttack: The Golem gives Homer one as ordered by Bart.
38	* GrowlingGut: Heard when Homer is turning into the Blob
39	* HalfTheManHeUsedToBe: The Golem ends up cutting Principal Skinner in half while using him as a yo-yo.
40	* ImAHumanitarian: Blob!Homer gets really, really, hungry.
41	* ImprovisedGolems: The Simpsons build a bride for the Golem out of Play-Goh and bring her to life (who speaks with the voice of Creator/FranDrescher).
42	* InsultToRocks: Groundskeeper Willie invokes this while getting rid of Skinner's corpse after the Golem is finished with him.
43	-->'''Willie:''' You'll make better mulch than you did a man.\
44	'''Skinner:''' [[ImStandingRightHere I may be bifurcated, but I still have feelings!]]
45	* IronMaiden: The opening has Moe stuffed into an iron maiden, with his blood spilling and spelling out the episode's title, which he then immediately lampshades afterwards:
46	-->'''Moe:''' Oh, look at that, my blood's a genius, fancy Roman numerals and everything.
47	* IWillFightSomeMoreForever: The epilogue shows Kang and Kodos having been driven completely ragged by the fact that humanity still continues to fight after a campaign of conquest that has turned Springfield and possibly the world into a post-apocalyptic wasteland, with their conversation punctuated by the occasional explosion on the background (implied to be human insurgents). All of this combines into a fantastical picture of UsefulNotes/TheWarOnTerror.
48	* JewishComplaining: After a little while enjoying using the Golem as a weapon for assassination and doing cool things with, Bart and Lisa get completely fed up with him because [[BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor once they allow him to speak]] all that the Golem does, for hours on end, is to complain.
49	* KillThePoor: Mayor Quimby and the town of Springfield reach a compromise with Homer, who has gained an insatiable appetite after becoming The Blob: they keep Homer inside a new "homeless shelter," and any vagrants who enter are [[EatenAlive eaten by him]]... In a very twisted way, this is effectively supposed to kill two birds with one stone.
50	* LiteralMinded: One of the aliens claims to have people's hearts and minds and shows a brain and a heart to prove it.
51	* MonsterClown: Krusty announces the show is now in HD and steps on camera. It brings out ''every'' [[NightmareFace horrific]] [[GrossUpCloseUp detail]] of his face. Needless to say, the kids are terrified.
52	-->'''Krusty:''' That's right, look at your hero!
53	* NoodleIncident: Exactly how Krusty obtained the Golem of Prague isn't revealed.
54	* ProductionForeshadowing: Producer Al Jean's gag name in the credits is "Al 'July 27, 2007' Jean", referring to the release date of ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsonsMovie'', which was in production at the time.
55	* ScaryDogmaticAliens: Kang and Kodos are of the Conquistador variety in ''The Day the Earth Looked Stupid'', though their dialogue at the end heavily implies they were ObliviouslyEvil in their forced occupation of Earth.
56	* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: Orson Welles' sound effect guy holds up a "screw you" sign and leaves when Welles announces the aliens are playing the xylophone and bowling by the airport.
57	* ShoutOut:
58	** The Golem's design (and that hair) come from the 1920 movie ''Film/TheGolem''.
59	** At one point, Chief Wiggum threatens to punch Orson Welles "in the nose, bud", to which Welles replies, "[[Film/CitizenKane Nose bud]]."
60	* SuddenlyVoiced: The Golem was completely mute until Lisa gave him the order to "Speak". Afer that he becomes a neurotic who is [[JewishComplaining constantly complaining]] (in the voice of Creator/RichardLewis) and actually feels guilty for his actions.
61	* StaircaseTumble: A first-person one happens in the ''Series/TalesFromTheCrypt''-parodying opening sequence.
62	* TakeThat:
63	** When the blob tries to escape from Homer's body.
64	--->'''Homer:''' If I can keep down Arby's, I can keep down you!
65	** Krusty says that, as a defender of the Jewish people, the Golem is like Creator/AlanDershowitz but with a conscience. Krusty says he's just joking about Alan.
66	* TalkingTheMonsterToDeath: Marge is the only one who is able to convince Blob Homer to stop eating everyone, but has mixed results: Homer in the end agrees to only eat the homeless from now on.
67	* TemptingFate: Done twice by Homer regarding the blob. When Lisa suggests it might be an intelligent being, Homer asks why it doesn't try to escape his mouth. The blob tries so. After Marge berates Homer for eating something without knowing which galaxy it came from, he says he ate it and it's over. The blob then makes another escape attempt.
68	* TooSpicyForYogSothoth: Inverted. The alien blob twice tries to escape Homer's innards after he eats it, and twice Homer prevents it.

Context Recap / TheSimpsonsS18E4TreehouseOfHorrorXVII