Recap / The Simpsons S30 E21 "D'oh Canada"

On a family vacation to Niagara Falls, Lisa is mistakenly granted political asylum in Canada. When Marge goes to rescue Lisa, they are forced to re-evaluate their love for America as they navigate the polite Canadian landscape. The episode was co-written by Tim Long.

Tropes

• Artistic License – Law: Contrary to popular belief among American viewers, foreigners and tourists can't just go to a Canadian hospital and expect free treatment. To receive health care in Canada you generally must be a taxpaying long-term resident (citizen, permanent resident, or on a long-term work visa) since you're already paying for it through taxes. An American citizen wouldn't be sent away, per se, but they would still be charged for hospital services.
• Biting-the-Hand Humor: Homer mocks Upstate New York for starting to watch Fox News. Lisa later expresses a preference for Canada's Fox News, which is just news about foxes.
• Continuity Nod:
  • The Simpsons once again visit Mt. Splashmore. Bart and Lisa even repeat their way to ask Homer to take them there.
  • Returning to America, Lisa happily greets everything she missed in Springfield, including Princess from "Lisa's Pony."
    Lisa: I missed you, pony I had for a week!
• Grass is Greener: After spending time in Canada, Lisa becomes bitter about having to go back to the United States, before trying to get political asylum.
• The Heart: Marge protests Canada's attempt to keep Lisa, calling her "the heart and soul of this family."
  Bart: Hey, what am I?
  Homer: You're the spleen: we don't know what it does and we don't care.
• Men Can't Keep House: Finding herself trapped in Canada with Lisa, Marge Skypes Homer and Bart and is reassured to find that they at least seem to be managing all right. We then get a shot of the Simpsons' living room which shows that it's been completely trashed outside a narrow set of parameters they've roped off for the webcam.
• Not So Above It All: With Lisa depressed about having to leave Canada, some locals try to make her feel better by saying that Canadians exploit and pollute their environment as well, before insulting the Quebecois and Newfoundlanders.
• Opening Shout-Out: Kent Brockman interviews Springfielders upset about losing Lisa, including Mr. Largo, who calls her the only good member of the school band. When the rest of the kids protest, he points out that they've been rehearsing the same song for thirty years.
• Pun-Based Title: On the Canadian national anthem "O Canada".
• Shown Their Work: All of the restaurant chains Lisa and her Canadian foster parents name are real.
• Take That!:
  • The episode takes some potshots at Upstate New York, saying it can never go into decline "because it was never that great to begin with." Homer sings a parody of "Theme from New York, New York" extending the joke even further.
    Start watchin' Fox News
    Stop watchin' your weight
    There is no fancy part of it
    Upstate New York
  • The Simpsons aren't fond of Niagara Falls and only go there for the free hotel stay.
  • The Simpsons can hide at the Detroit Lions' stadium because nobody buys tickets to watch their games.
  • Lisa's opinions on the president are... less than favorable, to put it lightly.
  • When she's granted her own hockey team, she prays for anyone but the Ottawa Senators.
• When the Clock Strikes Twelve: Homer finally earns enough points for a free stay at a hotel but must use them before midnight or they're lost.
• You Can't Go Home Again: The American Ambassador tells Marge and Lisa he's unable to give them safe passage back to America, forcing them to find their own way back.