Ned Flanders on Simpsons

[pastor's wife]

Last night, I had the TV on and watched a newer Simpsons show.

In it Ned's secret marriage to Bart's teacher is revealed and she becomes mom to his boys. At one point the boys call her things like "Cigarette Mommy". Edna doesn't like that and asks them to call her "Edna." "But that would be disrespectful," they answer, the kind of comment many of us deal with in real life with family members who cannot seem to recognize the inherent rudeness of a lot of what they say to us while at the same time they insist that they're being "loving."

There were lots of funny moments in there including the fact that the Flanders' boys' Christian school's team name was the Fighting Thessalonians.

Edna pulls them out of the Christian school and enrolls them in what Ned calls "Springfield Hellementary." lol

There were lots more funny stuff that we here on SFL could relate to, but I couldn't remember them all. I'd like to watch the episode again (even though Homer's portrayal of Jesus in their church's passion play was a bit much for me!)

[DaisyDeadhead]

I have always been bothered that Groening took Homer Simpson's name from Nathaniel West's "Day of the Locust" and now more people recognize the cartoon character than the literary character. The two characters are nothing alike, except for being big and stupid.

(/book geek)

[lucrezaborgia]

What if Homer were a Hussar???

[captain_solo]

the portrayal of Ned is actually fairly positive towards faith. He is an understandably extreme example, which fits the show pretty well, but generally he is portrayed in a positive light. Some of the references clearly indicate that the writers have had contact with fundies.

The "Fighting Thessalonians" reference is very subtle and hilarious too, I mean, is their tagline "a little less noble than the Bereans"?

[pastor's wife]

(08-21-2012 07:33 AM)captain_solo Wrote:  the portrayal of Ned is actually fairly positive towards faith. He is an understandably extreme example, which fits the show pretty well, but generally he is portrayed in a positive light. Some of the references clearly indicate that the writers have had contact with fundies.

From the moment I first saw his character, I realized that the writers have known REAL Bible believers not just a Hollywood charicature. (Compare Ned for example to SNL's church lady. The latter is a broad, ridiculous stereotype while Flanders is much more nuanced. Did I possibly say "nuanced" in relation to the Simpsons? lol) He is not perfect; he falls and struggles and loses his temper but then apologizes or prays or otherwise shows his determination to continue living by his principles no matter how difficult.

Quote:
The "Fighting Thessalonians" reference is very subtle and hilarious too, I mean, is their tagline "a little less noble than the Bereans"?

That would be funny!

There were several more details, like even the name of the Christian school, but the show was happening so quickly I couldn't get them all. I need to find that episode and watch it again.