Once a brash, vulgar satire of Hollywood’s longstanding love affair with nuclear family sitcoms, The Simpsons has survived long enough to become as beloved a part of Americana as the Family Ties world the show has parodied for 36 years. The longest-running sitcom in the history of American television, Matt Groening‘s satire has survived by more or less staying the same while the world around it changed. Even as other shows have far surpassed the audacity of a young child telling someone to eat his shorts, The Simpsons has remained relevant–even legendary–by continuing to mock every American institution but all while keeping one thing at its core: the love the members of its offbeat titular family feel for one another.
The Simpsons new holiday special, “O C’Mon All Ye Faithful”, manages to cynically attack the modern American Christmas with the same level of irreverence that was once the show’s signature; however, even as it openly atomizes religion, politics and, honestly, the general state of society, the double-length episode finds a way to wrap it all in the warmth that comes with unconditional familial love.
Celebrate the holidays with “O C’mon All Ye Faithful,” a special double-episode, only on Disney+. Things go awry when British mentalist Derren Brown comes to Springfield. Homer gets hypnotized and believes he is Santa Claus, setting off a cheery chain-reaction through town. This special marks the 35th anniversary of the original Christmas special, “Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire,” and explores what it means to believe.
-Official Synopsis for The Simpson: O C’Mon All Ye Faithful
Though Bart was originally the star of The Simpsons, it has long since been Homer’s show and “O C’mon All Ye Faithful” is centered on him, sidelining the kids to an almost alarming degree with only Bart having any extended screentime. Instead, the special is a lot of Homer, a little of Marge and quite a bit of Ned Flanders, who finds himself undergoing an existential crisis that longtime fans of the series will likely enjoy. Set into motion by a visit to Springfield by British mentalist Derren Brown, a hypnotized Homer comes to believe he is Santa Claus and, before long, has the entire town believing it as well.
Somewhat incredibly, even after over 650 episodes, Groening still finds new ways to utilize Homer’s stupidity to great effect while keeping his ignorance-is-bliss-joy to make the big, dumb idiot as loveable as ever. If you’re finding yourself in the mood for some yuletide satire, “O C’mon All Ye Faithful” provides it in heavy doses while also sprinkling in enough love and reminders of the true Christmas spirit to make you feel nicer than naughty.
The Simpsons: O C’mon All Ye Faithful is now streaming on Disney Plus.
