We have seen Ned Flanders (Harry Shearer) upbeat as a rule, but it surely does not imply he is a one-note character. Removed from it. He’s the most well-rounded character within the historical past of The Simpsons, four-fingered fingers down. We have seen him dissatisfied, notably on the preliminary failure of The Leftorium in Season 3’s “When Flanders Failed.” Irritated, grumpy, silly and attractive, and unhappy, with the lack of his spouse, Maude, one of many collection’ most poignant, heartrending moments. Heck, we have even seen Flanders get outright mad when, in one of many earliest cases (“Useless Placing Society” in Season 2), Homer (Dan Castellaneta) pushes his buttons to get Ned to comply with a wager on whose boy wins a miniature golf event at Sir Putt-A-Lot’s Merrie Olde Enjoyable Middle. However we have by no means seen Ned totally darkish and maniacal, till Season 36’s “The Flandshees of Innersimpson,” and Homer is on the receiving finish of Flanders’ fury.
Hell Hath No Fury Like Ned Flanders in ‘The Simpsons’ “The Flandshees of Innersimpson”
Because the household is out on a day journey, they cross a string of billboards, all that includes names like “Wolfgang Von Bassdrop” and “Glenn the Eruptor.” Lisa (Yeardley Smith) factors out that they are all DJs who’ve made a fortune with the craft and purchased mansions for his or her households. The promise of massive cash and a mansion conjures up Homer to — no, not DJ himself — push Bart (Nancy Cartwright) into turning into a DJ. Bart takes his DJing out of the basement at Marge’s (Julie Kavner) behest and into the treehouse, the place he units up the Treehouse Residency below the DJ identify “Bartholomieux” (as per the billboard Homer will get put up). The noise on the primary evening prompts Ned to return over and ask them to cool down, however Homer refuses, making for a sleepless evening within the Flanders dwelling.
Not desirous to stir the pot, Ned buys some noise-cancelling headphones for himself and the youngsters, however Homer asks to borrow them, which, as we all know after 36 years, means Homer now has noise-cancelling headphones. The act does not go unnoticed, with Mrs. McCormick (Fiona Shaw), an previous Irish lady, ominously warning Homer that darkish instances will come to Evergreen Terrace earlier than the tip of the 12 months. That evening, Homer, Marge, Lisa, and Maggie all sleep soundly with the assistance of the headphones, whereas Ned, Rod (Pamela Hayden) and Todd (Cartwright) are rocked by one other sleepless evening.
Solely this time it is worse, because the yard will get utterly destroyed by partygoers after Bart waits too lengthy to drop the beat. The expertise is an excessive amount of for Bart, who provides up on DJing. It is solely then that Marge discovers that Homer did not purchase the headphones, however reasonably stole them from Ned, so she calls for he return them instantly. However when Homer opens the door, Ned is already standing there. Ned takes off his sweater, the one factor that Homer has by no means “borrowed” from him, and tells Homer he won’t ever communicate to him once more. Homer is overjoyed, however Mrs. McCormick warns him that the darkish instances have arrived.
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Homer is insistent that he’ll make Ned communicate to him once more, however regardless of attempting all the pieces he might consider, 9 months go by, and Ned nonetheless refuses to speak. Marge tries to clean issues over and talks with Ned about it, but it surely does not work. Marge comes again and suggests the one method to set issues proper is for Homer to apologize. He spends hours attempting to put in writing the proper apology letter, and, after Lisa provides her thumbs-up, delivers it to Ned’s home. Solely the letter does not have the specified end result.
It made Ned notice that Homer wasn’t too dumb to know higher, however as a substitute sensible sufficient to know higher and did all of it anyway. Ned took all the pieces out of the home that Homer borrowed, leaving the home just about empty, and began throwing all the pieces right into a shredder. Homer crashes his automotive into Ned’s to attempt to cease him. Solely Ned retaliates, and Evergreen Terrace turns right into a Smash-Up Derby between the 2. The 2 find yourself in courtroom, the place Decide Hurt (Jane Kaczmarek) sentences them to 100 hours of {couples} counseling. With counseling and a few assist from the psychedelic drug U-completamine, Homer and Ned lastly perceive each other and reconcile.
‘The Simpsons’ Takes “Hurricane Neddy” up a Notch With “The Flandshees of Innersimpson”
Homer “borrowing” Ned Flanders’ issues is without doubt one of the collection’ longest-running jokes, with all the pieces from a camcorder, air-con unit, and a climate vane invariably having written someplace on it “Property of Ned Flanders.” Even the long-lasting sofa comes from the curb outdoors Flanders’ home. Every now and then, Ned will meekly ask for one among his possessions again, however the closest we have seen Ned offended over Homer’s incessant taking of his property is in “Bull-E” from Season 26 In that episode, an anti-bullying legislation is put in force, with its obscure description of “bully” escalating to Homer getting anybody who barely annoys him arrested. However after being denied scorching chocolate as a result of Homer “borrowed” their mugs and their chocolate, Rod and Todd have him arrested, forcing Ned to understand that Homer has taken benefit of him. So when Homer seeks forgiveness after 90 days of therapy, Ned refuses a number of instances, finally relenting.
We have seen Ned deranged earlier than, too, in Season 8’s “Hurricane Neddy.” After a hurricane rolls by way of Springfield, the Flanders’ house is the one one in the whole city to be leveled. Homeless and shocked, Ned is grateful that his household is alive and wholesome, however regardless of residing a healthful life, it simply looks like he is being punished. The ultimate straw is a shoddy try by the residents of Springfield to rebuild the Flanders’ dwelling. It is an excessive amount of, and Ned snaps, and he launches right into a caustic tirade towards everybody earlier than driving himself to the Calmwood Psychological Hospital.
However “The Flandshees of Innersimpson” eclipses each examples. The headphones are the straw that broke the camel’s again, and he is not simply mad. His perspective towards Homer is mirrored by the darkish clouds that roll in behind him as he proclaims what he intends to do. His rage is then multiplied exponentially after studying the apology letter, and he turns into maniacal. The distinction between what occurs right here and “Hurricane Neddy” is that the breakdown within the latter is attributed to resentment towards his beatnik dad and mom.
Within the former, that anger has a single, solitary supply in Homer. There isn’t any childhood trauma, no acts of the divine, simply the burden of the reality behind Homer’s years of egocentric acts resulting in Ned unleashing a torrent of vengeful motion towards him. And Ned is in full management of himself this time, too, and that makes it even scarier. So, whereas the ending sees the frenemies reconcile, content material to stay with the established order, we have seen what Ned’s able to, and if it ever creeps up once more? Ah, hell diddly-ding-dong-crap.
The Simpsons is offered to stream on Disney+ within the U.S.
The Simpsons
- Launch Date
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December 17, 1989
- Community
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FOX
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Chris Elliott
Homer Simpson / Abe Simpson / Barney Gumble / Krusty (voice)
