Mothers and Other Strangers
1. Plot ("
Teenager Homer and Abe Simpsons go on a journey to alleviate their grief and find their mother…") - While I wanted great Abe/Homer/Mona episode, the "tour" actually, isn't the best base for it.
However, we're going to deep TWICE in past - Homer's childhood and teen ages itself with double emotions (or exceed gags). And the time line is really not occupied
in 35 years, to the surprise. So, the story is worth.
4/5
2-3. The Biggest Possible Problem & Crew The first problem - it's a
flashback, which nowadays, for some reason, make a lot of loud and nitpicking
. But the main problem
with Apu, in my view,... is
Al Jean - this time, which is
the writer. He didn't show his
standalone efforts for quite a long time - 3 years (since
Daddicus Finch). During this time he showed some scripts, namely 2 -
Better of Ned and
The Seven-Beer Itch - in
co-writing. And they really ruined his reputation as writer. But this time he's alone, it won't happen… right?.. The last about AJ - for me all his
standalone HD efforts had a charm, but lost in various of unnecessary jokes, making them nicely average/decent.
Rob Oliver's huge ability is cut every time, with using by
Al Jean...
the showrunner one, and we can only hope this the 1st wr/dir duo really WORKED for the good of all
4. Promo stuff I waited with preview until seeing at least one sneak peek. And the one with short Mona's line about "her Homer" (and even some reference to Mother Simpson, in my view) was good
SO, Because of aforementioned writer's continued break, I'm not sure about the final rank totally. Let's said
2-3 "above or bellow average" (this time really vague mark)
CORRECTION
I had a confuse with my "estimating systems"
(old and trying new), so I shift the mark to
2.5-3.5 (mediocre-to-OK)