This was an interesting episode, well written and entertaining, though surprisingly downbeat and cynical. I think that tackling telephone scams, a big real-life issue, was an intriguing story and making it all about Grampa (who's subjected to one that lies about his grandson being in jail, falling for it and losing his $10000 & the family trying to give him support while Homer is bitter) was an inspired choice, though despite the nice writing, good animation and some decent jokes, it really was unsubtle and like it was out to warn people about phone scams (and maybe was more straightforward than I had wished as I had hoped for more clever zaniness) it felt almost too serious in a sense, but I get the point that it made about how serious the problem with these awful phone scammers targeting good, trusting people and for that I can respect it (among other things) so yeah, good one.
I enjoyed the flashback start to a younger Grampa and his friends (Jasper & the Old Jewish Man) finishing a day's work at the factory and going for a drink at a tavern (which was pretty amusing with at least one nice joke, that being Abe using his small paycheck to bet on a random animal fight and saying he'll eat the loser) & the present day scene of him and the other elders really making the most out of their social security checks was a nice montage. Once Grampa gets the scam-call about Bart is in jail, the episode is off to a good start and there was a lot of good moments with him and some little funny moments, such as the Western Union scene with other unknowing elders also wiring money to scammers (and I absolutely liked him really caring for Bart. That was really sweet).
I enjoyed the scenes with Grampa visiting the family once he finds out he's been scammed (from Bart, who was surprisingly knowledgeable and serious about scams, which was a weird little moment) and the interactions had good drama and nice moments of humor, but while I enjoyed most of the family being supportive, I think it overdid Homer's angry reaction. I perfectly understand his disappointment about losing a possible inheritance with the $10000 Grampa had in secret being gone & their conflict was good, I thought he was a little too much of a loud jerk about it, thinking his dad was such an idiot, shaming him loudly even during a PTA meeting and being so petty he even dreams about it (maybe it is just me, but I felt they took it too far, but I at least liked the interactions and arguments with the rest of the family, plus him doing the angry globe-spinning thing at least twice was a nice little gag).
The reveal that Homer had been scammed as well (!) with a pyramid scheme (having ordered kitchen knives and recieving crate after crate that he's stacked in the garage) was pretty amusing, but the ensuing montage definitely felt a little overlong, despite his ashamed reaction being hilarious). I liked was Marge's journey and how she was the more idealistic one (which makes sense) and handles the whole situation in a very mature, if maybe too naive manner, and her plot thread was, aside from Grampa's trouble, the strongest part of the episode (as it did give counter the cynical and preachingly serious tone of the episode, such as characters telling about how they got scammed too) & I also liked Lisa being the one who tracks down the site the scammer calls from by recording the call (once it happens to Grampa again; I liked him pulling one of his nonsensical stories again, by the way) and by using the computer.
The Simpsons going to the location of the scammer and finding it is a company building with dozens of people in cubicles doing their scam calls was obvious but had some nice jokes (I especially liked Homer distracting the guard, whom did sound surprisingly like one of the two scammers, with one of the knives by cutting tomates, but I also enjoyed a bored Moe being one of the callers). I liked the realism of this being kind of a dead end, as Grampa's money is gone and the police (I liked the lightswitch gag with Chief Wiggum, tp be fair) cannot really do anything (the callers are essentially low-paid slaves only earning gift cards) and the Simpsons are left having accomplished nothing (I wished Grampa could've identified the Bart-sounding man, who was a nice gag here with Bart, but I really liked see the realism that he's just a nobody serving the unseen big bad and punishing him would amount to nothing).
The restaurant scene where the Simpsons & Grampa take advantage of the gift cards they got their hands from at the scamming company was a nice little wrap-up, letting the events sink in and Marge refuses to eat (which makes sense, as she'd accept the scammers) but being inspired to give up and eat (by Homer & the kids) as well (as everyone's doing it). The whole elaborate hallucination with them meeting Loki, the God of mischief, was really bizarre, stupid and unnecessary, though (I get the idea of likening the scammers to Loki, but it felt over the top silly and was there to make Marge weakened belief in the good of humanity overtly clear, but hey, at least I liked the visuals, Alan Cumming's performance was nie & the cameo of Bill Cipher from 'Gravity Falls' was amusing (but really pointless). I hated the lame Mickey Mouse gag, but I'm thankful they refrained from having the Loki be the MCU one).
The gas station bit with Marge refusing to stop believing in the good of people altogether and lending some woman (who needs gas and say she left her wallet at home) some money and telling her to pay back later was a nice bit, as was Marge eventually getting the money back and remaining optimistic; the reveal that it was Grampa who secretly sent the $20 to Marge (as the woman had been another scammer) was a good twist, with Grampa essentially thanking Marge, bit it felt a little bit too clumsily cynical as it left Marge blindly naive and looking like and idiot chump (I wish they could have had her learn be more of a realist and carefully optimistic in general, though it could've been difficult to pull off) & could be misinterpreted (by impressionable people) of having the message of "do never trust strange people asking for help as they are out to prey on you" (it is a good idea to not be too blindly trusting and use your common sense, which Marge obviously didn't, but it felt a little bit too sad and cynical, plus I missed a glimmer of true hope, which the show does so well even in the face of pessimism and cynicism), but still, a good ending with a heartwarming moment from Grampa.
So yeah, this was an intriguing onee that really went all in about a serious subject, with a good down-to-earth plot about Grampa being phone scammed and it led to some good drama, humorous moments and an exploration of various themes like scammers, the way people become cynical in today's world, being an optimist in it, etc. but it did feel like a PSA and got a little too obvious and cynical in the end (despite the good realism), was a bit too kind on the scammers (weren't sympathetic, but not portrayed negatively enough), it felt wrong to have Marge stay blindling optimistic without learning anything, the ending felt a little too closed-off cynical & and they missed the most obvious message (that the best way to combat scammers is to inform people around you about it). It really was a good story with a lot of good, important stuff but wasn't any (and Homer being an asshole and the Loki scene hurt it).
I'd say a strong 3/5. This being a rather different and surprisingly serious episode was intriguing, but I wasn't that of a big fan. It was a strong plot with good jokes and does say a lot of good things and nailed the problems with phone scammers and how they affect society in various ways, but it was heavy handed and the serious attitude almost took the fun out of the episode, it should've been less obvious and more and a tiny bit more zany (think 'Steal This Episode'), the Loki scene looked and sounded great but was just gratitious filler in the end & Homer being a loud, angry jerk got annoying (I get him being upset, but he went way overboard), some of the characterizations felt kinda wonky at times (due to the informational nature about scammers) and it wasn't all that funny (to me, at least), but it was still an intriguing and entertaining dramedy kind of story, mainly for Grampa & Marge.
A nice effort from writer Nick Dahan with nice plotting and animation, but surprisingly serious & downbeat in the end (would've liked a bit more of an true optimistic shine at the end to cap off such a heavy plot, even if it would just be a glimmer, but I still applaud it ) so even though not my cup of Earl Grey overall, I'm not denying that it did many things well and that it really did. Decent episode with a solid plot and dramatic elements, but had a little too many speedbumps to be truly good.
