Rate & Review: Maggie Simpson In "Rogue Not Quite One"

How would you rate this short?

  • Total voters
    26
Brad Lascelle

Brad Lascelle

A Fixture in Online Simpsons Fandom Since '93
Moderator
Joined
Mar 9, 2008
Messages
5,441
Location
Kitchener, ON
Yao0R0k.jpg


Available to Stream on Disney+: May 4, 2023

Writer & Showrunner: Al Jean
Additional Writers: Ryan Koh, Loni Steele Sosthand, Dan Vebber & Jeff Westbrook
Director: David Silverman

Synopsis: Homer loses track of Maggie who hops in Grogu’s hovering pram for a hyperspace-hopping adventure across the galaxy. Facing a squadron of Imperial TIE fighters, Maggie brings the battle to Springfield in this epic short celebrating all things Star Wars.

Previous R&R
Next R&R

R&R Poll Average Score: 2.52 / 5 (as of September 25, 2023 / 23 votes)
IMDb User Rating: 5.7 / 10
 
Last edited:
Colour me pleasantly surprised but I daresay this might just be Jean's best direct-to-Disney+ short to date. And, honestly, I'd call this the 2nd solid effort in a row in this space after the Christmas short.

Admittedly, there's some degree of rehash material here in terms of parodying Star Wars. People have been poking fun at the franchise for as long as The Simpsons have been on the air as a recognized property. But just because Mel Brooks' Spaceballs remains uncontested to this day for quality satire doesn't mean others can't come up with their own bit of brilliance within their respective worlds.

Always love the inventive use of Gerald when it comes to serving as a nemesis for Maggie. The GPS gag made me laugh a ton. Silverman's direction was clearly not being phoned in this time around. This was a visual marvel. Also, we're treated to one of the more fun and surprising Kang & Kodos cameos we've had in quite a while. (I wonder what they would've looked like in the Death Tome anime artstyle.)

I do think the little bit of spoken dialogue that there was could be argued to be superfluous and unnecessary. We didn't need to hear Wiggum voice that he was in pursuit of an adorable little donut. He could've just done it. Although perhaps that bit just came off jarring given that Homer was silent by comparison.

The ever-present credit reel with the visual setpieces was more of the same old, same old... but they're pretty much a tradition now.

All in all, this gets an easy recommendation from me. Not quite at the level of The Pookadook... but really good for what it set out to deliver.
 
This plot made no sense! Tell the people!

Well, this one sure came out of nowhere for me (I didn't even know it was going to be a thing before I saw this thread). Apparently it was announced a few days ago but I did miss that so this was suddenly just here. But I don't say a definite no to "Surprise Simpsons".

But anyhow, as usual with these Disney+ shorts, there's not a whole lot to say about it. This one was pretty much just another excuse for a parade of 'Star Wars' gags mixed with 'The Simpsons' characters and jokes pertaining to them, but it did have a straightforward plot (Maggie stealing Grogu/Baby Yoda's hover pram and taking it for a joyride and ending up in trouble), animation was good, I liked how it was mostly dialogue- (but really, Wiggum's line & the autopilot bit should've been left out, really felt like it took me out of it) & had a few cute moments and decent sight gags, even though it was filled with a ton of stuff that made little to no sense (mainly the fact that 'Star Wars' and 'The Simpsons' co-exist and intermingle, but the Mandalorian attacking Maggie was weird too) and had those incessant annoying meta jokes about Disney owning SW and 'The Simpsons' (which is like beating a dead horse).

3/5, as it didn't really bother me (as much as most of the others) and had some decent moments, but it still hasn't anything really going for it. I keep hoping for an extended focused short (7-10 minutes) with an actual plot & the production crew letting loose with their own ideas rather than having the talents of Silverman & Co wasted on these brief promo shorts.
 
Last edited:
Yet another sorry excuse of an animated short. Nonsensically written. Oddly paced. No real memorable jokes or visuals. There’s not really anything to say about it, as it’s not trying to do anything more than being quickly cranked out in time for Star Wars day.

Just dump the awkward mash-up concepts and let Silverman write these shorts from now on. Let him go loose. Crazy, even. He more than likely understands how to actually utilize the short format, how to adapt the characters visually and push the animation to make these riveting little viewings. Now it’s just a time-waster on all fronts.

Not quite 1/5
 
I loved this special, it had some good funny moments, and the fight scene was good too. It is odd to see Springfield mixed in with Tatooine (can't think of the city's name atm).

Also, not sure if its just me, but when Ralph, Milhouse & Janey get caught in the slide due to Maggie, did their laughter sound odd to anyone? As if it was from some 80s show or movie?
 
It’s an embarrassingly low bar, but I’d say this was by far the best of the Disney shorts so far. It felt like they actually had enough time to tell a complete story, if a very barebones one, it had lots of bits that I actually laughed at, and best of all, no major cringe-inducing moments like most of these shorts suffer from. This might be the first and only Simpsons Disney short that I’d actually recommend to my sister who has two young kids; it was cute and fun enough for the kids without the painfully embarrassing writing that would turn off adults.

However there was one thing that bothered me: why was Homer drinking water??? Was this Disney cracking down on having characters drink beer? I get that this short is catering to kids, but c'mon, if you're going to have Homer go to Moe’s Cantina, let him have a dang beer! That, plus the moment where Milhouse and co were laughing as they got tangled up in the swings, felt like Disney execs meddling to make sure nothing inappropriate happened and no one got hurt. That was a bit lame, but otherwise I legitimately enjoyed this one, which is a first.

EDIT: NEVERMIND apparently the “water” was Blue Milk! I must have forgotten about the existence of blue milk after I took that home wine making course. Thank you @Jackomon!
 
Last edited:
Jackomon said:
Wait, that was water? I was under the assumption it was Blue Milk
Click to expand...
Ohhhh you’re definitely right. I had to google what that was, as you can tell I’m not a huge Star Wars person! Well that increases my enjoyment of this short by 5%, so thank you!
 
I was happy that they listened to my feedback and set it in the star wars world, and then… they're just in springfield? I wish they would actually make choices and stick to them instead of trying to have it both ways: is it set in the star wars world or simpsons world. are the simpsons characters star wars-ified versions of themselves or just normal. is it a silent short or can people talk.

  • I was willing to overlook the disney logo parody even though star wars stuff doesn't open with it and "we're owned by disney… bwuh???" gags are so so so so lame, because this is the only year they can do it and there's no guarantee they're getting another short this year, but… they couldn't just reuse audio of the original choir or get people who sound like them?
  • they should've just stayed in the star wars area, seems more fertile for material. I liked the cute, small gag of a parent BB droid with their children. I think the idea is that all the disney+ stuff is in the same world (i.e. "bundletown"), but it's not communicated very well because we only see two properties. homer drinking blue milk also does not read at all
  • that the writers felt the need to have wiggum say a line of dialogue reveals an astounding lack of confidence. they have worked in animation for 34 years and they still can't figure out how to visually communicate "cops like donuts?" please just give david silverman time, money, and control over the story, and let him cook
 
Dark Homer said:
I was happy that they listened to my feedback and set it in the star wars world, and then… they're just in springfield? I wish they would actually make choices and stick to them instead of trying to have it both ways: is it set in the star wars world or simpsons world. are the simpsons characters star wars-ified versions of themselves or just normal. is it a silent short or can people talk.
Click to expand...

It really bothered me too how they flip-flopped between having it set both in the Star Wars universe and in Springfield, as the two exist on the same frickin' planet. It just became a huge mess that was all over the place with no logic of consistency. Why not choose one or the other?

Dark Homer said:
they should've just stayed in the star wars area, seems more fertile for material. I liked the cute, small gag of a parent BB droid with their children. I think the idea is that all the disney+ stuff is in the same world (i.e. "bundletown"), but it's not communicated very well because we only see two properties. homer drinking blue milk also does not read at all
Click to expand...

I'm thinking they should just go the 'Family Guy' route with a Star Wars/Simpsons crossover and do a Prequel Trilogy or Sequel Trilogy series of three 45-60 minute beat-for-beat parody episodes starring the Simpsons in the roles. Always wondered why they didn't do it earlier, maybe even before FG, considering 'Simpsons' has like three times the cast FG has (and the latter even had to resort to reuse some characters in roles across the trilogy, showing how sorta inadequate they were for tackling it, also the fact that they got lazier as they went on).

Dark Homer said:
that the writers felt the need to have wiggum say a line of dialogue reveals an astounding lack of confidence. they have worked in animation for 34 years and they still can't figure out how to visually communicate "cops like donuts?" please just give david silverman time, money, and control over the story, and let him cook
Click to expand...

The more I think of that, the more it annoys me. I did like how it was dialogue-free and the SW music pretty much spoke for it, but then suddenly Chief Wiggum has a pointless line and ruined it (also by extent Baby Gerald's targeting system had a pointless line, too). Why not just keep it a silent short film and let the visual gags speak for it. Just shows an immense distrust in the viewers.
 
This time quick gags worked well. They were the basement of humor, cause the story itself how Maggie to be part of Start Wars again was yawn (c'mon, writers - put Maggie into other Disney universe I forget you're currently on strike). Lack of lines was rather benefit, as short shorts just cannot handle well them.

The united Simpsons/Star Wars universe gave bunch of jokes (Homer and "find my baby" app to space, giant Blinky ate fighters, as always good end credit frames). It wasn't perfect in general, but…

The short felt less SW, and more the Simpsons, that is some kind of progress - the Simpsons again the basement of shorts, no guest stars or "sister" D+ projects.

It was on the same level as "the force awareness from its nap" (its prequel) - nothing to add. 3/5 as well
 
It was fine. Better than most shorts, but still a 3/5.

I disagree that the Wiggum line was aesthetically necessary, Al.
 
As much as I love Wiggum, personally, I don't think he needed that line in the episode
 
Sandboy said:
I just wanted to mention, but whether you like these shorts or not, there's no need to wish the people who work behind them dead. Yes, you're entitled to not like them, but you have to remember that at the end of the day, they're just human beings and just trying to get the job done.
Click to expand...
yeah that ''death wish'' message was very unnecessary
 
Wile E. the Brain said:
Also, I'm starting to hate the "He's already dead" gif for how overused it is.
Click to expand...
Im guilty of that. Crazy how repetitive The Simpsons being renewed is such a commonly hated thing, that a gif used to represent it is being overused. I guess I didn't word that correctly but I'm guessing you guys get what I'm saying
 
These just keep getting worse. Bitching about not having a more monolithic D+ designation mmmmm that's good satire. Al, you're going down a path I can't follow!

Pretty much agree with the other haters itt except there is 0 evidence Silverman still has the juice. Even if he did, modern animation infrastructure simply doesn't allow for quality. He could always go indie haha just kidding. So funny how he constantly posts his old production art while working on this shit. I guess it's his way of atoning.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Sam
Well, I honestly haven’t enjoyed any of these Disney “shorts” to date, and maybe my expectations were just below the floor after zinging through the rest of them recently, or maybe I’ve become desensitized to all this off-key IP clutter in my Springfield, but I did enjoy this. Like its predecessors, it’s a commercial, but I give it props for being a commercial with some visual creativity. The personality of Homer throughout was really fun, you could see the David Silverman in it—I appreciated how effectively they got his character across without having him speak. Maggie interacting with Springfield using Star Wars tech was more fun than just keeping her in the Star Wars setting (I liked the kids on the swingset gag) and the reveal of Kang and Kodos as her unlikely rescuers was pretty cute. Throwing the Mandalorian in there as a harried fellow dad felt overdue (I say as someone who’s never watched that show).

Even though their tepid imaginary swipes at Disney still feel about as authentic as Nelson swatting at Martin while he dances on the sidewalk, I did think the Springfieldisation of the Disney castle was a nice visual.

The “adorable little…donut!” line from Wiggum was awkwardly-delivered and a poor choice for what I think was the only line of dialogue.

3/5, the only one of these I’d rewatch on purpose. The good parts of it just made me long for another “real” Maggie short, though. It’s a shame they’ve been so keen to focus on these glorified Disney+ ads when they could be following up “The Longest Daycare” and “Playdate With Destiny.”
 
Last edited:
The shirts for Kang and Kodos got a smile out of me—I can’t recall any context in which they’ve supported the Simpsons since “Hungry Are the Damned” so I guess signaling that in some way felt appropriate. And reminded me I’ve wanted another short set in the ToH “Kang is Maggie’s dad” universe since I was a teenager.

The Wiggum line, though? He’s just acting like Wiggum always does, there’s no reason to narrate a perfectly legible visual gag. What are you, the audio description? (Lou should have said, then maybe I’d give it a one-syllable chuckle.)
 
Not sure what to say about this one. Just gonna fire off stray observations and all that.

- The fact they tried to fit this whole story into 4 minutes is insane.
- The animation here was particularly striking in parts. That shot of Maggie going down in the ship was really well done.
- The Star Wars title crawl joke was weird to me. Unless I'm misunderstanding entirely, The Simpsons do have their own tile on Disney+?
- The colour choice in this short was great. Those red backgrounds looked incredible.
- Wiggum's line sounded like Hank Azaria recorded it in his bathroom. Strange choice to keep it in like that.
- My favourite part about these Disney+ shorts has been the end credit artwork of Simpsons mixed with Disney characters and this is no different. Enjoyed the art of Maggie dancing with Ewoks and Homer in Mandalorian gear.

As for a rating? Maybe like a 3/5?
 
Simps don’t need a tile, they’re already dominating D+. Granted, producing new shorts gives them an excuse to be on the front page again every couple of months so it makes sense why they keep doing it.

I wish they’d just make plain old Simpsons shorts instead of these promotional crossovers. They don’t all have to be cinema-quality “The Longest Daycare” stuff, just do little character skits. Go Tracey Ullman with it.
 
The Longest Daycare was not cinema quality. Neither was The Simpsons Movie. Toon Boom is the tool of the devil!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Sam
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top