The Simpsons (TV Series) Summer of 4'2" (1996) User Reviews

Brutally honest, reasonably funny Lisa episode

[gizmomogwai · 9/10 · 8 October 2008]

The seventh season's Lisa episode, following in the footsteps of Moaning Lisa (season 1), Lisa's Substitute (season 2) and Lisa's Wedding (season 6), tries to be funny and emotional at the same time. Here, Lisa feels lonely when she realizes she has no friends. It's the end of the school year and no one signs her yearbook. She realizes it's because she's a nerd. As the family plans to go to another community (Little Pwagmattasquarmsettport) on vacation, Lisa takes the opportunity to present herself as a different person to new people. She makes a few friends- until a jealous Bart shows her yearbook to the kids, outing her as a teacher's pet. Bart and Lisa turn against each other, but in the end the kids still accept Lisa and Bart gets them to sign her yearbook.

Coming in what was at times a great season, Summer of 4 Ft. 2 is consistently funny, though the laughs aren't major (except for when Homer essentially blows up Ned Flanders' kitchen). The episode pokes fun at Milhouse's geekiness, Homer's antics with fireworks, and the kids' way of talking ("I can totally hear him going that.") The episode probably won't make you cry like Lisa's Substitute and Lisa's Wedding, but it's got heart. Like Marge and Lisa, I've had a lot of trouble making friends, and the episode is honest in portraying the bitterness of it and how being yourself doesn't always work. I see some fans criticized the episode on snpp.com, saying this episode ignores the fact that Lisa does have friends like Janey, but episodes like Dancing Homer (season 2) established that while friendly with other girls, Lisa was never actually close to them. As always, Bart and Lisa feuding makes for good material because it's natural and still involves heart- see Lisa on Ice (season 6). Altogether, a nice episode.

Touching !

[elshikh4 · 9/10 · 6 February 2009]

For sure it's enjoyable one, but with optimistic feel that overstepped some real bad memories.

What can make a cool out of person? How to be lovable?! And how to be part of fellowship? Unfortunately, and as this show observed more than once, the pop culture nearly defined the way and the look to be cool, the movies' or the TV's stars became the public icons, driven by commercial insistence that hunts you daily, and affects on you easily. But the catastrophe is when among all of this, one thing may be lost, or at least distorted: the human self, the real fact of you which's maybe the most precious thing that anyone has.

Lisa Simpson is a bright kid who simply has no friends. It's devastating to not find yourself in anybody, being alone, and being outcast as well. Lisa tries hard to be as the common pattern, being so desperate to change her image to gain what she misses badly. Lisa had to alter an element of her nature to be natural in her community's eye. And despite that she looked so pretty in this beach outfit, she wasn't herself.

See.. you've got to be another you to be! To abandon some of your own self to live part of a lie that the worst of it is when you lose what makes you you!

Lisa gains what she longed for. But the drama must put her in front of what she hides: her truth of being a "nerd". And then the drama rewards her for being herself, when her new friends love her because she taught them some things useful, they needed and liked. So, after all, Lisa wasn't that good at pretending, and she's nice kind person too.

The writers of this episode must've been nerds in their real life, and it shows. The dialogue is so smart when it comes to Lisa's own self-voice. What a moment when she stops to think fast about the phrase "nice hat" and does it contain a possible sarcasm or not! Along with that, it managed as a whole to be the entertaining Simpson episode also; Homer has been arrested for going out wearing only the welcome rug instead of the bathing suit, and I just adored the moments of Milhouse; that's pure comic. Look at some of the creative worm details: the mother scavenges the beach house while Bart thinks how to spoil things, or reverts shortly with the drinks when she hears how that is un-cool for a mom to do; in Lisa's new friends' point of view.

It's deep, touching and funny in the same time. Too much to be asked from a sitcom I suppose. But who said that The Simpsons is a regular one. I salute the script. And the too-adorable-it's-genius Yeardley Smith as Lisa.

Nicely Balanced Episode

[Hitchcoc · 9/10 · 27 July 2022]

Lisa tries hard to be popular. She is bright and accomplished but doesn't think that is doing her any good. When she meets some kids on vacation, she sheds her persona. What we find, however, is that everyone has value and the things that make some popular aren't always that great.

Poindexter

[snoozejonc · 9/10 · 13 December 2022]

The Simpsons spend time at Ned Flanders' beach house.

This is a very strong Lisa episode with good humour and character moments.

Lisa has a nice little arc in this story of her desperation for friendship and Bart is used well by the writers as her main antagonist. It feels like an affectionate tribute to those childhood summer vacations where children have to make new friends.

For me the humour is consistently strong, with Homer having some exceptionally funny moments that standout. I also love the outrageously disengaged attitudes of the new friends they make.

For me it's an 8.5/10 but I round upwards.

Season 7: Wider plots but good use of the ensemble cast and generally very funny and clever

[bob the moo · 26 November 2013]

This seventh season of the Simpsons sees the quality kept high. The plots this time are variable but are mostly good and even when fantastic, remain grounded in who the characters are an stay about them rather than the plot devices themselves. This isn't always the case as there are a few weaker episodes which are about the events (eg Homerpalooza) but they are in the minority. The majority of the episodes also use the ensemble cast really well, so while there may be one main plot, there are usually smaller ones involving others of the family and also plenty of good asides involving supporting cast.

The writing remains fresh and smart with only a very few pop cultural things which have fallen by the wayside in the passing years. Generally though by staying true to the characters the writing works well and also has plenty of funny dialogue, visual gags and throwaways all around. The voice cast delivery is as consistent as in previous seasons although my favorites remains the supporting voices from Azaria, Hartman and Shearer. Animation is great and the design and detail is easy to overlook because it is so well done that it looks easy.

Another really enjoyable, engaging and funny season of The Simpsons – perhaps not the heights of it at its best as a season, but still really setting a high bar.

My favorite Lisa episode

[grahamvasey · 10/10 · 18 October 2023]

This episode is so good because it really lets Lisa's character shine. Usually I find her very annoying and one note. However this episode shows depth to her character and makes her feel more relatable. This also shows the impact on her life that Bart Simpsons has it makes you feel bad for her and sympathize her. The episode only really has one key plot line which I think is great so there's nothing take away from her plot. It also has some funny scenes that don't revolve around Lisa like all the notes and pointing out Millhouse is a total dud. I personally think this Lisa character is way better. Total fire episode.

Honestly, Lisa would have been upset by the dead starfish

[trishagaurav-71263 · 7/10 · 17 March 2021]

A good episode, but I could no longer suspend my disbelief at the end. When the "cool kids" show Lisa they decorated the Simpsons car for her to remember the beach by, you can see they KILLED A BUNCH OF STARFISH. What vegetarian/vegan wouldn't be upset by that? I don't expect realism from a comedy cartoon, but this is just common sense.

A rather overated episode...Sorry!

[MrFilmAndTelevisionShow · 5/10 · 27 November 2020]

This opinion is unpopular, hence the fact I call this episode overated. There is no dip in quality in this episode, everything from animation to voice acting is just as good as the episodes that preceeded and succeeded it. However I cannot get over the fact that Bart is punish for exposing Lisa's lies. I won't go on a rant about it here. I'll just bring up the simple fact that Lisa lies to her new friends and the moral of the story ends up being something along the lines of even if you get exposed as a liar your friends will still like and want to associate with you!

Amazing plot, terrible moral

[AJB2002 · 22 June 2020]

This episode, is just as good as all classic era Simpsons, the voice acting is superb, the animation is great, the plot is good...until it comes to the end where Lisa learns...well what does she learn? Nothing! She steals Bart's lines and jokes and Marge won't let Bart put an end it to it. She lies to her new friends constantly about everything and when Bart rightfully calls her out on it by showing her friends the year book they don't care and after Lisa threaterns Bart (violently) it turns out they still want to be her friend. In the end the story makes bart "apoligise" by giving Lisa her year book signed by her new "friends". So the story acts as though Bart is the bad guy despite the fact he did nothing wrong and Lisa is the one in the wrong constantly throughout the story. I wouldn't rate this episode so harshly if not for the glowing praise it recieves from everyone else I ever interact with. This in my view a glowing example of insufferable Lisa.