Ae Bonny Romance

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"Ae Bonny Romance"
The Simpsons episode
Episode no.Season 35
Episode 8
Directed byMatthew Nastuk
Written byMichael Price
Featured music"If You Find Yourself Caught in Love" by Belle and Sebastian
Production code35ABF02
Original air dateDecember 3, 2023 (2023-12-03)
Guest appearances
Episode chronology
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"Ae Bonny Romance" is the eighth episode of the thirty-fifth season of the American animated television series The Simpsons, and the 758th episode overall. It aired in the United States on Fox on December 3, 2023. The episode was directed by Matthew Nastuk and written by Michael Price.

In this episode, the Simpson family goes to Scotland to find Groundskeeper Willie and learns he is about to be married. Karen Gillan, Paul Higgins, and David Tennant guest star. The episode received positive reviews.

Plot[edit]

At Springfield Elementary School, the fourth-grade boys are learning to dance with girls. To prevent them from touching hands, Bart goes to the nurse's office to get bandages to wear on their hands. After applying them, they begin to feel intoxicated, and Bart sees that he had obtained nicotine patches. Although he claims innocence, Principal Skinner sends him to Groundskeeper Willie for punishment. When he learns what happened, Willie tells Bart about Maisie, whom Willie loved but did not join Willie in coming to America. They become friendly over their hatred of girls. Meanwhile, Homer and Marge receive an invitation to a destination wedding. Homer protests, but Marge accepts, and they plan to use their accumulated flyer miles to pay for airplane tickets. When Willie goes missing, Bart receives a phone call from him in Edinburgh asking for help. He convinces Homer and Marge to take the family to help Willie with their flyer miles. In Edinburgh, the family finds Willie, who is about to get married to Maisie.

Willie says that his phone call was misleading because it was interrupted by Maisie asking for a kiss. They explain that Maisie's family told her that Willie had been killed by a sheep, which is why she did not join him. She found Willie after she saw a video of him and Bart that they posted online. After talking, they decided to get married. Bart feels betrayed because he thought Willie hated girls. As they participate in wedding activities, Homer and Marge argue because Homer dislikes destination weddings. At the wedding rehearsal, Lisa tells Bart to be happy for Willie while Marge tells people how Homer is not romantic. Although Bart tries to be happy for Willie, he asks Bart to dance with girls, which causes Bart to throw the wedding cake out of a window.

Bart hears that Maisie's family is allowing Willie to get married to use his smelling ability to make them rich. Meanwhile, Homer is angry at Marge for talking about him. Later, Homer sends Marge a video that he thinks that she would like. This causes the two to forgive each other. At the wedding, Bart interrupts and tells Willie about Maisie's family's plans. Maisie says she did not know. To prove her love, she breaks Willie's nose to ruin his smelling ability. They get married and move into Willie's shack.

Production[edit]

Karen Gillan guest starred as Maisie, a love interest for Groundskeeper Willie. She described the character as the role she "was born to play."[1] Gillan previously expressed interest in appearing on the series.[2] Paul Higgins guest starred as Hamish.[3] Higgins also played the Ticket Booth actor.[4] David Tennant was cast as Pa MacWeldon.[5]

The Scottish band Belle and Sebastian appeared as themselves, playing their song "If You Find Yourself Caught in Love" during the wedding activity montage. They also performed the original song "Willie And The Dream Of Peat Bogs" over the end credits.[6]

When the episode was rebroadcast in March 2024, the episode was dedicated to comedian Richard Lewis, who voiced the Male Golem in the eighteenth season episode "Treehouse of Horror XVII."[7][8]

Release[edit]

The episode aired simultaneously in all time zones in the United States at 8:30 PM ET/5:30 PM PT following a special episode of Krapopolis.[3][9]

Reception[edit]

Viewing figures[edit]

The episode earned a 0.59 rating with 2.04 million viewers, which was the second most-watched show on Fox that night.[10]

Critical reception[edit]

John Schwarz of Bubbleblabber gave the episode a 7.5 out of 10. He liked the Scottish jokes and guest stars. However, he thought the subplot of Homer and Marge's marital problems were repeats of previous stories.[11]

Cathal Gunning of Screen Rant highlighted Bart's story of being blamed for a prank he unintentionally caused followed by his redemption.[12] He also highlighted the mostly accurate depiction of Edinburgh.[13]

Scottish viewers thought that the portrayal of Edinburgh and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe was accurate.[14]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Lejarraga, Alberto (November 30, 2023). "Inverness Hollywood star Karen Gillan to play 'role she was born for' in The Simpsons". The Press and Journal. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
  2. ^ "Doctor Who star remains in the dark over future". Times of Malta. August 31, 2010. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
  3. ^ a b "(SI-3502) "AE Bonny Romance"". The Futon Critic. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
  4. ^ "Lisa Simpson visits the Edinburgh Fringe". Chortle. December 7, 2023. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
  5. ^ Miller, Adam (November 30, 2023). "The Simpsons icon gets new love interest voiced by Doctor Who royalty". Metro. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
  6. ^ Rettig, James (December 4, 2023). "Belle And Sebastian Appeared In The Simpsons With An Original Song About Groundskeeper Willie". Stereogum. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
  7. ^ "(SI-3502) "AE Bonny Romance" (Repeat)". The Futon Critic. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  8. ^ Petski, Denise (March 4, 2024). "Richard Lewis Remembered By 'The Simpsons' & 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' – Update". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  9. ^ "(KRA-112) "Ty's Tail Tale"". The Futon Critic. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
  10. ^ Pucci, Douglas (December 4, 2023). "Sunday Ratings: NBC Tops at Night with Green Bay Upset Win Over Kansas City on Sunday Night Football". Programming Insider. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
  11. ^ Schwarz, John (December 4, 2023). "Review: The Simpsons "Ae Bonny Romance"". Bubbleblabber. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
  12. ^ Gunning, Cathal (December 5, 2023). "It Took 34 Years, But The Simpsons Finally Made Bart Into A Character Worth Rooting For". Screen Rant. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
  13. ^ Gunning, Cathal (December 4, 2023). "The Simpsons Season 35 Episode 8's Edinburgh Setting Creates 2 Major Plot Holes". Screen Rant. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
  14. ^ Walker, James (December 5, 2023). "Scots react to clip from The Simpsons episode based in Scotland". The National. Retrieved December 23, 2023.

External links[edit]

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