So we begin with pilot episode way back in 1989. Re watching this episode, My overall feel for this episode is that it is very genuine and realistic. While there are many jokes sprinkled in there, subtle and major, there aren't any real laugh out loud moments for me. But in general, the episodes feel so real in that nothing outrageous or unbelievable happens, and everything feels like a slice of life.
We begin with the Simpson adults going to the school to watch the Christmas concert. Here, we are first introduced to the Simpsons kids, with Maggie in a star suit. We first get a basic characterisation of Bart: an anti-authority boy singing the infamous "batmobile version of Jinglebell" (Batmobile, broken wheels!!). We also get our look at the questionable Lisa dance.
From there, we spend quite a while taking a look at the Simpsons spending Christmas. Everything here is very low-key and maintained at a slow pace, from Marge writing an obligatory family letter, to the kids writing their letters to Santa, it all feels very Christmasy. Then, we also get the setup of Marge's sisters, whose dislike for Homer is first depicted.
From here on out the episode start focusing on the theme that Homer can't afford anything for his family for Christmas. From his Christmas bonus cancelled, to Marge's money jar being spent on Bart's tattoo (Bart, your tattoo makes you look so dangerous!), to seeing how much Flanders' decorations are better than his, we as viewers are presented a father who is beaten to the ground with not being able to provide the things that his family expects. Like Homer said, Homer, judging purely from a materialistic point of view, doesn't deserve Marge. But true to Homer's classical character, Homer doesn't give up trying. When he can't afford a Christmas tree, he risks his life chopping one for his family. And when he realises that his pork chop gift to Maggie won't really do, he gets a second job.
Like Homer in "Lisa's Pony", Homer is overworked in his second job, but unlike "Lisa's Pony", Homer's pay is merely 13 dollars. At this point, we truly feel for Homer because the stakes have been raised too high, especially after he is discovered by Bart. Since Homer has nothing left and is completely defeated by fate, he goes to dog racing with Barney and his 10 years old son.
Here we also get a great meta commentary from Bart about how Christmas miracle always happen on TV. By doing this, the Simpsons is able to distance themselves better from the unrealistic portrayals of "everything fixing itself on Christmas eve" on 1980's TV shows. Eventually, Homer's poor judgement on Santa's Little Helper screws himself over at a chance at winning and leaves him and Bart on the parking lot desperately searching for a winning ticket. He fails to find anything, manages to save the day and save Christmas by adopting Santa's Little Helper, a small victory for a man who tried so hard to make everything right, but just get slapped in the face by Life every time.
Whether it is because of the wonkier animation, or the lack of humor in the episode, the pilot episode always had been an underdog and had been not as recognised as some of the other episodes later on. However, it is important to realise that this episode is completely in sync with the characteristics of the Simpsons later on. Ultimately, it depicts the Simpsons as a normal "any family" spending a Christmas together. Whether it is Bart's meta on Christmas miracles, or families don't get along with Marge's sisters openly criticises Homer and gives him a hard time even on Christmas eve, nothing about the episode is ever unrealistic. Also, by having Homer repeated trying and failing to provide for his family, Homer is also setup as a father and husband who loves his family and is willing to do anything, but because of his poor judgements (betting on Santa's Little Helper) or because Life just loves to screw with him, Homer can only provide mediocrity at the very best. And that if Homer is successful at anything (not ruining Christmas), it is at best accidental.
Characterisation: 5/5
Plot: 3/3
Subjective: 1.25/2
Overall: 9.25/10
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