So after a lacklustre "Homer's Night Out", we get our very first Simpsons travel episode. While in the future travel episodes seem to be more about the country the Simpsons are in, in this very first travel episode we get more of a focus about the Simpsons compared to France. Furthermore, compared to future episodes with nothing to offer other than their overused stereotypes, I would much rather have a more down to earth episode about the Simpsons.
We begin the episode with Bart littering everywhere on the floor. His littering causes Homer to fall down a flight of stairs breaking his back. Marge comes home and demands Bart to clean up the mess and in the process, he finds a cherry bomb. At school, Bart's cherry bomb prank causes the school's toilets to explode, sending Skinner's mother flying into the air. As a result, Skinner recommends the Simpsons to send Bart to France on an exchange program so that the school doesn't have to deal with him anymore. Bart complies and in return to sending Bart to France, the Simpsons get an Albanian kid in return.
Upon arriving in France, Bart is horrified that his dream of shopping and touring Paris is crushed when he meets two malevolent winemakers who work Bart day and night. Compared to his life in Springfield, his life here is hell. From being forced to sleep on cold hard ground, to being walking hours outside in the freezing rain, Bart's situation is desperate as his luggage is picked apart and taken by the winemakers and he has to fight with a donkey just to get some hay to sleep on. It is not so much a description of France than more of a focus about Bart's particular experience in France.
Back in Springfield, Homer makes a special connection with the Albanian kid. From calling him daddy, to being interested enough to actually visit Homer at the nuclear plant, Homer is touched to have a "son" who seems to be so much better than Bart. While some people may find offense in Homer's claim that he wished he had a son like Adehl and not like Bart, it is only in character for Homer to feel that way. Compared to earlier episodes like "Life On The Fast Lane", and later episodes like "Lisa's Substitute", the Simpsons acknowledge that their family members are not perfect, and that Jacques maybe a better husband than Homer, and Mr.Bergstrom may be a better father than Homer, and in this case, Adehl maybe a better son than Bart. It is only human for the Simpsons to feel that way, but at the end Homer never lost his love for Bart. Eventually, Homer brings Adehl to the nuclear plant and we see that Adehl is more interested about the top secret plutonium than about seeing Homer. As a result, it is revealed that Adehl is a spy and has the SWAT team on his tails. Eventually, Adehl is deported back to Albania.
Back in Paris, Bart finally gets his opportunity when he manages to meet a police in the streets and report that the winemakers are putting antifreeze in the wine. The winemakers are captured and sent to prison, and Bart finally gets his freedom and is awarded for his efforts. Back in Springfield, the Simpsons are ecstatic that Bart is back and actually brought them something. Bart may not be a perfect son for Homer, but then again Homer isn't exactly a perfect father either. Besides, at least Bart won't fake an interest in Homer's work to steal power plant secrets and end up being a spy.
The first travel episode is unique in that not only is it the first, but it is also the only one that also offers something about the Simpsons and much less about the country the Simpsons travel to. Compared to future classical travel episodes like "The City Of New York vs Homer Simpson", the episode feels different in that it has a completely different tone. However, this episode is definitely worthwhile in that it give us a perspective into the Homer and Bart relationship.
Characterisation: 5/5
Plot: 3/3
Subjective: 1/2
Overall: 9/10
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