Manger Things

Not to be confused with Danger Things or Stranger Things.

"Manger Things"
The Simpsons episode
Directed by	Steven Dean Moore
Written by	Rob LaZebnik
Original air date	March 21, 2021 (2021-03-21)
Couch gag	Homer's head turns into the whole family along with the living room. The family sits on the couch and Homer and Marge realize they were in the wrong spots, so they switch places.
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"Manger Things" is the 16th episode of the thirty-second season of the American animated television series The Simpsons, and the 700th episode overall. It aired in the United States on Fox on March 21, 2021. The episode was directed by Steven Dean Moore and written by Rob LaZebnik.

The couch gag is animated by Bill Plympton, making it his seventh introduction scene animated for The Simpsons.

Plot

It is Christmas in Springfield and the Simpson family is decorating the tree. Maggie tries to eat a Christmas ornament, but Bart stops her and gives it to Snowball II. He notices a decoration saying "Todd's First Christmas" so Marge tells the events that occurred six years earlier.

In 2014, Homer and Marge arrive at an office meeting at the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant. Although Homer promises not to drink, Lenny and Carl spike his soda with beer, making him drunk enough to mock Mr. Burns when the carolers start singing. Marge, appalled that Homer unknowingly broke his promise, refuses to let him inside the house for Christmas, leaving him to walk around town with nowhere to go until Ned Flanders lets him join his family as a guest. Ned's pregnant wife Maude is unhappy about this. Homer eats the Christmas ham, uncooked and still in plastic, has hallucinations of Hell from a painting, ruins grace, and teaches Rod to swear, prompting her to kick him out of their house. Homer goes to Moe's Tavern, where Moe walks him home. The only way for Homer to get in the home is through a secret room above the garage that Moe shows him, having rented it in the past to an Irish family.

On Christmas Eve, while Homer decorates this room, Bart and Lisa offer to give up all their toys for Christmas for Homer to return. Marge agrees on the condition that he does one selfless deed to save their marriage. Overhearing this, Homer tries baking Christmas cookies only to burn the kitchen. When Maude unexpectedly goes into labor, Homer rushes in to check on her. As Ned is absent, delivering Christmas turkeys to the poor, Homer assists Maude with the birth while unbeknownst to him, Marge watches from the door. She kisses Homer and they reconcile just as Ned returns. The group decides to name the baby Todd with his middle name being Homer. Back in the present, Homer states that Maggie's middle name is Lenny for similar reasons, surprising her.

In the tag scene, Bart scares Rod and Todd with Grampa's dentures that Grampa was searching for while Homer and Marge make out in the secret room with Moe surreptitiously watching. During the credits, Christmas cards from various Springfield residents are surreptitiously seen.

Reception

Viewing figures

In the United States, the episode was watched live by 1.28 million viewers.

Critical response

The episode aired on March 21, 2021 on Fox in United States. In his five out of five stars review, Tony Sokol from Den of Geek wrote that "'Manger Things' works exceedingly well as a stocking stuffer, even if it does arrive on the first day of spring." The A.V. Club was more critical, giving the episode a "C-minus" rating.