7G03 - Homer's Odyssey (January 21, 1990)

Summary: Homer gets fired after an accident at the plant and discovers a passion for safety enforcement after a suicide attempt.

References to Time:
- Bart is in Krabappel's class.
- Krabappel's class "infamously" visited the Springfield State Prison on a previous field trip where Bart "didn't unlock that door."
- Bart wants a tattoo like Otto's. "Not 'til you're 14, my little friend."
- The kids wave to the Springfield Toxic Waste Dump, implying another previous field trip
- 7 Days since the last plant accident
- Sherri and Terri's father fires Homer from the plant
- Homer was a technical supervisor at the plant
- Homer has caused many industrial accidents and he has always bounced back, according to Marge
- Homer has gone to Moe's for years
- Marge's old job was a roller-skating waitress
- Bart has a report card (1 D, 2 F's, and 3 U's)
- Burns: "Ah, Homer Simpson, at last we meet." Homer: "Same here."

References to Other Episodes: None, although Blinky the three-eyed fish appears

SLH Presence:
- SLH is not present
- The tire yard is not on fire (It normally is)
- Bart prank calls Moe
- Homer becomes the plant safety inspector

Minimum Time Spanned: 9 days (Thursday to the next Friday)

Canon: Smithers is black or "very tan" as the producers said. Consensus is he had just returned from a very hot location. But we can assume Smithers's skin is not canon. Also, this episode shows the introduction of Burns, as well as Homer getting his job as safety inspector. This storyline is contradicted many times in future episodes (which generally imply that Homer has had this job and knew Burns before Maggie was born, especially in And Maggie Makes Three). At the moment, this episode is canon, but it can change.

Favorite Moment: At the rally against the power plant, the crowd cheers after every Homer-inspired safety sign is listed, except for the speed limit sign, which is booed.

Review: As with most of the early episodes, characters are established, but the plots and jokes just don't hold up as well over time. I enjoy Bart having to sing John Henry as punishment though. B-