Every Simpsons Christmas Special - Ranked
13. I Won’t Be Home For Christmas
Modern Simpsons just isn’t what it was in the 1990s. We all know that. But if you’re looking for a good episode of the HD era, looking for Moe is normally a good sign. King Leer in Season 29, The Princess Guide in Season 26, and the brilliant Eeny Teeny Maya Moe in Season 20 are evidence of this.
I Won’t Be Home For Christmas tries to tap into that goodwill by putting the depressed bartender front and centre of this Christmas special. Unfortunately, it has more in common with Moe Goes From Rags To Riches than anything else.
Homer keeps a very sad Moe company on Christmas Eve, missing his plans with Marge. When he eventually returns, she kicks him out without an explanation, and falls into a Moe-like spiral of sadness herself. No Christmas cheer here, folks.
Moe goes to Evergreen Terrace to return Homer’s wallet, and Marge finally learns the truth. She tracks Homer down and they reunite, and all is well again. It’s a bit of a cheap wrap up in truth. At least Homer spending Christmas alone with other lonely souls Kirk, Cat Lady, and Gil (used sparingly!) is good for some chuckles.