The Way We Was

"The Way We Was" is the 12th episode of the second season of The Simpsons. The episode tells the story of how Marge and Homer first met and fell in love.

1 Plot
2 First appearances
3 Notes
4 Cultural references
- 4.1 Soundtrack
5 External links

[edit] Plot

When the TV breaks down, Marge tells the kids the story of how she and Homer first met. We flashback to 1974, when they were both in their senior year of high school. While Homer was quite the slacker, Marge was a responsible student. But when she was at a feminist rally burning a bra on school grounds, she is sent to detention. Already there is Homer together with Barney, having been busted for smoking in the school restrooms. Homer is awestruck by the beautiful Marge.

To get to be around her more, Homer joins the debate team, of which Marge is a member. But there, Marge is more interested in the more articulate Artie Ziff. As a plan B, Homer pretends to be a French student so that he can be tutored by Marge. It appears to be working, and when Homer asks Marge to the senior prom, she says yes. However, when Homer reveals he does not really take French, Marge is furious and instead decides to go with Artie Ziff.

Homer does not realize (or perhaps refuses to believe) that Marge has rejected him, and so shows up for prom night to pick her up. He is thrown out by Marge, and so he has to go to the prom by himself and has an awful time. Artie and Marge are voted Prom King and Queen, and as the two dance together it gets to be too much for a heartbroken Homer and he leaves.

After the prom, everyone goes to the makeout spot in Springfield, where Artie gets a little too grabby with Marge and rips her dress. Meanwhile, Homer's limo time has run out, and without any money he is forced to walk home.

Along the way Marge and Artie pass by Homer, and after Artie drops Marge off at her house (begging her not to say anything about his fondling of her) she goes back out to find Homer. Upon finding him walking dejectedly by the side of the road, she begins honking. Homer becomes angry and starts stomping in the mud when Marge pulls up beside him. Homer gets into the car and gives her the corsage, looking sad. He turns to Marge to say; "I've got a problem. Once you stop this car, I'm going to hug you, and kiss you, and then I'll never be able to let you go." It cuts back to present day with Homer stating "And I never have." Lisa is touched by this sentiment but Bart is not.

[edit] First appearances

Characters making a first appearance in this episode are:

[edit] Notes

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According to Marge's forensics teacher, Marge speaks in dramatic interpretation, where students perform works, usually of fiction, written by other persons. However, the speech Marge gives seems more consistent with original oratory style, where students write their own speeches on contemporary topics.

[edit] Cultural references

The Way We Were — The episode title is a reference to the 1973 movie, starring Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford. Another episode (The Way We Weren't) also spoofs this title.

[edit] Soundtrack

The Joker, by The Steve Miller Band: Homer sings along to this song at the beginning of the flashback, as well as in the end credits.
(They Long to Be) Close to You, by The Carpenters: played when Homer first met Marge in detention.
Pick Up The Pieces, by The Average White Band
I'm Gonna Love You Just a Little More Baby by Barry White
Do the Hustle, by Van McCoy
The Streak, by Ray Stevens: plays when Barney was streaking during the prom.