You Only Move Twice
"You Only Move Twice" is an episode from the eighth season of The Simpsons. Hank Scorpio is a villain in this episode.
Episode details
Production Number: 3F23Original Air Date: November 3, 1996
Writer: John Swartzwelder
Director: Mike B. Anderson
Blackboard: "I did not learn everything I need to know in Kindergarten"
Couch Gag: Everyone parachutes into the living room, except Homer who falls flat on the floor
Guest Voice: Albert Brooks as Hank Scorpio
Synopsis:
Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow. Hank Scorpio, a James Bond-esque International Supervillain, is on the prowl for the top nuclear technician in Springfield. After Smithers rejects his offer, his cronies move on to the person with the next highest level of seniority: Homer. After they win him over with a slick promotional video, the Simpsons pack their belongs and get ready to move. After initial difficulty selling their house they settle into a utopian neighborhood, but things are not as they seem. Though Homer is happy with their new life - despite his destructive schemes, Hank is a dream boss, and Homer finally finds a job that he is good at - the other family members endure various hardships: Bart is initially popular at his new school, but when his teachers learn he doesn't know cursive, they tuck him away with the Special-Ed class ; Lisa falls in love with the local flora and fauna, only to find that she's allergic to most of it; and a house that cleans itself leaves Marge with too much time to drink the company's complimentary wine. They plead with Homer to take them back to Springfield, and after much soul-searching he gives in. It's just as well, as the government raids Scorpio's compound. When they arrive back in Springfield, they learn that Scorpio has taken over the East Coast, Otto has been living in their house, and the Denver Broncos (a farewell gift from Scorpio) are on their front lawn.James Bond references
The episode features many refences to Ian Fleming's James Bond and EON Productions' subsequent series of films. They include:- Hank Scorpio is a parody of a typical James Bondian villain.
- The episode title is a play of You Only Live Twice. Scorpio's doomsday gun room and the battle with soldiers also greatly resembles Blofeld's volcano base and climatic battle in that film.
- The episode ends with a theme song sung in the same style as the theme songs to Goldfinger and Thunderball.
- A British secret agent, "James Bont", is tackled by Homer as he tries to escape. Earlier he is strapped to a table with a laser pointed at him, referencing a famous scene in Goldfinger.
- A soldier is strangled by a woman using only her thighs, a la Xenia Onatopp from GoldenEye.