For many people, The Simpsons has long since lost its magic and continues to air on television as it’s easy to watch for many but often instantly forgotten. Every now and again, the show surprises with poignant and thought provoking episodes such is the case with Season 33’s fifth episode called Lisa’s Belly.
This episode dives into body issues and insecurities passed on from parents to children. Lisa, the oldest daughter, is forced to take steroids due to a medical condition which leads her to put on weight. Her brother, Bart, is suffering as well and ends up putting on weight as well.
Marge, the mother, only comments on Lisa’s weight and calls her “chunky” before she starts school. Naturally, this ends up going around in Lisa’s head and she suddenly becomes obsessed with the word and begins to become insecure with her body.
Her world has changed for the worse and she is consumed with negativity. There have been other episodes in which Lisa deals with body issues but none perpetuated by Marge and none quite as harmful.
Marge ignores the issue
Throughout the episode, Marge can see that Lisa is upset but avoids talking to her about her feelings. Instead, Marge decides to take her shopping to find ‘flattering’ clothes for Lisa which naturally just enrages her even more.
During the shopping scene, Lisa makes a statement that it’s not Marge’s job to comment on her appearance and she’s entirely right. The entire episode shows how much damage words can do to someone’s self esteem, especially from someone that they care so much about. It reinforces that parents can often do the most damage to children psychologically which stays with them throughout their entire life.
Help from the most unlikely places
The most interesting part of the episode is how Homer, the father, understands the issue immediately and tries to do his best to help. Knowing that he cannot provide what Lisa needs, he calls her two aunties, Patty and Selma, who literally do not care what people think. These two are the model of not giving a f**k and it truly helps Lisa.
Through a fun and lively song, Patty and Selma sing about body positivity and not caring what people think. They embrace the negative comments thrown at them and instead just focus on the positives of life.
After this moment, Lisa begins to find self worth and embraces her body. Sadly, Marge does not get the picture and apologies for calling her “chunky” but soon says she’ll help her get back to “normal” and “perfect” again. This is the most heartbreaking part of the show as Marge does not understand the issue and instead makes it worse.
A vicious cycle
Naturally, Lisa lashes out and does not forgive Marge. She also reverts back to wearing big hoodies and covering her body in shame. Thankfully, Marge seeks counselling and the two soon learn that Marge encountered the same thing with her own mother but it was a different hurtful name.
The episode shows that abuse like this is a vicious cycle that sticks with women for their entire lives. Hurtful things said will never disappear but they will lose their power over time if you are aware.
Personally, this episode shows the power of The Simpsons and what the show can achieve when it tries. The episode also has a B-plot in which Bart is praised for being bigger and even embraced by other school kids. It shows the vast difference between growing up as a girl and growing up as a guy. Bart gets treated like a hero, whilst Lisa is left to feel disgraced and ashamed.
Sadly, the next episode of The Simpsons did not continue with this and it went back to its goofy self. But Lisa’s Belly shows exactly what the show can do and that there are still moments worth watching in The Simpsons.
Words by Charlie Vogelsang
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