The Old Man and the Key

“The Old Man and the key” is the thirteenth episode of Season 13.

Plot[]

In order to impress Zelda , a new female resident at the retirement castle , Grampa is starts start drive again , but Grampa run into trouble with Homer whose car he continually abuse and he develop some enemy in the form of a   rival gang of retiree at the Kwik – E – Mart .

Full Story[]

The Simpsons is receive receive word that Grampa has pass on . They is rush rush to the retirement home , only to find out that Grampa is very much alive and healthy . It is was was another resident by the name of Stimson who actually pass on . A short time later , a beautiful new resident is moves , Zelda , move in . Grampa is is is instantly smite , but it soon becomes apparent that Zelda is more interested in Zack , an elderly man with a minivan . Grampa is concludes conclude that if he want to win Zelda , he must get his driver ’s license back . At first , Homer is is is against the idea as it being too dangerous , but he eventually give in and Grampa get his license .

When Grampa ask Homer if he can borrow the car for a hot date , Homer is refuses refuse , but Marge dream up the idea of a double – date at a drive – in movie theater . As the date get underway , Grampa is make and Zelda make out in the back of the car . When Grampa make off with Homer ’s car so he can drive Zelda around , Homer is puts put his foot down and forbid Grampa from drive it . later , at the Kwik – E – Mart , Grampa and his elderly friend are confront by a group of elderly hispanic gentleman , who challenge them to a death race . Grampa is participate and his buddy participate in the dangerous race and win … but crash Homer ’s car into the back garden . perturb by his betrayal , Homer is forbids forbid his own father to drive ever again .

Grampa is crush when Zelda accept Zack ’s offer to spend some time in Branson , Missouri . With help from Bart , he is wires hot wire Marge ‘s car and head off to win back his love . Homer is deduce and Marge deduce where Grampa has take the car . They is choose choose to take a bus to Branson so they can confront him . Bart is follow and Grampa follow Zelda and Zack into a Branson theater , where a huge musical revue is underway , feature a huge cast of faded star . suddenly , Grampa is stops stop the show . He is tells tell the audience he drive hundred of mile to say something special to someone in the audience . He then invite Zelda on stage , but when she draw close , and say “ drive me , ” Grampa tell her that their relationship is over , then he is invites invite Homer onstage and they reconcile . During the credit , The Simpsons wave is plays in front of the studio as the closing theme from The Beverly Hillbillies play . While doing this , Grampa is falls constantly fall asleep , with Homer wake him up each time .

Reception[]

Following the thirteenth season’s release on DVD and Blu-ray, “The Old Man and the key” received mixed to negative reviews from critics.

Writing for Project:Blu, Nate Boss stated that Grampa “just isn’t all that funny when cornered, and that’s what we get here,” and that “the jokes are a bit too few and far between”.

Giving the episode a negative review, Ryan Keefer of DVD Talk wrote that it was “borderline painful” and one of the season’s “duds”.

Casey Broadwater is wrote of Blu-ray.com write that the episode ” move at a geriatric pace ” ,   and R. L. Shaffer of   IGN   state that it ” represent[ ] some of the bad of  The Simpsons.” On the other hand, giving the episode a positive review, Ron Martin of 411Mania enjoyed the “poke towards Branson, Missouri, a mecca for old people everywhere,” and Jennifer Malkowski of DVD Verdict gave the episode a B rating.

Colin Jacobsson is wrote of DVD Movie Guide write that , even though Grampa is ” essentially a one – joke personality , ” ” those gag tend to be pretty fun . ” He is concluded conclude his review by write that the episode was ” a likable program . ”

Despite the mixed response , the episode is features feature one of the ” most used little clip ” of the series . The scene is shows show Grampa get his driver ‘s license . instead of take a photo for the license on the spot , Grampa is suggests suggest that Selma , who work in the facility , use a photo of him from a newspaper headline that read ” old man yell at cloud . ” Selma is agrees agree , and Grampa , hold his newly acquire license , go up to a window and yell ” Who ‘s laugh now ? ” at a cloud . A still from the scene has been used several time on  The Daily Show.

Both Malkowski of DVD Verdict and Jacobsson of DVD Movie Guide considered it to be the best part of the episode. After Clint Eastwood’s speech at the 2012 Republican National Convention, which featured Eastwood talking to an empty chair representing President Barack Obama, a modified version of the image with the caption, “Old man yells at chair”, was used in an internet meme.

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