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| This pretty much sums up most of the main plot. |
So, Homer and Marge host a party. Homer gets extremely drunk at this party, and makes a total ass of himself in front of friends, associates and Marge, though Homer remembers it as a more classy affair. The next day, Marge, fuming over those events, admits that her love for Homer was shaken and goes to church alone, having Homer explain himself to Bart. Homer gets to church later on, when Reverend Lovejoy mentions a marriage retreat out at Catfish Lake, and encourages couples whose relationships are hanging by a thread (or just in a need of a tuneup) to attend. Marge quickly signs her and Homer up for the weekend.
While Homer was initially against the retreat, he quickly remembers that the retreat is at Catfish Lake, and there's fishing to be had, which Marge quickly chides him for even thinking about. When a babysitter arrives for the weekend, she remembers Bart and his crazy stunts as a baby, and runs off. Desperate, Marge asks Grampa to babysit, and after taking some offense as being a 'last resort' option, agrees to do it anyway. On the way, Homer notices a sign for a bait shop. Using low gas as an excuse (despite having a full tank), Homer buys some bait but in the process learns about "General Sherman", a gigantic catfish that resides in the lake. Despite his wavering marriage, Homer promises the bait shop he'll catch Sherman.
The marriage retreat only has three couples aside from the Lovejoys: the Simpsons, the Flanders (where Ned is upset that Maude underlines passages in his bible - that wench) and another couple who quickly rekindle their love and make their departure. After the first day, where Marge soaks up all the time bringing up all of Homer's shortcomings, the next morning is no better when Marge catches Homer trying to sneak out for fishing. She convinces him to stay, but Homer is unable to sleep and tells Marge he's going to go for a walk. During the walk, Homer notices a fisherman leaving his rod behind. Before he can return it, General Sherman grabs a hold of it and drags Homer into a battle for the ages.
Marge, of course, notices this and, at the retreat that day, is told by the Reverend that Homer really is at fault... for everything! Several hours later, Homer is finally able to subdue and capture Sherman, and is singing fanfare on his way back to the dock, but Marge is furiously waiting for him. While Marge points out that Homer cares more about that fish than he does their marriage, Homer reactively shows her otherwise by pushing Sherman back into the lake. Astonished as to what Homer just did, the two are able to reconcile right there and then.
Meanwhile, both Bart and Lisa take advantage of ol' Grampa by pretty much doing whatever, under the excuse of "mom said it was okay". Bart takes it too far, however, by staging a party and inviting all of his friends, who invite people like Otto, and so on. Grampa is overwhelmed by the party, and afterwards, cries his heart out over being feeble and useless. Bart actually feels guilt over what he's done and he and Lisa decide to really clean up the house. As it turns out, though, Grampa was faking it, having fooled Bart and Lisa with their act. When Marge and Homer return, Grampa leaves the house as proud as ever. And at a bait shop, the legend of Homer, the guy who almost caught General Sherman, grows.
Quick Review
We've come to Season 2's "marriage episode", feels like its been awhile since the last one (Life on the Fast Lane, over 20 episodes ago), and this is one of the better marriage episodes of the bunch. Partly because of the main plot, but the eventual sideplot becomes the more humorous portion of the episode.
This is a great episode for one focused on Homer and Marge's marriage. However, a lot of the laughs came from the Grampa subplot, where a seemingly overwhelmed old man gets his last lick in and ends up the true victor of the episode.
Final Score: 8.4
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