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| Ironically, this is the only ToH that takes place in an actual treehouse. |
The Treehouse of Horror has been a Simpsons tradition ever since the second season. With three Halloween-themed stories, it has often been used as season premieres following FOX's baseball broadcasts, and partly for that reason these episode are among the most anticipated each year. However, there's another reason why that's the case: they're just so good more often than not.
The very first Treehouse of Horror, which aired way back in 1990, is no exception. Like the other very early entries in the series, there is a subplot that connects the three otherwise unrelated tales. In this one, Bart and Lisa are trying to scare each other by telling Halloween stories in the aforementioned Treehouse. Homer, eavesdropping from outside, ends up being the only one scared from the stories, though.
With these episodes, I'll be rating each tale individually (using a score like +1 to show how much it aided to the overall score). So, lets take a look at our three stories.
Bad Dream House
The Simpsons move into a new house, apparently for cheap, but it turns out it was built on an Indian burial ground and, as a result, is haunted. The house attempts to influence the Simpsons into killing one another, and then threatens them with various methods of torture, but Marge has enough, and pretty much tells the house that they're staying, and the house just has to deal with it. Instead, the house just destroys itself, preferring the abyss of death rather than sticking around to house the Simpsons. James Earl Jones guest stars as one of the movers at the start of the episode.
Individual Score: +1.5
Hungry are the Damned
Here, the Simpsons are abducted by aliens: the Rigelian Kang and Kodos. Initially fearing the worst, they are quickly met with feast after feast, prepared by Serak the Preparer. Suspicious, Lisa investigates why this is happening, concluding that the aliens wish to eat the Simpsons. However, her suspicions prove false, as the cookbook she finds, initially read as "How to Cook Humans", is dusted off to reveal its true name: "How to Cook for Forty Humans". Disgusted at both this mistrust, and table manners disgusting enough to move Serak to tears, the aliens returns the Simpsons home, informing them that they've missed out on virtual paradise due to their actions. James Earl Jones guest stars as Serak the Preparer.
Individual Score: +1.4
Edgar Allen Poe's The Raven
Lisa (or more accurately our friend James Earl Jones) retells one of Poe's more famous works, The Raven. Homer is cast as the tortured main character, and Bart the title raven while Mr. Jones delivers a strong read of the tale. Obviously Poe didn't write his story with the intention of humor, and the few instances of it doesn't really give it much of a score, but its still a nice addition to this inaugural Treehouse of Horror.
Individual Score: +0.4
Quick Review
With Homer sufficiently scared, the episode comes to a close. Overall, it was a great episode, with the first two segments being funnier than some standalone episodes, while The Raven, while not all that hilarious, is still a fine ode to a classic tale. Its no wonder there's been a Treehouse of Horror every year for so long: this first one created a strong precedent that only a few have matched in the years to come.
Final Score: 8.8
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