Homer and Apu (S05, E13-094)

"Hey, he isn't happy at all!  He lied to us through song!  I hate when people do that!"

Plot Summary
Episodes featuring the side characters have been few and far between thus far, but this is the first of what will be quite a few episodes that center on the shopkeeper of the Kwik-E-Mart: Apu.  The episode starts on a typical day at the store, with Apu price gouging whenever possible.  He finds spoiled ham that expired years ago and, instead of getting rid of it, puts it in the bargain bin convincing himself nobody would buy it.  Of course, Homer quickly buys it and eats it, getting so sick he requires a visit to the hospital.  Confronting Apu about it later, Homer is calmed when Apu gives Homer not five, but ten pounds of what seems to be aged shrimp.  After a second trip to the hospital, Homer sees on TV that he can file a consumer complaint, and does so.  Kent Brockman contacts him in an attempt to expose Apu by using a gigantic camera hat.  Despite Homer's bumbling, the ploy ultimately works, and Apu is caught selling a filthy hot dog that fell on the floor.  Embarrassed, a superior of Apu has no choice but to fire Apu from his job.

Depressed, Apu ultimately decides to "settle the score" with Homer, though what that means is Apu is willing to work for Homer to make up for poisoning him multiple times.  Quickly, Apu becomes a big part of the family as his cooking, food placement, and shopping line skills help out tremendously.  To celebrate, Apu sings a song about how over he is from the Kwik-E-Mart, but a short time later, admits he still misses it deeply.  He decides to go to India to speak with the head of the Kwik-E-Mart, while Homer comes with.  The long, tiring trip ends poorly when the head of the Kwik-E-Mart only permits three questions, which Homer wastes to inquire as to whether he truly is the head of the Kwik-E-Mart (and he still isn't sure afterward).  Ultimately, Apu decides to face his demons, and go back to the Kwik-E-Mart for the first time since his firing.

In the meantime, the store manager hires actor James Woods to take over Apu's position.  Woods, who takes the job to get a better knowledge of the position for an upcoming movie role (which changes to something completely unrelated later on), is thrilled to see Apu when he returns, having watched him on security tapes.  At that moment, a robber walks up to the two of them and upon learning one of the men was James Woods, fires a shot.  Apu quickly jumps in front of Woods, taking the shot that leaves him a bit nostalgic.  Turns out, that bullet deflected off another bullet that had lodged in Apu from a previous robbery.  As thanks for saving his life, Woods is able to get Apu his job back, and with the happy ending the Simpson family hugs Apu, twice.

Quick Review
This ended up being a fine episode, not among the best Season 5 episodes, but it holds its own anyway.  Apu's "Who Needs the Kwik-E-Mart" song was done well (including the bits where Apu trips up Grampa twice), and James Woods had a strong part as well.  The quantity of jokes just wasn't here this time, I felt, and the whole trip to India bit was lacking in that department aside from one or two instances.  Still, a great episode.

Final Score: 8.3