He also praised Wilson for directing the episode, commenting that "she acts, she sings, and now she directs".
Because of the extensive outdoor shooting, director Kim Manners hated directing the episode, commenting that "it couldn't be fucking worse".
Tina Charles of TV Guide praised the episode, commenting that "it was really nice to get an enjoyable episode high on intensity, brotherly interaction, blood and gore".
The A.V. Clubs Rowan Kaiser praised the multiple references layered in the episode commenting that they saved the episode from being "mediocre".
HitFix writer Alan Sepinwall, who is often critical of the series's second season praised the episode commenting that "nearly everything was clicking".
Tedder also complimented Cranston's direction in the episode, commenting that the "cramped quality of 'Work Bus' was well matched with Cranston's talents".
Charles D. Martin mused in The White African American Body that "blackness is clearly attached to racial identity" in the episode, commenting that the episode equates the cultural understanding of race to mere skin color.
In a slightly more positive review, Jason Hughes of TV Squad praised Limbaugh's appearance in the episode, commenting Limbaugh "certainly deserves credit for his willingness to participate and lend his own voice".
Andrea Reiher of Zap2it was glad that Will's wife Terri did not appear in the episode, commenting: "I like Jessalyn Gilsig but that character drives me outhouse-rat crazy".
Nate Meyers of Digitally Obsessed was more positive about the episode, commenting that the episode's emphasis is on Homer's parenting, like many other season three episodes, and "contrary to popular opinion, Homer is actually a good father who tries to do good by his children".
