However, he thought the episode managed to "easily overcome its possible flaws" to turn into a "very fine program".
Handlen concluded that the episode managed to be both "a very funny hour", as well as possess serious "sadness".
Overall, Haque finally noted that the episode managed to recapture some of the show's "so-offensive-you-have-to-groan" feel that was prevalent during the first few seasons.
USA Today Robert Bianco acknowledged that the episode managed to avoid repeating many of the second season's mistakes noting that the four main characters spend more time together and the annual mystery "is hot-wired into the housewives themselves".
Ahsan Haque of IGN wrote that the episode "managed to rise about the generic plotline and deliver a pretty solid half hour of entertainment that told a cohesive (and somewhat sad) main story, with just enough gags to fill in the rest of the time".
King Captain Moron is, of course, PC Joe, who in this final series episode managed to louse up in every way imaginable short of snagging his own pancreas in a bear-trap.
Chibnall has repeatedly said of the new series that it's a great point to jump into the show for the first time, and the episode manages to deftly introduce concepts like the Doctor having two hearts, or what the sonic screwdriver does, without getting bogged down in exposition and continuity.
TV Squad's Adam Finley said the episode "manages to be both incredibly funny and incredibly touching, both signs of a great Simpsons episode".
At once a satire and a tribute, the episode manages to both humanize Mr. Burns and delve deep into Homer's love for his oft-forgotten second daughter, Maggie".
Furthermore, he wrote that the episode "manages to be worse that [sic] that dire movie [Indecent Proposal]." Nate Boss of Project-Blu also criticized the episode's similarity to Indecent Proposal, calling it "late to the party".
