"The Way of The Dog" is the seventeenth Christmas episode of the animated series The Simpsons, aired as the show's thirty-first season finale, and the second Christmas episode in that season. It was dedicated in memory of Little Richard, who passed away eight days before it aired.
Synopsis[]
Santa's Little Helper is dreaming at the Simpson house, watching Ralph reaching for popcorn. When he wakes up to the smell of popcorn prepared by Marge so Bart and Lisa could make a string to put on the Christmas tree. When Marge tries to put a Santa hat on Santa's Little Helper, he is afraid, getting flashbacks from his past, and resists them putting it on for a picture for the Christmas family card. When the family returns from shopping for presents, they found the couch shredded by Santa's Little Helper and him depressed on an angle, and Lisa proposes to take him to a psychologist, Elaine Wolff.
They bring Santa's Little Helper at the Springfield Knowledge College, where Elaine is giving a lecture, which gets interrupted by her lover, Clayton, informing her that he left his ex, but after the lecture she refuses to help them. At home, when Marge tries to take the Santa hat off to clean it, Santa's Little Helper bites her, so they take him to a vet who proposes to put him down but they refuse.
While they make arrangements to keep Santa's Little Helper outside, unsuccessfully, Chief Wiggum arrives at the house informing them that animal control is coming to take him away, but Elaine arrives before them, taking him with her at the Dognitive Behavioral Therapy Institute.
At the institute, Santa's Little Helper dreams of his mother, when his previous owner took him from her, so Elaine gives him a pill to sleep better. Meanwhile, Bart asks Homer when Santa's Little Helper will be back, and then they both start praying and Lisa and Marge join the prayer. But Homer says he was possibly lost forever, which makes Bart cry. The next day, Elaine asks him how he feels about the family, during which she is interrupted by Clay proposing to her, but she refuses.
Right after, Santa's Little Helper attacks another dog in his chest, and she finds out that he hid the Santa hat in it, the reason for his behavior. She takes him home and Bart remembers it's the one that he was wearing the evening they got him. Elaine says he has to confront his previous owner due to him having PTSD of him.
At his place he recounts the story of how he took Santa's Little Helper away from his mother once he finds out how fast he is and everyone take turn slapping him for his action, till her finally reunites with her. In the end the family takes her home with them, working out the issues, but Snowball signals their fish she's going to eat it.
Songs[]
- "Sleigh Ride (Homer's Version)" (uncredited) - Dan Castellaneta
- "Score from Candy Crush Saga" (uncredited)
- "The Way We Were" - Unknown artist
Cast[]
| Voice actor/actress | Character(s) |
|---|---|
| Dan Castellaneta | Homer Simpson |
| Julie Kavner | Marge Simpson |
| Nancy Cartwright | Bart Simpson |
| Yeardley Smith | Lisa Simpson |
| Hank Azaria | Comic Book Guy |
| Harry Shearer | Dewey Largo |
| Cate Blanchett | Elaine Wolff |
| Michael York | Dr. Lionel Budgie |
Gallery[]
Videos[]
See also[]
- "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire"
- "Marge Be Not Proud"
- "Miracle on Evergreen Terrace"
- "Grift of the Magi"
- "Skinner's Sense of Snow"
- "She of Little Faith"
- "'Tis the Fifteenth Season"
- "Simpson Christmas Stories"
- "Kill Gil, Volumes I & II"
- "The Fight Before Christmas"
- "Holidays of Future Passed"
- "White Christmas Blues"
- "I Won't Be Home for Christmas"
- "The Nightmare After Krustmas"
- "'Tis the 30th Season"
- "Bobby, It's Cold Outside"
- "A Springfield Summer Christmas for Christmas"
- "Manger Things"