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Chapter 11, N.A.M.P seasons 1-5
(Otherwise known as Ned And Moe Pairing)
1. [Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire]
Now it is perfectly natural for characters to change and develop over time. So when I saw this episode for the first time, I noticed that Moe was more sympathetic and Ned seemed a bit more passive aggressive to show he has better. So when Ned shows off his extravagant lights to the Simpsons, when they in turn have simple/broken lights, I found this rude. And with Moe being such a tough guy, maybe he could like this whole 'kill them with kindness' deal. And cleaning up the mess of gifts outside the circus of values store, Ned cleans up his pile almost as if to say "Look at how much I got for my kids." Now perhaps Ned didn't realize what he was doing and therefore could be excused.
Moe has his bar all decked out for Christmas, which could be the only time I've seen him decorate the bar. But Moe is kind to Homer and offers him a free candy cane. And even when Barney walks in, giving Moe two paying customers. But Moe doesn't seem bitter at the slow business.
2. [Homer's Odyssey]
This prank call reveals more of Moe's true nature, which honestly is perfect for Ned and his family. Ned can be such a pushover, How on earth could he stand up for something he believes in. Moe could teach Ned to be stronger and Ned can teach Moe how to be kinder. Oh, and Moe is brutally honest to Homer, which depending on the situation could be a positive or negative trait.
3. [There's no Disgrace like Home]
Moe seems to care a lot about Homer's state of mind in the first season. So this does show that Moe is observant and cares for his friends/patrons.
4. [The Call of the Simpsons]
Once again it seems that Ned is bragging with the RV. They do have things better then the Simpsons but not by much. But for a family with several creature comforts, this can be very welcoming to Moe who lives in his rundown bar.
5. [The Tell-Tale Head]
Moe openly weeps when Barney asks him for a beer with a head. Tough old Moe, who hates everything, still has town pride and is a bit sensitive. He is still a bit emotional when he visits the statue. Also for a brief second, it appeared that Ned was in the mob waiting to kill Bart. So, maybe he can fight for things.
6. [Some Enchanted Evening] I love the scene where Moe gives Homer advice on how to make Marge happy. Because, on one hand, most Simpson fans know that Moe has a crush on Marge. But if he is willing to leave their marriage alone in order to pursue a more suitable romance, then this can be very healthy. I know this isn't specifically NAMP, but it is important for any pairing Moe is in.
7. [Dead Putting Society]
The odd thing about Ned is that he doesn't really drink, and yet his rumpus room has draft beer. He has several steins, which is probably why he chose a beer from Holland. But Ned and Moe could potentially run the bar together as some dynamic duo.
And honestly, I did gain a bit of respect for Ned in this episode, because he fought back. Though kicking Homer out of his house did make him feel guilty, but you can really see the fire lighting under his ass.
Another thing is that Ned Flanders has a more then average tolerance for Homer's antics. Therefore I can see Ned being incredibly patient and tolerant of Moe and his short temper.
Plus Ned gives off an impression that he is competitive by saying "mercy is for the weak". I bet Moe could respect that. And I hope that I don't sound crude, but when Ned enjoys wearing the dress at the end of the episode, it could indicate that Ned would be the more feminine of the group. Perhaps one could even see Ned dressing in drag to go out with Moe.
8. [Itchy and Scratchy and Marge]
In this episode Ned and Moe are both holding signs to protest Itchy and Scratchy. They joined before it was at a 'bandwagon' point and that shows that they either wanted to stop the cartoon violence or simply be supportive of Marge.
9. [One Fish, Two Fish, Blowfish, Blue Fish]
Emotional because he believes that he is dying, Homer kisses Moe on the Lips. And instead of getting upset and hurting Homer, or even being disgusted, Moe simply says "please, not in public." Which to me says that he could have liked the kiss.
If in general Moe enjoys a kiss from another guy, then I'm sure that he could enjoy himself with Ned.
10. [The War of the Simpsons]
I would say that, even though Moe and Ned protested together, this dinner party would be their official meeting. Ned says he has a Ph.D in mixology, which is probably true for him, because that didn't sound much like a joke. But I would imagine that, as a college student at his fraternity, he would be the bartender so that he didn't have the pressure of drinking. And by doing this, he could cut off people and call taxis or a designated driver.
But when Moe was serving the Flaming Moe's drink at his bar, they did great. So if they worked together, Ned's actual degree could add a bit of sophistication to the bar. Also, I think that doctorate could allow them to pay more for drinks in general. And I do like how Marge was talking to Maude, Ned, and Moe together. This could potentially show them getting along and having commonalities.
11. [When Flanders Failed]
Doing research for a different story, I learned that out of all the left handed people in the world, about 80% of them were gat, regardless of gender. Therefore in this episode, where they introduce the Leftorium the customers have a higher chance of being homosexual. So we clearly see that both Ned and Moe are both left handed, giving them a higher chance of being gay.
12. [Lisa's pony]
In this episode, Moe surprises people by letting us know that he saved the music store owner and his wife from a burning car. This shows a little bit of that Good Samaritan that I think would really seduce Ned.
13. [Burns Verkaufen Der Kraftwerk]
So, any fan of the Simpsons should know that Moe is not the biggest fan of children. But in this episode, we see Moe as a "loving uncle" if you will. He loves Bart and he loves the fact that Bart is a troublemaker. And I can't help but love the fact that Moe requested Bart to sing such a silly song. Moe has a nice smile on his face and after the song, he gives Bart a Krusty Bar as a reward. Moe loves Bart so much, and to me this is a good example of how Moe could love children once he got to know them. After all, Ned has two boys and Moe couldn't have a successful relationship with Ned unless he loved the boys too.
14. [A streetcar named Marge]
In this episode we learn the Ned is an actor. I enjoy the realization that Ned is proud of the fact that he played Blanche DuBois in his all male school.
Now, if I focused on the fact that Ned was in a all male school (probably high school) and then was in his fraternity at college, then this could indicate that Ned is more comfortable around men. Conditioned that way could also let him be a little more sensitive to his inner character, which is more passive. And if one was writing a story about Ned being gay then they could create scenarios where Ned had some homosexual experiences, or even hazing.
But the boy school thing isn't a perfect example, because some men become more desperate for female encounters because of it. So I may use that detail in a story, but I believe Ned's love of theater is the real proof of NAMP working. And it's not for that silly stereotype that gays love musicals.
But if Ned is so proud that he played Blance DuBois in streetcar, then this tells me that this was the role he originally tried out for and got. So it means Ned was willing to try out as a woman, dress in drag and kiss men in front of hundreds of people.
Now if it wasn't Ned then I suppose that I could overlook this as good acting; because Shakespeare's plays were originally all men and heck the mother in Hairspray still has to be a man because her vocal range is deeper then most women. But Ned is so strict with himself and he thinks so much is wrong, that it could be very possible that Ned is acting out on stage so that he has an excuse for doing them.
Continuing on a more cosmetic issue, this is the first time we see Ned take off his shirt, and he is incredibly muscular. So if Moe saw Ned shirtless, it could be quite the attraction.
Hm, I don't think I have ever noticed Moe was one of the stagehands for the play. This could show a love of theater that he and Ned could bond over.
15. [Treehouse Of Horror III]
Here Ned walks into the Simpson home and for a moment scares everyone in the room. I'm surprised really that Ned would pick such a 'disturbing' costume. Granted I thought it was kinda cool, but to be a decapitated man when his children aren't really sure what blood is? Well, perhaps that is why he is at the Simpsons. Because there he can be a bit more violent or crude if he desires, and it won't effect his sensitive children. But if Ned likes the fear of Halloween and in turn scaring others, I can see Moe being a perfect match to this inner desire.
16. [Brother from the Same Planet]
I don't know how others would react, but if I saw my neighbor running out of the house naked, I would freak out a bit. Some sort of a gasp and then quickly diverting my eyes, or something to that effect.
But when Ned sees Homer naked, he calls out to him in an almost playful way. It's possible that Ned enjoyed seeing Homer naked because he got to see Homer's 'doodle'. And if Ned likes Homer naked, then surely he would enjoy Moe more.
17. [Rosebud]
Moe is the first to feel guilty when the angry mob takes the bear away from Maggie. This is a sign of Moe's true sensitivity, since he does care for Homer's kids. Plus he got the honor of returning the bear to Maggie before exiting the house.
Also, Principal Skinner suggests that the mob should sing at the hospital, and this could be the first time Moe volunteers for such an assignment.
18. [Homer loves Flanders]
Now here you see two completely different sides for Ned and Moe. Ned's patience gets tested by Homer, and he grows to hate him. Then we actually see how kind Moe can be, which story wise, is completely out of left field.
We learn that Moe reads to sick children and also to the homeless every Wednesday. He also gets misty-eyed after telling both stories, which can show how sensitive he is. And a fun fact is that I think this was the episode that made me realize NAMP could work.
Well, that's the end of this section, but our next chapter will be to analyze Lisa in the third season.