Where Did THAT Come From – Russ Cargill, Deep Dome Drill, EPA Hoverjet, & EPA Truck

In our silly lil game, we sometimes see things pop in that we have no clue as to their Origin. They seem familiar, but we just can’t pinpoint from where. So that is why we decided to make a fun lil reminder out of it. To let you know just Where Did THAT Come From?

Wowza… the 2017 Secret Agent Simpsons Event is in full effect and we’re all busy collecting intel, crafting subversive surveillance items, and tapa-tapa-tapping secret agents and spies in a covert palooza all about Globex, the EPA, GHOST, and the CIA. It’s enough to make me want to watch Roger Moore, Sean Connery, Don Adams, and Rowan Atkinson on repeat. Hooray for new ideas in TSTO. Just like the xxth Bond movie, life lessons as an adult, or an intelligence collection mission, I’m sure a lot of us never saw this coming. Of course, with any new event, there’s always an inevitable tapping on my attic floor from Alissa to get started on writing about the origins for it all. It’s always a pleasure to re-watch episodes of the Best. Show. Ever. to do just that. For this round of origins, I figured it could be fun to take a look at a bunch of the new stuff which came our way from a non-episodic sense… The Simpsons Movie!

Russ Cargill – 80 donuts (available during Act One)
Deep Dome Drill – Level 9 Crafting Prize
E.P.A. Hoverjet – 70 donuts (available during Act Two)
E.P.A. Truck – 1st Act One Prize for 6450 cheap intel

So no post is going to do this movie justice. Suffice to say… Springfield becomes known as the most polluting town in the US after Homer tips the balance of Springfield Lake’s delicate acidity with a silo full of pig crap. The resultant mutation properties of the lake earn the interest of the Environmental Protection Agency. Check out one of their trucks.

Due to the pollution and resultant mutation, the leader of the EPA, Russ Cargill, decides something must be done to circumvent an environmental crisis. He may be mad with power but he is protecting the environment in his own way. Mr. Cargill heads straight to the White House.

His solution? Well, he has five unthinkable options but President Schwarzeneggar (yes back in 2007, this sort of thing was a joke) picks option 3 which is to cover Springfield with a dome using EPA hoverjets. There’s actually a real world equivalent to these that the military calls the Osprey.

Trapped forever! A thousand eyes! EPA! EPA! Just when all is lost though, Professor Frink show up with good news. “I’ve invented an acid-firing super drill that can cut through anything! It’s right over there… just outside of the dome.” Gotta love it.

Gotta love Russ Cargill as the ruthless madman who endomes Springfield. I love The Simpsons movie and it is totally worth watching. There’s plenty of ways to check it out but the legit way right now is through HBO. Russ Cargill is a great bad guy and voiced by the amazing Albert Brooks.

If you missed the subtext of his evil in the movie. His solution to solving Springfield’s polluting problem is tied in to him being a rich man who wants to become richer. Quite the political commentary if you really think about it.

Anyhoo… I guess I should also mention an EPA truck much closer to the one we got in game that appeared in the movie also. It involves a SOP sign and Homer trying to save his family using a wrecking ball which ends hilariously.

Long and short is these are all items from something that brings me untold joy. Even better as far as the actual episodic cartoon goes, the effects of the EPA aren’t completely washed over. At the beginning of “He Loves to Fly and He D’ohs” (S19:E1), I love that they made an entire opening sequence just to address the consequences from the movie that happened between seasons 18 and 19. All the characters from the movie show up as Bart skateboards including Russ Cargill.

The whole dome experience is joked about at the end of “The Fool Monty” (S22:E6) too. After Burns steals the Cat Flu vaccine from the citizens of Springfield and then becomes an amnesiac after an attempted suicide, the town gets back at him by using his addled self as an object for revenge. Eventually Burns regains his memory and his solution for returning the favor is simple. To cover Springfield with a dome!

Woohoo for a reused idea from the movie. I’m betting Burns would use the same hoverjets the EPA used. Also love everyone pointing out that the idea had already been done and Lou pointing out that the town could always dig themselves out although it never occurred to the town during Trappuccino. So there you go friends. A few origins from one of my favorite movies and a couple episodes of the Best. Show. Ever. Have you seen them? Happy to have items from the movie besides Spiderpig? Wishing for anything else. I really want Moe’s outfit.

Hope this event is going well for you. Sound off with your thoughts in the comments and happy covert tapping friend.

TTFN… Wookiee out!