The Simpsons

Milhouse's parents go through a painful divorce, bringing their long‑standing marriage to an abrupt end. Distressed by the development, Homer embarks on a drastic course of action, hoping to shield his own marriage from a comparable collapse; he believes that taking such extreme measures might change the course of his own relationship.

is an episode‑type programme that falls within the comedy‑drama genre. It is presented as a self‑contained story, focusing on the lives of two families that are linked by their children’s friendship. The title hints at a division that will affect more than just one household. The episode’s catalyst is the separation of Milhouse’s parents. Their marriage comes to an end, leaving the young boy caught in the aftermath of a family split. This event is portrayed as a pivotal moment that ripples outward, influencing the attitudes and concerns of those around him. In response to Milhouse’s home life unraveling, Homer decides to intervene in an unusually forceful way. He undertakes a drastic measure, driven by the fear that his own marital relationship might suffer a similar fate. His actions are motivated by a desire to shield his marriage from the same breakdown he witnesses in Milhouse’s family. The narrative therefore intertwines the two domestic crises, using Milhouse’s divorce as a mirror for Homer’s anxieties about his own marriage. By linking the children’s situation with the adult’s response, the episode highlights how one family’s turmoil can prompt another to take extreme steps to protect what they value most.