According to executive producer Matt Selman, the episode focuses on the "human element" of conspiracy cults—how people who feel marginalized or "dumb" find status and purpose within these groups.
Critics generally praised the episode for its sharp, "nuanced" satire: [S34E1] Habeas Tortoise
The episode follows Homer Simpson as he seeks redemption after being publicly humiliated at a town meeting for his perceived lack of intelligence. During a family trip to the Springfield Zoo, he discovers that a 150-year-old tortoise named has gone missing. According to executive producer Matt Selman, the episode
Highlighted the episode's exploration of how "the truth is different these days" in a post-fact world. According to executive producer Matt Selman