Bart Gets an F (S02, E01-014)

Admit it, you were the same way when you earned D minuses, too.

Plot Summary
In this episode, we see the struggles of a young boy.  A boy whose carefree attitudes towards his education has grand consequences.  A boy who could be held back a grade for his lack of knowledge towards the past, a threatening loop that could continue until his own son reaches that same grade as well.  A boy who needs both miracles and his own efforts to just graze the line of pass.  These are the struggles of one Bart Simpson.

After failing his book report, Bart tries to get it together for an upcoming history test, but keeps getting distracted.  Desperate, he fakes getting sick to escape, then gets answers for the test from Milhouse, a decent plan.  Except, Milhouse did terribly on the test, and now Bart did even worse.  This latest F creates an ultimatum from Bart: should he fail another history test, he'll have to repeat the 4th grade.

Dedicated to avoiding this fate, Bart recruits Martin Prince as a tutor, promising to turn Martin into one of the cool kids as payment for the services.  Things seem to go well, until Martin becomes too enveloped in being cool, and brushes Bart off.  Hardly any closer to passing the test, which is now the next day, Bart prays for a miracle, and gets it with a snow day.  However, Bart still can't study as now the snow and all the people having fun with it prove a distraction.

At last, Bart finally takes the test, and receives a 59%, a high F.  Devastated, Bart breaks into tears, comparing his situation to when George Washington surrendered Fort Necessity to France in 1754.  Mrs. Krabappel, impressed with that display of applied knowledge, bumps Bart's score up to a 60% - a passing D-.  Bart is thrilled, and everyone is happy.

Quick Review
The premiere to the 2nd season of The Simpsons is a strong one.  Whether it was Homer and his large gorilla programs, Martin's devolution into one of the cool kids, or Otto's "commitment" to "driving" his bus, this episode has plenty to offer in terms of comedy.  Bart might've gotten a D- in the end, but this episode gets... uh, whatever letter grade is the equivalent to a 7.9.

Final Score: 7.9