Thursday, April 4, 2013

The Bart Wants What It Wants (S13, E11-280)

"Laughing time is over."
Plot Summary
The Simpsons go to a fair hosted by a prep school which, to Lisa's amazement, exists.  While there, he rescues a girl from a pack of prep school bullies.  The girl, Greta, becomes infatuated with Bart while Bart learns that Greta's father is Rainier Wolfcastle aka the actor who plays McBain.  Greta invites Bart over, and soon the Simpsons become friends with Rainier who is happy Greta has a friend in Bart.

Though Greta clearly likes Bart, and makes several efforts to display as much, Bart is oblivious to it and doesn't return Greta's affection, even bringing Milhouse along for some of Bart's visits.  Greta is able to convince Bart to go to her school dance, but Bart forgets about the dance when he learns Principal Skinner is going to attempt stand up at a comedy night, easily opting to see Skinner than going with Greta.  Lisa confronts Bart over this later in the night, and as Bart admits he doesn't feel the same way about Greta, he decides to break up with her, confident she'll take it fine and the two can remain friends.

Of course, Greta takes it poorly.  Bart feels bad for making Greta cry during the break-up, and goes to apologize, but learns that Greta has already found a new boyfriend: Milhouse!  Though he hadn't really been interested in Greta before, the fact that he can't have her now drives Bart insane, and spies on Greta and Milhouse constantly while trying to find a way to get back with Greta.  Then he learns that Greta is going to Toronto with Milhouse as her father is taping for a new movie.  Unwilling to give up on Greta, Bart convinces the family to go to Toronto to find her.  They get there via bus and, after a few throwaway gags against Canada, Bart finds Greta at a movie set.  Milhouse stops him and the two get into a fight.  Greta intervenes and, after breaking up with Milhouse, swears off dating for a few years because of how bad Bart and Milhouse were.  Bart and Milhouse reconcile and decide that, while they're there, to join the Canadian basketball team because its that easy.

Quick Review
I was hoping this episode would score better than it did.  I recall seeing this when it first aired and I remember enjoying it more than other episodes around that time.  It might've been because the parts featuring Rainier Wolfcastle were pretty good which I remembered, but when the plot focuses on Bart and Greta, also Milhouse, it struggles to stay funny which I had forgotten.  Ah, well, its still about on par as far as Season 13 episodes go.

Final Score: 7.5

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