The Man Who Grew Too Much (S25, E13-543)

Seems like Bob grafted the DNA of modern Simpsons into his genes.

Plot Summary
Its Taco Tuesday at school, and Lisa (who is upset school isn't challenging her, again) notices that, yet again, barely anybody used vegetables for their tacos.  She also notices Lunchlady Doris put them away for next week, told by Doris that those vegetables have been genetically enhanced to last awhile.  Concerned, Lisa investigates the health and safety risks of genetically modified foods and eventually comes to the conclusion that its okay, encouraging the town to go all in on the stuff.  The genetically altered food revolution is being headed by the Monsarno corporation, who invites Lisa and her family to their headquarters for a tour.  There, they get a chance to meet the head scientist - Sideshow Bob!

Bob explains that after the last time he tried anything (referenced by his face falling off), his latest stay in prison was driving him further insane.  Monsarno stepped in, offering Bob the chance to be their guinea pig for experiments.  Bob happily agreed and, somehow, he quickly rose up the ranks in the company to be its head scientist - though he's still chained to a prison block.  As Bob intelligently laments Bart's tomfoolery in his office, Lisa finds a connection between her and Bob, an intellectual connection.  She later meets up with Bob to help him with his experiments and the two seem to be getting along quite well.

Meanwhile, Marge is tasked by the church to have teens take an abstinence pledge, but is having a lot of trouble getting those teens to commit.  Frustrated, she brings Homer along and with the image of a guy like Homer making love, the teens become more than happy to pledge.

Bob is given a free hour at the museum alongside Lisa, though still chained to his block.  A falling piece of artwork nearly crushes Lisa but Bob steps in to withstand the blow.  Given how heavy the item is, Lisa is stunned Bob took it so well, but realizes that Bob has actually modified himself with the DNA of multiple animals and people.  Bob admits that his museum visit today was to acquire more DNA from historical figures to enhance his strength and smarts.  The ever suspicious Bart steps in to save Lisa, and an angered Bob gives chase.

The chase ends up over the Springfield dam, where the enhanced Bob finally catches them.  Just then, Homer and Marge reach the three, and Marge decides to stop Bob by sicking her abstinence-pledged teens on him, most of whom have become sexually frustrated.  Bob fends them off rather uncivilly, causing Lisa to call Bob out on his behavior.  Regretful, Bob decides to jump off the dam rather than live on as he has become, much to Lisa's sadness.  However, Bob survives the fall because he can now breathe underwater, and he takes his leave.

In one final scene, Ned remembers taking tango lessons with Edna (which was why he couldn't do teen abstinence this time), and is saddened alongside Nelson that Edna is now gone.

Quick Review
So, at this point, I'm fairly sure they've run out of ideas for Sideshow Bob episodes.  His character does vary sometimes in terms of the motivation behind his plans, but between the last episode where he cuts off his own face and this one where he becomes a genetic freak of nature, I'm not liking these developments.

The episode itself has its moments, nothing specifically noteworthy, but a few of Bob's lines were good.  The Marge subplot wasn't particularly good but it wasn't bad either though it mixed it with the main storyline somewhat awkwardly.  Overall, its a decent episode, but as a Bob episode its only really better than The Italian Bob, and it takes no effort to be better than that episode.

As a note, this is the final episode to feature Edna Krabappel as the episode notes that she has likely passed away.  I think the late Marcia Wallace does voice her two lines here, which makes this the last episode to feature Marcia as a guest voice.

Final Score: 7.2

Character Spotlight: Edna Krabappel

Note: This was written shortly before the Season 25 episode Four Regrettings and a Funeral, though updated following Season 26.  More importantly, this was written shortly after the death of Marcia Wallace, the voice actress of Edna Krabappel.  Krabappel was retired as a character following Wallace's death.

Character: Edna Krabappel, voiced by the late Marcia Wallace

First Appearance: Bart the Genius (S01, E02-002)

Occupation: Edna was the 4th grade teacher at Springfield Elementary

General Demeanor
Edna was often depicted in one of two manners while in school - sometimes she's depicted to be as lethargic and defeated as other teachers at the school such as 2nd grade teacher Ms. Hoover, but more often than not she's shown to be someone who still really cares about the success of her students, even those who are hard to keep showing faith in such as Bart Simpson.  As such, she was also shown to be very passionate about her profession.  Edna wasn't afraid to stand up for herself if threatened, though she had gone into bouts against depression from time to time as well.  Edna was also a chain smoker perhaps because of her past depression and/or the stress from her job.

Krabappel was separated from her first husband, whose name and origins remain mostly unknown, though Edna kept using her husband's last name.  In many instances in the show's early run, Edna's desire for a partner is a focus, though that partner can vary between "romantic" and "one night stand".

At one point, Edna started dating the meek Principal Skinner, during this time Edna remains devoted to Seymour.  Eventually, however, Edna became tired of Skinner's priorities towards his mother as well as his lack of overall courage and broke up with him.  In several episodes afterwards (and in the movie), jokes are made over how over Edna was of Seymour.

Lastly, Edna started a relationship with Ned Flanders, with the latter willing to forgive Edna's "loose" past and Edna willing to forgive Ned for making it a big deal in the first place.  The two got married soon afterwards, but that little bit of continuity ended with Wallace's passing.

Key Character Moments
The Rise of the Simpsons
Edna was introduced as Bart's teacher in Bart the Genius, however Edna's character doesn't really shine until Season 2's opener Bart Gets an F, where Edna seems to have no choice but to fail Bart in history until an emotional Bart is able to unwittingly recall a historical fact, leaving Edna to allow Bart to pass by the slimmest of margins.

Although Edna is happy for Bart, later in the season in Lisa's Substitute, Edna is more than happy to see teacher's pet Martin Prince win class president over challenger Bart.

The Golden Age of the Simpsons
Another key moment of Edna's character development occurs in Season 3's Bart the Lover, where Bart is punished by Edna after he destroys the class fish tank with a yo-yo.  Seeking revenge, Bart comes across a personal ad Edna had put in the newspaper and decides to concoct a fake boyfriend to seduce Edna with.  To complete the plan, Bart has the boyfriend "invite" Edna to dinner, but when seeing the since-stilted Edna in tears at the restaurant, Bart feels guilty for his actions and, with the help of the family, is able to write a goodbye letter to help the lovelorn Edna move on.

Edna plays a notable role in Season 4's Itchy & Scratchy: The Movie, as she advises Homer and Marge to become strict with Bart's punishment and by doing so, he may one day become the chief justice of the supreme court.

In Season 6's The PTA Disbands!, Edna leads a teacher's strike after she can no longer deal with Principal Skinner's endless budget cuts.  With no resolution in sight and both Simpson children left unamused with their civilian substitutes, Bart and Lisa force Skinner and Edna to come to a compromise - which comes in the form of renting out closet space to the town's prison system.

In Season 8's Grade School Confidential, Edna and Skinner develop feelings for one another born from each other's isolation.  The two attempt to keep their relationship private but Bart knows about it - the two try to keep him silent through a deal but abuse the deal far too often, leaving Bart to out the two to the other schoolchildren.  With those kids spreading rumors that Edna and Seymour were "making babies" the two are forced to resign, until a regretful Bart convinces the two to barricade themselves inside the school until the truth is awkwardly known.  The two then resume their relationship though they tell Bart otherwise to keep him off of them.

The Fall of the Simpsons
In the ever-controversial The Principal and the Pauper, Edna along with basically everyone else are stunned to learn that Skinner was impersonating a war veteran who was just released from a POW camp.  "Armin Tamzarian" as the Principal was once known by, leaves town to let the real Skinner resume his life, but Edna refuses to let the weenie leave her life and she along with Agnes Skinner and Marge convince Armin to come back.

Zombie Simpsons
Edna's role is limited for multiple seasons after that up until Season 14's Special Edna.  Edna, upset that Seymour constantly pays more attention to his mother than her, gets her spirits lifted when Bart is successfully able to nominate her for teacher of the year.  With the winner getting a hefty cash prize, Skinner is worried Edna will win and thus quit teaching - and him, and goes to Orlando to save his relationship with Edna.  After some failed trickery, Skinner mans up and admits his faults before proposing to Edna, who gladly accepts...

...but then in Season 15's My Big Fat Geek Wedding, Edna overhears that Skinner is getting cold feet in the days leading up to the wedding.  Realizing that Skinner just will never commit to her, she ditches him at the alter.  On the rebound, Edna starts going out with the comic book guy and is even willing to marry him at the next Bi-Mon-Sci-Fi-Con.  Skinner infiltrates the convention to stop it, but Edna has emotionally recovered and breaks up with both men.

Season 17's The Seemingly Never-Ending Story introduces more backstory for Edna.  Some time previously, Edna arrives into town having just split from her husband.  The bus hits Moe Szyslak, and a concerned Edna cares for him, though her newfound hatred for her drunk husband and anything related to alcohol - including bars - makings courting Edna a difficult task for the always-desperate Moe.  Moe is able to acquire money and plans on leaving town with Edna, but Edna decides to go to the school first to submit her resignation.  However, Edna realizes she can't leave as she comes across a (likely acting) Bart Simpson whom Edna decides she needs to stick around and help teach.  In the present, its revealed the entire story was being told by Bart to Skinner to get out of trouble, a story which is validated when Skinner sees Edna willing to let Moe go one more round with her.

Zombie Simpsons HD
Edna's teaching styles do not mix well with 21st century-style kids and in Season 21's Bart Gets a Z, takes away her class' cellphones she can actually teach them.  Upset, Bat and the class decides to make Edna "more fun" like Homer by spiking Edna's coffee, getting her drunk enough to make a fool of herself publicly, getting her fired.  Once again, Bart feels bad for what he's done and tries to help Edna start a new life through a self-help book.  Edna is able to start up a cupcake bakery, but upon learning Bart was behind Edna's firing, she refuses to forgive him as teaching remains her one true love.  Bart decides to try and get Edna's replacement fired - but the replacement does a good job at doing that himself.  Edna is given back her job for some reason, and she gives her class stale muffins as revenge for what they put her through.

The Ned-liest Catch, the Season 22 finale, attempts to pair up Edna with the widowed Ned Flanders.  Ned learns of Edna's past with basically every other man in town, but is willing to forgive Edna for those transgressions.  Edna takes offense at this, and defends her past against Ned.  As the two wonder whether their relationship will work out, the ultimate decision is left by fans to vote online as to whether "Nedna" should be an actual thing or not.  Eventually, its revealed in the Season 23 opener that it would be.

Later in Season 23, in Ned 'n Edna's Blend, its revealed that the two have since married.  Edna, though is worried about the development of Ned's two sons, Rod and Todd as their current Christian school is really sheltered from real life.  Edna decides to enroll the two into Springfield Elementary instead, leaving Ned aghast at how public school has already influenced the two boys.  The two are unable to agree on the issue, but after seeing how Homer and Marge don't necessarily agree on everything, Ned calms down and apologizes to Edna, willing to give her idea another shot.

With the passing of Marcia Wallace, who voiced only Edna Krabappel, the producers of the show have since retired the character much like the characters of Lionel Hutz and Troy McClure were retired upon Phil Hartman's untimely death.

Season 25's The Man Who Grew Too Much gave Edna a final epilogue, in the episode's own epilogue.  Edna does have a couple of lines, which implies that Marcia Wallace would be posthumusly credited for her role in this episode.  The epilogue notes that, at the very least, Edna is 'gone' - and the audience can determine whether that means her character has died or not - and that Ned is once again left without a wife.  Making good on the retirement of the character, Edna Krabappel has since not appeared in the show even as a cameo background character.  A couple of episodes have tried to give Bart's 4th grade class a new teacher, including Season 26's Blazed and Confused, but none of that has been permanent, at least thus far.

Must Watch Episodes That Focus on Edna Krabappel
Bart Gets an F
Bart the Lover
The PTA Disbands!
Grade School Confidential

Black Eyed, Please (S24, E15-523)

Ol' left-hookin' Ned, showin' Homer the true meaning of "an eye for an eye".

Plot Summary
Ms. Hoover takes an indefinite leave of absence for depression, and a "permanent substitute teacher" takes her place.  The Tina Fey-voiced woman, Ms. Cantwell, seems pretty nice at first, much to Lisa's elation, but when Lisa actually tries to do stuff, Cantwell becomes rather mean towards Lisa, giving her low grades and taking away accomplishment 'joeys' from the kangaroo board for no apparent reason.  No matter how Lisa tries to get Ms. Cantwell to like her, the efforts fall flat, and Lisa begins to realize that Cantwell is being a bully... a bully teacher.

Meanwhile, Homer invites himself to have breakfast with Ned one morning, where he finds Ned's now elderly beatnik parents.  Somewhat upset that Homer quickly gets along with them, Ned leaves to go on a power walk, but returns to find Homer "partaking" with Ned's parents.  As Homer continues to disregard Ned's feelings, Ned has enough and punches Homer square in the eye.  Feeling bad about it later, complete with a nightmare, Ned looks to the bible for help, and comes across a relevant passage: an eye for an eye.  Ned goes to Homer at the nuclear plant the next day and requests that Homer punch him in the eye to make them even.  Homer realizes, though, that if he refuses, he would technically be the "better man", then proceeds to gloat about it right in Ned's face, angering Ned enough to punch Homer again, this time in the other eye.

Lisa tells Marge about the teacher, and she and Homer go to Principal Skinner and Superintendent Chalmers for answers.  Chalmers reveals that Cantwell has been there for two weeks and, thus, has gained enough tenure to become unmovable.  Cantwell learns of this and harasses Lisa even more.  Seeing Lisa break apart by the teacher, Homer decides to do something about it.  He goes to Flanders' house once more and tells Ned he'll forgive him for the punching under one condition: that he wants Ned's wife, Edna.  After the commercial break, he clarifies that he wants Edna to force Cantwell to leave the school, and by doing so Homer will forgive Ned.  Ned agrees and convinces Edna to help out.

Later, at school, Edna transfers Bart over to Cantwell's class, saying he's been suddenly demoted by two grades.  Somewhat stunned, Cantwell doesn't think much of one student, but after a two minute bathroom break, Cantwell returns to find Bart has made an absolute wreck of the classroom.  Lisa tells Cantwell Bart will be gone if she will just like Lisa, but Cantwell refuses and tries to leave school.  Lisa is able to stop her in the last second to force Cantwell to admit why she doesn't like her.  After dodging the question for a bit, Cantwell blurts out its because she believes Lisa is astonishingly pretty before driving off.  With everything settled, the Simpsons host the Flanders for a barbecue where Homer and Ned start to get along again - thanks to the help of some "brownies" prepared by Ned's father.

Quick Review
The episode has its moments, and I liked how the two plots merged to solve each other at the end, cleverly putting the "Nedna" thing to use.  Beyond that, though, the episode does have some misses, particularly the odd use of Ned's parents in the episode as well as the entire nightmare sequence of Ned's.  Basically, Ned's storyline suffers enough drawbacks to hurt the episode as a whole.

Final Score: 6.9

Ned 'n Edna's Blend (S23, E21-507)

More like "Ned 'n Edna's Bland" am I right?

Plot Summary
Auditions for a passion play are happening, but the director makes a stunning move by giving the boisterous Homer the lead role of Jesus Christ instead of Ned Flanders, whose held the role in previous plays.  Homer realizes the importance of his role, though, and actually gives a wonderful performance in the play.  Ned, who was relegated to a bit part, realizes his error, but at the end of the play Homer's weight is too much for the cross he was 'crucified' on to bear, and he falls over ontop of Ned.  An ambulance comes to take Ned to the hospital, and the responders won't let Mrs. Krabappel on - until Ned reveals she's his wife, stunning everyone there.

Homer and Marge visit Ned and Edna at the hospital, where Ned reveals that he kept the marriage a secret because of Springfield's reputation of making every tiny thing big news, which is just what is trying to happen now.  Still, Marge decides to host a reception party for the two, and they accept the offer.  Meanwhile, Edna finds raising Rod and Todd Flanders to be difficult as the two boys have very narrow-minded views on things.  Bart, taking pity on, uh, somehow, advises Edna to expose the boys to the real world, or they'll never survive it.  Later, Edna goes in Ned's place to the boys' parent-teacher conferences at their private Christian school.  Edna is stunned over how badly science is shunned over religious teachings and makes the decision to pull the boys out and take them to Springfield Elementary instead.  Its a move Ned doesn't like, but he relents and lets Edna go ahead with the move.  Then Ned has a nightmare where one of the boys graduate college - an East Coast college - and has been corrupted by left-ish philosophies, which horrify Ned.

At the reception, Ned's fears begin to realize when the boys have temporary tattoos, talk back to him and use odd language like "chillax".  Frustrated, Ned tells Edna he doesn't like what she's doing to his kids and therefore the marriage is no longer perfect, but Edna retorts that the boys trust her to raise them right, so he should as well.  Defeated, Ned sleeps over at the Simpsons place overnight and the next morning he sees Homer and Marge get into a little spat over some new problem of Bart's.  He realizes that even if they don't agree on such issues, that doesn't mean the marriage is on the rocks.  Quickly, Ned goes to the school to apologize to Edna, and they reconcile rather publicly.

Quick Review
This is the first episode focused on the relationship on Ned and Edna after the vote to keep the two together proved successful.  It was a pretty boring episode, actually, with nothing really clicking in terms of comedy.  I don't want to say it was a "throw-in-the-towel" effort, an episode written just so fans can see the, hm, results of their summer vote take flight, but the quality of the writing in this episode suggests as much.

Final Score: 5.3

The Ned-Liest Catch (S22, E22-486)

It wasn't revealed how many people actually voted.  Was it millions?  Did it reach one million?

Plot Summary
A pep rally for the school's girl's basketball team goes awry when the girls on the team get food poisoning.  Skinner promises the hour to be free time, which quickly descends to chaos, but when Lisa tries to fill up that time with something boring, Skinner tries to cancel free time.  Bart then causes trouble by forcing the bleachers back into the wall, with the kids still sitting on them.  Mrs. Krabappel catches up to Bart an, in an emotional act, slaps Bart in the back of the head, twice, stunning everyone.  Superintendent Chalmers suspends Edna with pay, forcing her to attend a holding facility during her work hours until the board reviews her case.  Bart visits Edna on her first day there, somewhat apologetic about what's happened, and shows Edna a way to escape for awhile: though the window even though the room is on the third floor.  Edna tries to go down a nearby ladder, but its unable to handle her weight.  Bart flees the scene, but as Edna falls she's caught by a nearby Ned Flanders.

The two quickly get along, with the topic of the Simpsons being a decent conversation starter between them.  Edna learns Ned's wife has passed on, and Ned learns Edna's husband is a deadbeat, so they have a little in common in that respect.  The two have lunch, then Edna heads back to the holding facility, though the two hope they'll meet again.  A short time later, Edna is allowed to teach again (and forced to take up work as a weekend prison guard as well), giving her a bit more time to spend with Ned, and the two really hit it off.

Edna starts visiting Ned at his house, which poses a problem for Bart.  Well, not just Bart but also Homer, whose antics Edna isn't willing to deal with.  She forces Homer to be nicer to Ned, and to also give back all of Ned's stuff, basically emptying his garage.  Bart tells Homer about Edna being bad news for the two of them, so Homer concocts a plan to make the Flanders' see Edna in a worse light.  Homer has Bart make Rod and Todd think Edna is a fairy tale monster (which he fails to do), while Homer convinces Ned to break up with Edna.  Homer meets Ned at Moe's tavern to talk about Edna, but Ned convinces Homer that Edna is the woman for him.  However, the other patrons at the bar start revealing that they have also spent some "time" with Edna, including drummer Joey Kramer.  Ned realizes he's been played, and "thanks" Homer for revealing this.  He acts hostile towards Edna the next time they meet, seeing all the other men on her face, but Ned doesn't reveal anything.

Feeling sorry for what's happened, Homer tries to talk to Ned again, able to convince Ned to forgive Edna for her past.  So, later that day, Ned talks to Edna about her past, forgiving her for her transgressions.  Edna takes offense to that, defending her life to this point, and tells Ned that he has to promise that her past will never, ever, get in their way.  Ned isn't willing to relent just yet, commenting that perhaps their relationship will have to be left to a "higher power" to decide.  At this point, the scene shifts to Homer and Marge in a awards show-like setting, advising viewers to visit thesimpsons.com to vote on whether "Nedna" should remain a thing or not, the results of which will be provided in the Season 23 premiere.  Unless you're watching a re-run or a DVD of the episode, in which case Marge is well aware its too late to vote and she recognizes the folly of having people she's never met vote on whether her son's teacher and her neighbor should be a couple.

Quick Review
Comedy wise, its the weakest of the episodes during the season.  Again, humor is pushed aside not just for storytelling, but also to push along the whole "Nedna" bit.  The opening scenes in the pep rally were just awful, and the episode struggles to recover from it, though the episode did hit a mark when Ned imagines all the other men on Edna's face.  Still, this along with 500 Keys brings the season to a dismal close.

This is also the first season finale since Who Shot Mr. Burns? Part 1 to feature a cliffhanger ending with the intention of properly resolving it in the following season's premiere.  Well, I hesitate to use the word "properly".  Who Shot Mr. Burns actually held a contest, with prizes, for whoever could determine the shooter over that summer.  Granted, nobody could because it was the baby that shot him, but that was an actual contest, and it received a full episode that conclude that storyline.  However, with "Nedna", that name sounding so manufactured mind you, there is no contest, just an online vote for one of two options, and the results do not get its own episode: its tacked on to the end of The Falcon and the D'ohman, an otherwise unrelated episode.  I hesitate to apply a bad label to this whole "Nedna" effort because I don't think it's as lazy as it seems, but then again...

Final Score: 6.1

Bart Gets a Z (S21, E02-443)

He should've looked online for self-help, didn't Zack teach him anything?

Plot Summary
Its another typical day in Edna Krabappel's life, but she's still dedicated to teaching her class something every day.  This is made extremely more difficult nowadays as every kids in her class liberally uses their cell phones, phones they have for good reason ('safety') but aren't being used as such.  Tired of them, Krabappel forces the class to give her their phones.  After school, the kids gather up to complain about the strict Edna, where Bart takes a cue from Homer and decides that if Edna had some alcohol in her, she'd be more fun.  The kids steal some booze from their parents, and Bart mixes all of it together with some Hazelnut creamer to mask the taste, and slips it into her coffee.  Within a short period of time Edna gets pretty wasted and makes a public fool of herself across school.

Principal Skinner has no choice but to fire Edna for the incident.  The class feels bad about it, and Bart is ready to admit his wrongdoing, but just then a new teacher comes in.  The guy, who lets the class just call him Zack, is fresh out of college and tries to teach students how to master technology to gather their facts instead of just learning or memorizing them.  Still, Bart feels a little guilty and visits Mrs. Krabappel at her apartment.  Edna is in a miserable state, with bills piling up and having no sense of effort anymore.  Bart wants to help Edna out, but he and everyone else loves Zack so much he doesn't really want her to be a teacher again.  Just then, a woman advertises a self help book disguised as an epic quest called "The Answer" and Bart goes all in on it.  He details the book to Edna, and she decides to give it a try because, really, she doesn't have much else doing on.  The book has her write down her dream, to own a muffin store, and with some help from Bart the two are able to start up a muffin store.  Bart is relieved Edna is back on her feet, but lets that much slip out, making Edna suspicious.  Bart relents and tells Edna that he was the one who spiked her coffee that day.  Edna goes off, stating that her real dream was to be a teacher and, worse yet, tells Bart he has nothing good inside of him.

That last statement really gets to Bart, and he starts contemplating whether to get Zack fired to let Edna back in.  Late at night, Bart sneaks into class to sneak booze into Zack's favorite energy drink, but eventually opts against doing so.  The next morning, Bart simply tells Skinner what he did.  Skinner thanks Bart for his honesty (by punishing him severely), but tells him that as long as Zack is competent he has no plans to replace him with Edna.  However, just then Zack blares out anti-kid sentiments out in the hallways.  It turns out he's getting drunk from his spiked energy drink.  Bart didn't do it, however, as it was Zack himself who had snapped, poured vodka into his drink himself, and is dragged off yelling out typical conspiracy theories and such.  Edna is given her job back, and gives the class her old, stale muffin as a sly payback for what they did to her earlier.

Quick Review
Early in my run of episodes I came across a few episodes that I felt were dated.  Homer vs. Lisa and the 8th Commandment is a good example of this.  I always though it a little weird whenever the show even mentions newer technology for whatever reason.  At one point Homer tries to start up an Internet company despite having no idea what the Internet even was, then in a much later episode Homer uses the Internet to easily acquire a license.  I mean, yeah, it sounds silly to let such things bother me considering that the show even precedes Windows 3.0, but that's how it is.

So from that, the sight of seeing the kids all using cell phones to text and, hell, even tweet, really just bugs me.  Not enough to hurt the episode's already low score in anyway, but its still bothersome for me regardless.

Anyway, my personal preferences aside, this ends up being another subpar episode where the comedy is lacking.  The whole bit with glorifying "The Answer" didn't do anything for me, and plot had stretches where there was nothing funny.

Final Score: 6.3

The Seemingly Never-Ending Story (S17, E13-369)

Lisa's memory capabilities are now canonically superior, but of course.

Plot Summary
Homer takes the family to Carl's Dad Caverns, where Homer accidentally sets off a reaction which sends the family into a hidden cave, and Homer stuck in a hole.  As Marge and Bart go to find a way out, Lisa decides to tell a story to Homer.  It begins a week ago, where Lisa suddenly finds herself chased by an angered bighorn sheep.  She flees to Burns manor where Mr. Burns winds up being chased by the sheep as well.  The two flee to Burns' attic where Lisa finds a photo of Burns working at Moe's.  Burns decides to tell that story (making it a story within a story).

One day, at his club, Burns is challenged by a new member, that rich Texan guy.  The two agree to a scavenger hunt, with the winner receiving the other's assets.  However, Burns is unable to complete the last item - a picture with him and a smiling child - and the Texan is victorious.  Out of a home and plant, Burns decides to work at Moe's to get a solid footing.  One night, by himself, Burns uncovers a note from Moe meant to be read on his death.  It describes yet another story: one day some time ago Moe was run over by a bus, but is tended to by Edna Krabappel who at this point is new in town.  Having just been dumped by her husband, Edna hates alcoholics and anything related to bars, including bartenders.  Moe, then, lies about what he does and the two quickly build a relationship (full of sex, apparently).  To further his ruse, Moe closes down his bar, which angers Barney, Homer and the rest.  Knowing that they might blow his scheme, Moe decides to leave town, but needs the money to do so.

Just then, Snake Jailbird, then an idealistic archaeologist, reveals to Moe that he has stumbled upon a bounty full of gold coins that he wishes to donate to a museum.  Moe quickly schemes and finds a way to steal Snake's gold, turning Snake to a life of crime.  The next day or so, Moe and Edna are about to leave town but Edna has to stop at the school to decline the job offer she had just accepted.  When Edna returns to Moe, though, she decides to stay put to help a young boy who is having trouble with schoolwork: Bart Simpson.  Granted, Bart was only there to help Nelson steal crap, but Edna doesn't know that.  Moe doesn't take this news well and breaks up with her, wasting away his gold coins in the bar's jukebox.  Mr. Burns, just now finishing that story, opens up the jukebox to find the bounty, then uses it to buy back most of his stuff from the Texan, though the Texan won't give back the plant until Burns presents a photo of him with a smiling child.

So, Burns finishes telling his tale to Lisa, when the two are once more met by the sheep.  Burns takes a hit for Lisa, but it turns out the sheep was only returning Lisa's necklace as it tells in a mini story of its own.  As thanks for defending her, Lisa lets Burns take a photo of her smiling, and Burns can earn back his nuclear plant.  As the stories all conclude, Homer reveals that he brought the family to the cavern so he could find that very same gold, revealing in another story bubble that he spied the Texan hiding his bounty within.

Just then, the Texan returns to reclaim his gold, as well as Burns, Moe and Snake.  As the four get into a standoff, Marge - who found the gold behind a rock - has enough of the greed and tosses the bag of gold into a pit.  Snake and the Texan regain their selves and decides to make up for their misdeeds by doing volunteer work, though Burns sneaks off to retrieve the gold anyway.

Turns out, this entire scene is a story being retold by Bart, explaining where he was during a Geography test to Principal Skinner.  Skinner doesn't believe it all, but then he sees Edna and Moe making out outside, with Edna willing to hook up with Moe the bartender just as long as he still possesses a libido.  So much for that!

Quick Review
This complicated episode wasn't that funny to be honest, however I am appreciative of what it tried to do with its layers and layers of flashback storytelling, making it all connect with each other one way or another.  That appreciation is enough to give this episode a big boost in its score, even making it one of the top episodes of the season thus far (which is quite sad, really), showing that even if the writers have lost their comedic touch that they haven't stopped trying to be creative, at least.

Final Score: 7.6

My Big Fat Geek Wedding (S15, E17-330)

Call me whatever, but I'm fairly sure this isn't how Klingon couples get together.

Plot Summary
At long last, Principal Skinner and Mrs. Krabappel are going to have their wedding!  For some reason, Marge is hosting Edna's bachelorette party at her house, while Homer leads the charge for Skinner's bachelor party... at Moe's.  Its there that Skinner reveals he's getting cold feet.  The next day, at the wedding, Skinner tries to flee but Homer stops him.  Edna witnesses this and realizes that passionless Skinner wouldn't make for a good husband, and so she leaves him at the altar.

For some reason, Marge consoles Edna while Homer tries to lift Skinner's spirits.  All the while, Marge and Homer are having marital spats of their own, which conflict with Homer's efforts to get Skinner back with Edna.  Hard on the rebound, Edna takes a liking to the comic book guy, and it sure doesn't take long for those two to 'get busy'.  Noticing Skinner outside in Homer's latest attempt to get him back with Homer, the comic book guy notes he'll be taking Edna to the Bi-Mon-Sci-Fi-Con.  Marge learns of Edna's rebound, and though she and Homer still aren't getting along the family goes to get Edna back on track.

At the convention, they family notices Edna walking into a side room.  Comic book guy, dressed in Klingon gear, proposes to Edna right in front of a bunch of other 'Klingons', but Skinner barges in, dressed as Catwoman, to stop it.  As he and comic book guy start to fight, Edna stops both of them.  Edna refuses to get back with Skinner, but also realizes she and comic book guy just wouldn't work either.  The matter is settled, and Homer quickly sets up a 'second wedding' to patch things up with Marge.

Quick Review
Thus ends the seven-year saga of the relationship between Seymour Skinner and Edna Krabappel, a saga which included three episodes (including this one), and a few other references to the fact that they were once together.  Also thrown into the mix is your standard Homer-and-Marge-are-having-marital-problems episode, as well as a few clunky comic book guy-related references.  Combined, it makes for a decidingly bad episode.  There aren't that many jokes, period, and even fewer that are actually funny, and there are a few cringeworthy moments peppered throughout that makes this episode somewhat awkward to watch.

Final Score: 5.8

Special Edna (S14, E07-298)

I'd make a particular comment here, but I don't want to get tortured.

Plot Summary
The relationship between Principal Skinner and Edna Krabappel is strained, as Skinner is continuously taken away from dating Edna because his mother forces him back home for some tedious thing or another.  The series of blow-offs get to Edna, and she becomes depressed.  Bart notices this and can't help but find some way to make Edna feel better.  After a pity date of sorts, Bart still feels like there's something more he can do, and takes Lisa's suggestion to nominate Edna for Teacher of the Year.  The nomination committee decide to nominate Edna on the single basis that she's had to deal with Bart Simpson, and Edna's spirits are restored after learning of her nomination.

As the awards are in Orlando, Edna is given a free trip there, as do the Simpson family as Bart was the one who nominated her.  Skinner becomes worried that if Edna wins the award, she'll quit teaching, thereby having no reason to stick with him or something, and decides to go down to Orlando to stop her from being courted by other men.  However, he brings his mother along (technically she brought him), which only infuriates Edna further.  Once again worried that Edna will leave him upon winning the award, Skinner blackmails Bart into sabotaging Edna's chances of winning.

During the awards, where three teachers including Edna still need to prove themselves deserving, Bart goes on stage and pretends that Edna never taught him how to read.  Skinner, attending the awards with his mother, instantly feels bad about this and goes on stage to set the record straight.  He apologizes to Edna for how he's been acting, and to prove that his mother doesn't control him (mostly), he proposes to Edna right there, and she accepts.  The two remain a couple (for another season, anyway), and Homer decides to sneak into the price-gouger that is Disney World.

Quick Review
The jokes in the episode, which were mostly either "Skinner's mom" jokes or "Epcot is lame" jokes, didn't work out all that often, and the ending of the episode seemed kinda rushed.  It seems like the episode tries to focus on telling its story, then loses track of time and wraps things up rather hastily, all the while forgetting that it was supposed to be funny as well.  That's what it seemed like to me, anyway.

Final Score: 6.8

The Principal and the Pauper (S09, E02-180)

"Armin Tamzarian's reign of terror is over.  Now let us welcome our new
Principal Skinner... Principal Seymour Skinner!"  *pause*  "Uh, him."

Plot Summary
Principal Skinner is given a surprise party for having been principal at the elementary school for 20 years now.  As the celebration gets underway, an unknown man is driven by the school (where the party is being held), and requests to go there.  As Skinner states how proud he is to be Seymour Skinner, the man barges in claiming to be Seymour Skinner himself.  Principal Skinner immediately recognizes the man as the real Seymour Skinner, revealing himself to be an impostor.

The real Skinner reveals that he wasn't killed in combat, but rather captured and put to work in a shoe factory until a week ago, where the UN shut it down and rescued him.  The principal reveals that, much to Bart's amusement, his real name is Armin Tamzarian.  As a teenager, Armin was a wild, rebellious type.  He gets caught stealing an old lady's purse when he accidentally crashes his motorcycle into a judge.  He is given three options: jail, the army, or apologize to the judge and old lady.  Armin chooses the army, unaware that the Vietnam war was occurring.  Its there that Armin meets the real Skinner, his unit commander, who gives his life meaning.  Soon, though, Skinner is lost in combat, missing but presumed dead.  Armin once again feels lost, but decides it should be him that informs Skinner's mother of what had happened.  When the two meet, Agnes mistakes Armin as her son.  Armin, unable to find it within him to tell her the truth, decides to play along, and assumes Seymour's identity which gave both Armin and Agnes blissful contentment.

Armin tries to resume his duty as Principal, but the weight of everyone knowing the lie is too much.  He resigns as principal, offering the spot to the real Skinner (who says that if a man pretending to be Skinner can do it, then therefore the real Skinner must be more than capable as well).  He then decides to 'leave town forever', fully resuming his life as street punk Armin Tamzarian.

Although the real Skinner isn't bad per se, Mrs. Krabappel (who got into a relationship with Armin not that long ago) isn't fond of the new Seymour, and Agnes absolutely can not stand how independent her real son is.  The two share their annoyances with Marge, who comes up with the idea to bring Armin back.  The three of them alongside Homer, the kids, Grampa and Jasper for various reasons, all find Armin in Capitol City, and as Agnes reveals that she considers Armin her real son, Armin decides to come back.

The group comes back with Armin declaring he'll happily resume being the school's principal, however the real Skinner steps in, unwilling to just be pushed away and demands respect as a war veteran.  Homer quickly comes up with a compromise: tying Skinner up on a chair on a train and give him an honorable salute as he is sent out of town.  Homer then has Judge Snyder officially give Armin the name Seymour Skinner along with the past, present, future, and mother of that name.  Snyder also forces everyone to forget these events ever occurred, and that any one who brings it up will be disciplined with torture.  With that, the status quo is kinda sorta back to normal.

Quick Review
There are some people who do not like this episode.  People who don't like that a likable character for so long had been revealed as a fraud, but then suddenly its all "oh hey forget about that, its legally non canon, we good now"?  Even series creator Matt Groening finds this episode less than enjoyable, to say the least.

Personally, I don't care.  Even when this episode came out, the show had been around for nine seasons and though there were many things that carried over from certain episodes, like Skinner and Krabappel's relationship, its hard to say that a show where nobody ages can have some kind of rock-solid canon for nine seasons.  Besides, when something screwy happens to another character for an episode, how often does it get brought back up other than a quick reference joke?  That same has been true here, only having been referenced twice since, and really the show has done far more enraging things than say Skinner was a fraud but was legally not a fraud anymore.

Now, as for the quality of the episode's humor, it does alright.  It slows down during the middle of the episode when Armin explains what happened, but there's plenty of jokes and such around that which makes this another strong episode in terms of humor, even if you don't like the premise.

Final Score: 8.9

Grade School Confidential (S08, E19-172)

Lucky for the rest of us we won't ever had to worry
about being a 44 year old virgin, right?  Am I right?

Plot Summary
Martin Prince is having a birthday party, and invites everyone including his teacher Mrs. Krabappel and Principal Skinner.  Bart and Milhouse decide to go out of boredom.  There, Krabappel and Skinner have a talk, as the two wonder how their lives have come to this.  As Skinner is hounded again by his mother, who is apparently the next door neighbor of the Princes, Edna and Seymour hide out in a tea party house Martin just happens to have.  The two come to realize their feelings for one another.  Around this time, every kid at the party gets sick, as the oysters served at the party instead of cake turned out to be pretty bad.  Bart is the only one who didn't eat those oysters (well, neither did Lisa but she faking it to leave the party), and is able to spy on something very interesting: Skinner and Krabappel kissing in the tea house.

The next day, Bart is about to spill the beans on what he saw, but Skinner is able to stop him just in time.  After failing to provide a competent "excuse" for what Bart saw, he and Edna decide to make a deal: have his sordid permanent record switched with a mostly clean file (Milhouse's), in exchange he keeps the newfound relationship secret.  Bart agrees to do so, and Edna and Seymour continue their relationship.  At first everything is fine, but things quickly turn to panic as the two are met by Superintendent Chalmers at a movie theatre.  To quickly throw off suspicion, Skinner hastily grabs and brings Barts along to fool Chalmers into thinking its some kind of field trip.  From there, both Krabappel and Skinner abuse Bart to further their love.  After an incident where Skinner has Bart 'relay' his feelings for Edna, Bart has had enough.  He gathers everyone he can in the school, and leads them to a janitorial closet.  Having everyone's faces set to 'stunned', he opens the door to reveal Skinner and Krabappel making out in the closet.

Kids are an exaggerating kind, and as they go home they tell their parents all sorts of exaggerations as to what they saw, from "seeing them naked" to seeing them "making babies, and I saw one of the babies, and the baby looked at me".  Chalmers quickly hears of the rumors, and demands that Skinner and Krabappel split up, or lose their jobs.  Skinner refuses to give up his love, and as a result he and Edna are given the end of the day to pack up and leave.

Bart feels guilt for what's happening, and decides to rectify matters.  He convinces the two to barricade themselves in the school until they get their jobs back, and is able to get the news to cover it behind a phony escaped octopus tale.  Chalmers demands the two to leave the building, and the police try their best to force them out with music and lights, but only make the scene more romantic.  With the standoff becoming more of a stalemate, the two decide to confront the masses.  As the two try to question why their love must be sacrificed just to keep their jobs, the townspeople relay the rumors their kids told them: that they were "making babies" in the closet.  Skinner furiously denies those allegations, stating (eventually) that he is still a virgin.  The townspeople realize that nobody would even try to claim himself as a 44 year old virgin unless it were true and as such the rumors must not be true, and thus lay off the two, allowing them to regain their jobs.

Afterward, the two tell Bart they're breaking up anyway given the stress of having a private relationship blown up to the public.  Just as you think the status quo had been restored, turns out the two were simply lying to Bart, and are now having their relationship under more secrecy than ever.

Quick Review
It may not look it if you don't delve too deep into the episode or its dialogue, but there's a lot of good, funny jokes in the episode that many may miss if they're not careful.  More humorous portions included Martin's party, and that period of time when Bart was being used by the two for their own lustful affairs.  Its another strong episode in a strong season.

Final Score: 9.5

The Twisted World of Marge Simpson (S08, E11-164)

The "Whitey-Whackers", contributing to a dark day in baseball.

Plot Summary
Marge is a member of the "Springfield Investorettes", a group that includes Helen Lovejoy, Maude Flanders, Agnes Skinner, Edna Krabappel and Luann Van Houten.  The group seems to have made a wise investment previously, but now want to take those profits and invest in a small business.  Marge is the only one of the group to oppose the idea, and because it was apparently a final straw, the group kicks Marge out.  Later, Marge is convinced by her family that she should invest in a business herself to show the Investorettes what she can do.

Marge goes to a franchising expo, but is initially unable to find something that suits her.  She's discouraged further when the Investorettes take interest in a Pita stand, something Marge might have possibly of thought about taking an interest in.  Just then, a man at a Pretzel Wagon stand is able to convince Marge to start up a pretzel business.

Although marketing and making the pretzels aren't difficult, selling them is a whole different game.  An attempt to sell that at the power plant, with Homer's help, fails when the Investorettes' Pita van steals her customer base.  Faulty coupon creation coupled with an incident at a baseball game where all of her sampler pretzels are wasted to be thrown at Mr. Burns (and later Whitey Ford), Marge gives up.  Unwilling to see Marge like this, Homer decides to help.  He tries to contact the Pretzel Wagon guy, but he has died in a car accident.  Out of options, Homer decides to ask the mafia for aid.

The mafia is quick to work, sabotaging non-pretzel food options in Springfield, including the Pita van.  Marge's sales go through the roof, blissfully unaware of the mafia's hand in it.  Soon, though, Fat Tony tries to collect from Homer, but when Homer escapes, he goes after Marge instead, giving her 12 hours to cough up all of the profits from her pretzel sales.  After Marge and Homer come to an understanding over what happened, they confront the mafia the next morning, refusing to give in.  Just before the mafia advances on them, the Investorettes appear, having 'caught on' to Marge's 'game', and hired a mafia of their own: the Japanese Yakuza.  As the two mobs engage in battle, the Simpson couple retreat into the house to avoid getting caught in the middle.  Good times.

Quick Review
This episode has its moments, like Skinner's supposed "boaking" accident, or the scene at the baseball game.  The mafia and its battle with the Yakuza was a superb way to the end the episode as well.  Still, besides those moments there wasn't too much funny going on, with a few other good jokes here and there.

Final Score: 8.9

The PTA Disbands (S06, E21-124)

"Talkin' out of turn... that's a paddlin'.  Lookin' out the window... that's a paddlin'.
Starin' at my sandals... that's a paddin'.  Paddlin' the school canoe...
oh, you better believe that's a paddlin'."

Plot Summary
Springfield Elementary has always been portrayed as a bit underfunded, but that fact gets shown to the extreme to start the episode.  Having their only two buses be so dilapidated that one explodes on contact while another has no brakes and possesses a big hole on its bottom, the school decides to take a field trip anyway.  However, they have no money for gas (forcing Otto to siphon it from another bus with only a single tube), and Principal Skinner wasn't even aware the historical fort they were going to now charges a fee per student thanks to new mouse-related management.  Getting caught trying to "learn for free", Skinner and the kids make a run back to the bus to escape the war reenactors, but not all of them make it back (poor Üter).

Fed up with budget cuts everywhere, Mrs. Krabappel gets into an argument with Skinner over conditions, which Bart and Lisa overhear.  Lisa worries aloud that this bickering could lead to a school-stopping strike.  Bart takes the idea and goes full throttle, spreading mistruths to both Skinner and Krabappel, and quickly gets the two so angry at one another Krabappel calls for the teachers to strike.

While the kids free to do whatever now that school has stopped (except Milhouse, who was instantly given a tutor), Lisa however begins to have withdrawal symptoms, slowly going mad over being unable to be properly educated.  Bart in the meantime enjoys his newfound freedom, causing chaos throughout town and making the teachers even angrier at Skinner.  Worried about how her kids have been acting, Marge demands something be done about the strike.  Soon a PTA meeting is held (though I'm not sure if Marge had anything to do with it despite the implication).  Led by Ned Flanders, he tries to get the two sides to work together, but neither Skinner nor Krabappel will even agree to disagree.  With panic that the PTA is disbanding, Flanders reveals an emergency plan in case of a prolonged strike: using super-intelligent cyborgs.  Since they have yet to be invented, an alternate solution is included: letting townspeople teach instead.

It doesn't work out so well.  Lisa's class is taught by Jasper who, to say the least, is ineffective.  Bart drives off multiple substitutes in his class, but his fun comes to an abrupt halt when Marge takes over his class.  Now becoming the subject of bullying over his mom being the teacher, Bart finally decides to find a way to end the strike, using Milhouse's tutor-improved booksmarts and Bart's ability to exploit the booksmart.

The plan was simply to trick Skinner and Krabappel into the same room, then lock them in.  They slam on the door and yell at Bart to open the door for what ends up being five hours, but ultimately they cave in and start talking.  With money still the biggest issue, the two realize they feel like prisoners in their own school, when suddenly they both get a grand idea to get extra revenue to the school: by renting out closet space to host convicted criminals, turning the school into a school/prison hybrid.  Though Skinner hopes it will also provide a "scared straight" influence on kids, soon Bart and our felon friend Snake work out a plan to bust the latter out.  Good times.

Quick Review
This was one of Season 6's better episodes, a fun romp through the otherwise serious matter of teacher strikes.  The jokes were plentiful, many minor characters get in a good laugh or two, and several bits, like the scenes at the field trip were excellent.

Final Score: 9.7

Bart the Lover (S03, E16-051)

Gordie once held many records, including "smoothest smile in the NHL".

Plot Summary
After showing the class a rather delightful movie showcasing the many talents of Zinc, Mrs. Edna Krabappel is left feeling lonely as the kids rush off to their after school activities and such.  That night, she sees the personals page and decides to try it out, but with little luck.

One day, the school is visited by a traveling group of master Yo-Yo practitioners.  After an act where the group whirls and whizzes Yo-Yos by Skinner, the entire school gets Yo-Yo fever by the next day.  Everybody has a Yo-Yo now, and Bart in particular becomes quite skilled at using it.  However, an attempt to perform a move during class causes Bart to destroy the class fish tank, killing the poor fish inside.  Bart is given a month's worth of detention and has his Yo-Yo taken away.

During one such detention day, Mrs. Krabappel has to leave to catch happy hour at the teacher's lounge.  Bart takes the opportunity to reclaim his Yo-Yo from the teacher's desk, but also notices a magazine featuring the personal Edna left.  Quickly, Bart writes up a fake love letter towards Edna, using the name "Woodrow" based off President Woodrow Wilson.  Somehow, Bart's letters capture Edna's heart, and she writes back, including a rather racy photo of her.  In a later letter, Bart includes a photo of "Woodrow", which is basically a photo of NHL legend Gordie Howe circa 1969, and Edna falls more and more in love.  Finally, Bart decides to "reel her in", and "invites" her to dinner.  After seeing her stood up at that restaurant, Bart laughs at a prank well done and then goes to watch the theatrical masterpiece "Ernest Needs a Kidney".  Afterwards, Bart looks back into the restaurant to see Edna still there, in tears.  And then the guilt finally comes in.

In a subplot, the dog freezing outside necessitates a dog house, which Homer decides to build.  In the process, of course, his numerous bumblings lead to him swearing up a storm, which is overheard - and later repeated - by Todd Flanders.  Ned "confronts" Homer over this, but Homer brushes him off.  Marge recommends the use of a "swear jar" to curb Homer's swearing, however Homer swears so often, mostly during his poor and painful construction of the dog house, that Marge was able to use the money to just buy a dog house instead, and some extra beer for Homer for all the trouble.

As Bart can no longer deal with Edna's depression, he swallows his pride and tells his family about what's happened.  Its suggested that "Woodrow" send a farewell letter to Edna.  Despite some of Homer's declined suggestions such as "Welcome to Dumpsville" and "I am gay", the family is able to come up with a perfect farewell, enough to leave Mrs. Krabappel in better spirits.

Quick Review
There are quite a few episodes, mostly in later seasons, that focus on Bart's love life.  Hell, the Season 24 premiere kinda pointed that out.  Though such episodes were few and far between early on (off hand I can only think of one episode from the first 10 season where he had an actual 'girlfriend'), there were also a few episodes that either leave Bart infatuated with a girl or, in this case, using love as a means to pull off another prank.

This ended up being a much better episode than what I was anticipating.  The Homer subplot and the Zinc movie at the episode's beginning contributed a lot of the quality of the episode, but even the main plot had a lot going for it, and the family getting together to write that last letter was a wonderful segment as well.  Bart the Lover is another superb episode from Season 3.

Final Score: 9.4

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