IAMHOMER
02-28-2006, 07:56 AM
This episode got quite a few negative reviews when it first aired, one of the many criticisms being that the main premise of a mischievous ten-year-old befriending his ex-principal is just not believable. To quote a notable example from one of the SNPP regulars:
"Matthew Kurth: I expected the 100th Episode to be a celebration. Instead, we had a funeral. The script had no meaning, no depth, no punch, and no respect for good taste. Bart and Seymour becoming fast friends was totally unbelievable. What wasn't cringeworthy in this one was merely mediocre. Pathetic and worthless. Only Santa's Little Helper and Willie as the "greased Scotsman" saved it. 4/10."
Now this episode is currently regarded by many on here as one of the best of Season 5, and although I don't quite share the high praise and would personally put it in the bottom half of its season (TBH Lisa's Rival would have been a better choice as 100th episode) I still find it very interesting in the way it fleshes out Skinner's character and further explores the ambiguous nature of his relationship with Bart, with the intriguing pull between on the one hand his affection towards this likable if underachieving scamp, and on the other hand his revulsion towards Bart's constant mischief making and failing grades which gets in the way of forming any kind of sustained rapport with him. Which leads to the main question: is their friendship realistic?
The main strength of this episode, as in others with Skinner playing an important role, is the way it portrays him as a very realistic but essentially human authority figure. Being a headteacher at the worst of times can be just as stressful as any high pressure job, having to juggle the demands of failing and/or disruptive students, disaffected teachers, overexpectant parents, all under the watchful eye of hypercritical superintendents like Chalmers. His character actually reminds me of one or two heads I encountered at school: someone who tries his best to enforce discipline and order while at the same time being on friendly terms with his students, with the usual human foibles (forgetting students' names, losing his temper inordinately). However, despite the high stress factor his interaction with the Springfield Elementary people, especially the children, is his one way of counteracting his loneliness (resulting from still being a bachelor in middle age without a long term relationship and still living with the nagging Agnes). With his job gone his life feels empty and worthless.
Now, the scene with Skinner and Bart becoming friends at the Laundromat could be said to be a contrived plot device just to explore Skinner's character in more depth, but the reason behind it, if not overtly explained, is quite subtle and actually very logical. As shown in previous episodes like Principal Charming, Bart the Murderer, Separate Vocations, Whacking Day etc. Skinner could be very nice towards Bart when he recognised his good points (admittedly not very often), and one suspects he even has a sneaking admiration for Bart's ingenious prankish side (if not his academic achievements), however much he may not want to admit it. Bart earlier openly admitting his guilt and apologising for his part in getting Skinner fired furthermore showed a side to him that Skinner had rarely if ever seen before. Divorced from being principal and therefore without the burden of Bart's academic underachievements, Skinner is able to see Bart for what he is without bad grades clouding his judgement, a good kid at heart whatever his flaws. Also, with Springfield being a small town and having more of a community spirit than most big cities, it is quite plausible that they would bump into each other outside school hours and try to exchange civilised conversation despite being at loggerheads during most of school time. Under those circumstances it is understandable that Skinner would look on Bart as someone to fill the current void in his life that resulted from him getting fired, whatever their past differences.
And as you'd expect from someone of Bart's age, he doesn't immediately jump into this new friendship, naturally feeling somewhat awkward at the prospect of meeting up with someone miles older than him outside school, especially an ex-principal who dished out detentions to him on a regular basis. It is the bullies stealing Skinner's underpants and Skinner not being able to buy a new pair which is the main factor in creating their bond: being emblematic of Skinner's plight, it causes Bart's guilt to resurface and as he doesn't get on with the bullies, he sides with Skinner, for once seeing him as an ally and not merely as his over-disclipinarian principal, and this is where the friendship starts.
And afterwards after the anarchy that results from Flanders' ill-fated appointment as principal and Skinner leaving to rejoin the army, he realises that things have gone too far and how much better off the school was with Skinner in charge, mainly due to a typically cynical perspective on their relationship - "I miss him as a friend, but I miss him even more as an enemy" and Lisa's reply "Everyone needs a nemesis", which is summed up at the end with Bart and Skinner walking away from each other with opposing trick signs on their backs. And even though they both realise that with Skinner being reinstated, that is almost certainly the end of their friendship unless Bart becomes a good student, Skinner is in turn eminently grateful for Bart's efforts in getting him back as principal and their hug towards the end is certainly touching.
So does that opening quote have a grain of truth, or would you say that their friendship is definitely believable, for similar reasons given above?
"Matthew Kurth: I expected the 100th Episode to be a celebration. Instead, we had a funeral. The script had no meaning, no depth, no punch, and no respect for good taste. Bart and Seymour becoming fast friends was totally unbelievable. What wasn't cringeworthy in this one was merely mediocre. Pathetic and worthless. Only Santa's Little Helper and Willie as the "greased Scotsman" saved it. 4/10."
Now this episode is currently regarded by many on here as one of the best of Season 5, and although I don't quite share the high praise and would personally put it in the bottom half of its season (TBH Lisa's Rival would have been a better choice as 100th episode) I still find it very interesting in the way it fleshes out Skinner's character and further explores the ambiguous nature of his relationship with Bart, with the intriguing pull between on the one hand his affection towards this likable if underachieving scamp, and on the other hand his revulsion towards Bart's constant mischief making and failing grades which gets in the way of forming any kind of sustained rapport with him. Which leads to the main question: is their friendship realistic?
The main strength of this episode, as in others with Skinner playing an important role, is the way it portrays him as a very realistic but essentially human authority figure. Being a headteacher at the worst of times can be just as stressful as any high pressure job, having to juggle the demands of failing and/or disruptive students, disaffected teachers, overexpectant parents, all under the watchful eye of hypercritical superintendents like Chalmers. His character actually reminds me of one or two heads I encountered at school: someone who tries his best to enforce discipline and order while at the same time being on friendly terms with his students, with the usual human foibles (forgetting students' names, losing his temper inordinately). However, despite the high stress factor his interaction with the Springfield Elementary people, especially the children, is his one way of counteracting his loneliness (resulting from still being a bachelor in middle age without a long term relationship and still living with the nagging Agnes). With his job gone his life feels empty and worthless.
Now, the scene with Skinner and Bart becoming friends at the Laundromat could be said to be a contrived plot device just to explore Skinner's character in more depth, but the reason behind it, if not overtly explained, is quite subtle and actually very logical. As shown in previous episodes like Principal Charming, Bart the Murderer, Separate Vocations, Whacking Day etc. Skinner could be very nice towards Bart when he recognised his good points (admittedly not very often), and one suspects he even has a sneaking admiration for Bart's ingenious prankish side (if not his academic achievements), however much he may not want to admit it. Bart earlier openly admitting his guilt and apologising for his part in getting Skinner fired furthermore showed a side to him that Skinner had rarely if ever seen before. Divorced from being principal and therefore without the burden of Bart's academic underachievements, Skinner is able to see Bart for what he is without bad grades clouding his judgement, a good kid at heart whatever his flaws. Also, with Springfield being a small town and having more of a community spirit than most big cities, it is quite plausible that they would bump into each other outside school hours and try to exchange civilised conversation despite being at loggerheads during most of school time. Under those circumstances it is understandable that Skinner would look on Bart as someone to fill the current void in his life that resulted from him getting fired, whatever their past differences.
And as you'd expect from someone of Bart's age, he doesn't immediately jump into this new friendship, naturally feeling somewhat awkward at the prospect of meeting up with someone miles older than him outside school, especially an ex-principal who dished out detentions to him on a regular basis. It is the bullies stealing Skinner's underpants and Skinner not being able to buy a new pair which is the main factor in creating their bond: being emblematic of Skinner's plight, it causes Bart's guilt to resurface and as he doesn't get on with the bullies, he sides with Skinner, for once seeing him as an ally and not merely as his over-disclipinarian principal, and this is where the friendship starts.
And afterwards after the anarchy that results from Flanders' ill-fated appointment as principal and Skinner leaving to rejoin the army, he realises that things have gone too far and how much better off the school was with Skinner in charge, mainly due to a typically cynical perspective on their relationship - "I miss him as a friend, but I miss him even more as an enemy" and Lisa's reply "Everyone needs a nemesis", which is summed up at the end with Bart and Skinner walking away from each other with opposing trick signs on their backs. And even though they both realise that with Skinner being reinstated, that is almost certainly the end of their friendship unless Bart becomes a good student, Skinner is in turn eminently grateful for Bart's efforts in getting him back as principal and their hug towards the end is certainly touching.
So does that opening quote have a grain of truth, or would you say that their friendship is definitely believable, for similar reasons given above?