Rate/Review: The Bart of War (Season Finale Part 1, EABF16)

[Jolly Bengali]

Bah! From site...

Sometimes, you can really see how intelligent the makers and writers of "The Simpsons" are. Compared to the rest of television, the wit and insight this show displays on a regular basis really is stunning, and it's something I forget sometimes. I was reminded just how smart this show is by the first act of this episode. In addition to a great little jab at South Park (in return for an episode mocking them) and a fairly funny Bart-and-Milhouse storyline, I, a Beatles fan, was treated to an extended, hilarious riff on the Fab Four with the gags revolving around Flanders' Beatles memorabilia. The references (and there were too many even to count) were hilarious, and I felt like I was watching an episode from the fourth season given the sheer amount of satire thrown around. After that first act, I honestly don't think I could have possibly hated the episode, yet still the plotline, jokes, and characters all worked fairly well. A lot of the quips about Native Americans were funny, and the ending riot, as well, was a nice scene of slapstick and randomness. Overall, I have to say that I really can't say anything wrong about an episode with such a great opening. It may not have lived up to the standards it set for itself, but this episode still made me amazed in a way I haven't felt watching the show for a long, long time. Grade: A

For once, disagree with Tomacco... :/

[Thrillhouse24]

i rated 4/5 i liked the flanders beetle collection it was a pretty good episode

[Tomacco]

Originally posted by apu628
Bah! From site...

Sometimes, you can really see how intelligent the makers and writers of "The Simpsons" are. Compared to the rest of television, the wit and insight this show displays on a regular basis really is stunning, and it's something I forget sometimes. I was reminded just how smart this show is by the first act of this episode. In addition to a great little jab at South Park (in return for an episode mocking them) and a fairly funny Bart-and-Milhouse storyline, I, a Beatles fan, was treated to an extended, hilarious riff on the Fab Four with the gags revolving around Flanders' Beatles memorabilia. The references (and there were too many even to count) were hilarious, and I felt like I was watching an episode from the fourth season given the sheer amount of satire thrown around. After that first act, I honestly don't think I could have possibly hated the episode, yet still the plotline, jokes, and characters all worked fairly well. A lot of the quips about Native Americans were funny, and the ending riot, as well, was a nice scene of slapstick and randomness. Overall, I have to say that I really can't say anything wrong about an episode with such a great opening. It may not have lived up to the standards it set for itself, but this episode still made me amazed in a way I haven't felt watching the show for a long, long time. Grade: A

For once, disagree with Tomacco... :/

Well, actually you didn't. I mentioned that I loved the Beatles references. The only thing is it seems those scenes made up about 80% of the reason why you liked the episode, where as for me it only accounted for about 10% of my thoughts on the episode (if that much).

[henry]

3.5/5

Pretty good, but could have been better.

[Hal_9000]

I wasn't too fond of it, the storyline was pretty bland and the ending didnt make sense. It wasn't the worst but it definatly wasn't the best!

[Pmc325]

I thought the episode was good (Not as great as the Season Finale, though!) It had some laughs, and it was cool to get two episodes this night, that weren't wincing kinda episodes. From the comments I noticed most people didn't like the riot scene. I thought it was actually pretty good. I liked Moe and Drederick Tatum's little blurb in there.

Moe: How'd I get myself into this

Or something of that variant. I gave it a 3.5/5. Not too shabby!

[Tibor]

On a second viewing, I found some jokes that I had missed first time out. Stupid family, talking over the show, can't they just sit back and watch TV instead of, like... trying to talk about stuff? Sheesh, what are we, the Waltons?

Anyway, it brings my grade to a C+.

[I Am Lion-O]

2/5, I think its one of the season's worst, the only good part really was the Beatles collection, Flanders and the Beatles, funny stuff. Otherwise it stank.

[HomertheGreat]

it was all right. I probably would have graded this higher but Moe's Baby Blues was so much better. The Beatles scenes were all great as was the Homer explaining football in Native American language. The only thing that brought this episode down was the third act which wasn't very good. I didn't get the Canadian joke. It still squeezes out a B-

[Dennis]

Pretty good. It seemed a little like it could be from the classic seasons. The only problem is, it lacked the funny. 3.5/5. Should be rated lower because I dont even remember laughing but I already voted for 4/5. Moe Baby Blues was better.

[Sultan of Seltzer]

4/5 I really liked this one. It was one of the better episodes this season. I loved the bit with Nelson's dad and the whole first act was brilliant.

[Moleman...Hans]

FOr some reason I thought it was funny. 4/5.

I think I have gone insane for liking that.

[nathan]

The first 10 minuets of this episode where sheer brilliance, so much so that had it continued at the rate of awesomeness it was at it would probubly be my favorite episode of season 14 but half way through it took a very harsh turn that just continued to get worse until it all went to hell with an ending that brought me back to the Scully era.

2.5/5

[Channel Surfer]

Read Me Read Me Read Me Read Me Now!!!

The plotting was a bit iffy. Not as bad as last week, but it shows with the final couple of minutes.

However, am I the only one who felt the ending was sorta like "Itchy and Scratchy and Marge" and "Mr. Lisa Goes to Washington", where the writers purposefully wrote the ending to say what they didn't really mean? In this case, the way the riot abruptly ended, and the jokes revolving around American arrogance. It wasn't as clever (none of it had any relevance to the first half of the episode), but funny enough in its own way.

"Moe Baby Blues" was much better though.

Grade: C+

[lindsay]

This episode wasn't too bad. I loved bart's hallucination w/ milhouse and the beatles. The thing w/ Nelson's dad and the trees was a little strange, but kind of funny. The whole war thing between the 2 groups was sort of enjoyable. The ending was alright too. I didn't really like it when marge started to cry. I thought it was a little too much. I thought the riot was pretty good and the whole canada wasn't too bad either. I don't really remember too much it, because moe baby blues was more rememberable, but overall 7/10

[Tomacco]

I just realized during Homer's drum solo, he hits Bart's and Nelson's heads which makes a thudding noise, and when he hits Ralph's, it makes a hallow sound.

[DotheBartman]

This was an episode that looked iffy to me, and in some ways it really was kinda iffy, but I liked it anyway. Here's my review.

Humor was definetely the best thing about this episode. Every act was full of great stuff, starting with the hilarious South Park scene, which was SOOO spot on(amazing they've kept it consistant for 43 episodes!) and was one of the best gags all season, right down to plenty of other great moments (Nelson and his "dad", all the Ralph stuff, even Ned thinking the Beatles were bigger then Jesus). It seemed to decline a bit in the last act, but was overally pretty consistant, and the only really lame thing I can think of is Homer thinking the headress was too tight.

Story wise, it suffered a little more, but was still pretty good, and the episode was obviously targeted more for fun anyway. How Milhouse and Bart got into Flanders' house in the first place was kinda asinine, and was the only thing that really bugged me (the rest of the scenes in there were classic though), while the rest flowed well enough and just moved us from joke to joke as it was obviously meant to (I can't complain about a "just funny" episode when its funny anyway). Plus, there was the nice bit of emotion with Marge crying, which I ught was pretty well done. And the episode even maybe made a few social points, like Apu's scene with the Pre-teen braves possibly being stereotypical, and the stuff about americans destroying the environment.

Overall, not the deepest episode, and it seemed to decline a bit in the end, but it didn't need to be deep for what it was, and was overall a good episode, that even for once really showcased Bart well. I'd say: B

Edit: Btw, who was the fourth kid in the cavalry kids (there was Martin, Jimbo, Milhouse, and one other, who I've seen before for sure, but I can't remember his name)? I also think I saw Chester J. Lampwick among the bums.

[Tomacco]

I actually think the episode would have been spot-on if it wasn't for the very last minute. Watching it again right now (I'm near the end) and it's a pretty dang good episode. I think my view is starting to edge towards 4/5 now.

[NoOneFamous]

I agree, Tomacco, everything was good until the last minute or two. It felt.. inconclusive.

[lance]

Not ging to do a long review this week, but I will say that it was an outstanding episode! I loved so much in this one that it earns a 5/5 from me. South Park, PAX, the Beatles, Ralph, Nelson and his dad, Burns' line, and even the wacky Canada ending. Plus Homer was really great in this one, in my opinion, both in being funny and in not being a jerkass. Great job, writers! 5/5

Lenny Leonard, eh?

[Mayor Quimby]

4.5/5 rounded up. Simply loved it.

[Crotis Jivefunk]

Agreed. This had one of the best first acts in awhile, IMO. And a nice meta-reference too. 4.5/5

[Capitol City Goof]

Hoooorible © Bill Walton. Bad first act, stupid ending, although the second act somewhat redeemed it. Ralph was funny for the first time in a while, and I'll admit the Nelson "Papa!" stuff made me laugh. Thanks to the middle, this gets a 2/5.

[DotheBartman]

Ya know, on second thought, I think this episode might be deeper then I thought, and that there was a real theme in there. Let me explain:

Let's start with the South Park scene, which was one of the funniest scenes in a long time, but also worked on several levels:

Just plain being brilliant in its parody of the show itself
Making fun of South Park's lazy production values (43 episodes)
Pointing out who its audience often really is (kids who like cartoon violence)
The possible influence of the show itself. Bart and Milhouse chant "cartoon violence", and when they're forced away from it, they go on a destruction spree. Hmm...

That in itself seemed to be the theme: violence. After (possibly) being influenced by other sources, be it "South Park" or each other, they go on a destruction spree, and then end up paying for it. They each go into youth groups meant to take away that destructive nature. But do they? As Apu pointed out, the groups themselves are hypocritical. But rather then truly caring, they try to one up each other and perform some tasks (selling candy, riding around a giant ball with bicycles) that don't really help anyone (the elderly even have heart attacks), and that eventually leads to them fighting each other. As things escalate, it even leads to the parents themselves becoming fierce, and they (as well as the town) get into the pointless rivalry that defeats the original purpose, and they all end up fighting as well. I'd agree with Channel Surfer that the ending may be a little sarcastic, in that it was meant to be unrealistic, similarly to the "child utopia" scenes in "Itchy and Scratchy and Marge". This paints the picture that no matter what violence you inflict, the damage can be fixed. But can it? Obviously the ending itself (everyone singing "Oh Canada", which I thought was classic personally) is entirely unrealistic. We then get the jab at the Bush administration, which is doing the same thing essentially. Will attacking Iraq REALLY lead to peace down the road? Ask Springfield when they're back to rioting or what have you in the next episode. In fact, at this point we've seen a whole culture of violence in this episode that show's a lot of possible influences: tv, parents, each other, even the presidental administration, which Bart and Milhouse think are doing a perfectly acceptable thing. I'd go so far as to say the ending was MEANT to be inconclusive, similarly to the mentioned "Itchy and Scratchy and Marge".

Wow, writing that, I'd have to up my rating a little, but wont until I've watched the episode again, hopefully soon. But they really did give me something to think about, which is rare these days. I think this episode really deserves more credit then its getting, including maybe from me.

[Tomacco]

Originally posted by DotheBartman
Ya know, on second thought, I think this episode might be deeper then I thought, and that there was a real theme in there. Let me explain:

Let's start with the South Park scene, which was one of the funniest scenes in a long time, but also worked on several levels:

Just plain being brilliant in its parody of the show itself
Making fun of South Park's lazy production values (43 episodes)
Pointing out who its audience often really is (kids who like cartoon violence)
The possible influence of the show itself. Bart and Milhouse chant "cartoon violence", and when they're forced away from it, they go on a destruction spree. Hmm...

That in itself seemed to be the theme: violence. After (possibly) being influenced by other sources, be it "South Park" or each other, they go on a destruction spree, and then end up paying for it. They each go into youth groups meant to take away that destructive nature. But do they? As Apu pointed out, the groups themselves are hypocritical. But rather then truly caring, they try to one up each other and perform some tasks (selling candy, riding around a giant ball with bicycles) that don't really help anyone (the elderly even have heart attacks), and that eventually leads to them fighting each other. As things escalate, it even leads to the parents themselves becoming fierce, and they (as well as the town) get into the pointless rivalry that defeats the original purpose, and they all end up fighting as well. I'd agree with Channel Surfer that the ending may be a little sarcastic, in that it was meant to be unrealistic, similarly to the "child utopia" scenes in "Itchy and Scratchy and Marge". This paints the picture that no matter what violence you inflict, the damage can be fixed. But can it? Obviously the ending itself (everyone singing "Oh Canada", which I thought was classic personally) is entirely unrealistic. We then get the jab at the Bush administration, which is doing the same thing essentially. Will attacking Iraq REALLY lead to peace down the road? Ask Springfield when they're back to rioting or what have you in the next episode. In fact, at this point we've seen a whole culture of violence in this episode that show's a lot of possible influences: tv, parents, each other, even the presidental administration, which Bart and Milhouse think are doing a perfectly acceptable thing. I'd go so far as to say the ending was MEANT to be inconclusive, similarly to the mentioned "Itchy and Scratchy and Marge".

Wow, writing that, I'd have to up my rating a little, but wont until I've watched the episode again, hopefully soon. But they really did give me something to think about, which is rare these days. I think this episode really deserves more credit then its getting, including maybe from me.

The violence theme occured to me when watching it the second time, although I'm not ENTIRELY convinced it was intended. Although it might be underestimating the writers, I think if that was the theme, it would have been more obvious. But I can't be sure. It is a definite possibility.

[Channel Surfer]

Originally posted by DotheBartman
Ya know, on second thought, I think this episode might be deeper then I thought, and that there was a real theme in there. Let me explain:

Let's start with the South Park scene, which was one of the funniest scenes in a long time, but also worked on several levels:

Just plain being brilliant in its parody of the show itself
Making fun of South Park's lazy production values (43 episodes)
Pointing out who its audience often really is (kids who like cartoon violence)
The possible influence of the show itself. Bart and Milhouse chant "cartoon violence", and when they're forced away from it, they go on a destruction spree. Hmm...

That in itself seemed to be the theme: violence. After (possibly) being influenced by other sources, be it "South Park" or each other, they go on a destruction spree, and then end up paying for it. They each go into youth groups meant to take away that destructive nature. But do they? As Apu pointed out, the groups themselves are hypocritical. But rather then truly caring, they try to one up each other and perform some tasks (selling candy, riding around a giant ball with bicycles) that don't really help anyone (the elderly even have heart attacks), and that eventually leads to them fighting each other. As things escalate, it even leads to the parents themselves becoming fierce, and they (as well as the town) get into the pointless rivalry that defeats the original purpose, and they all end up fighting as well. I'd agree with Channel Surfer that the ending may be a little sarcastic, in that it was meant to be unrealistic, similarly to the "child utopia" scenes in "Itchy and Scratchy and Marge". This paints the picture that no matter what violence you inflict, the damage can be fixed. But can it? Obviously the ending itself (everyone singing "Oh Canada", which I thought was classic personally) is entirely unrealistic. We then get the jab at the Bush administration, which is doing the same thing essentially. Will attacking Iraq REALLY lead to peace down the road? Ask Springfield when they're back to rioting or what have you in the next episode.

Wow, writing that, I'd have to up my rating a little, but wont until I've watched the episode again, hopefully soon. But they really did give me something to think about, which is rare these days. I think this episode really deserves more credit then its getting, including maybe from me.

You know, you might be right. I was trying to figure out the significance of those last couple of minutes in regards to the rest of the episode in my review. It was clear to me they were trying to make some sort of social commentary in regards to violence with the super abrupt ending to the riot and the comments about America's warmongering attitude. But trying to piece it together with stuff like Ned's Beatles collection, gags revolving around Nelson's dad, ect, I did have trouble trying to find a focus for the ending, which you may have connected. Especially considering the turn the episode took in the 3rd act, with Homer and Bart sabotaging "The Cavalry Kids" candy sales, and the entire "bad boy" contest.

Maybe I'll raise my grade to a B- for now, as the point of the episode seems a bit clearer.

[DotheBartman]

There was some distracting stuff (the Beatles), but I think otherwise this might just have been in the classic style of not making its message so clear. After all, at first glance "Itchy and Scratchy and Marge" seems to say "violent cartoons are bad" if nothing else, but on closer inspection it leaves things more open ended, and doesn't make it particularly clear what the message would be without the person watching really disecting it more then one normally would watching tv, or even more then us Simpsons geeks normally would when preparing to write a review. I myself thought it seemed a bit chaotic and strange, but hey, that might've been the point.

[Ryan]

Did anyone notice that they got South Park's episode count wrong (42 episodes instead of 103 episodes), like how South Park got Simpsons' episode count (132 episodes instead of 278 [or something like that] episodes, at the time) last year?

And how Marge made a reversal from "Homer Defined" (saying Milhouse is a bad influence on Bart, instead of Luann saying Bart is a bad influence on Milhouse)?

Oh, and how out of character and cruel Ned was? HE even admits the Beatles were bigger than jesus. I bet the real Ned wouldn't say that.

Overall, the episode was...meh. Very meh. The tribute to Canada was hilarious, but WTF was with the riot?? Milhouse beating up Bart??? 3/5...just very meh...

[Channel Surfer]

Originally posted by DotheBartman
There was some distracting stuff (the Beatles), but I think otherwise this might just have been in the classic style of not making its message so clear. After all, at first glance "Itchy and Scratchy and Marge" seems to say "violent cartoons are bad" if nothing else, but on closer inspection it leaves things more open ended, and doesn't make it particularly clear what the message would be without the person watching really disecting it more then one normally would watching tv, or even more then us Simpsons geeks normally would when preparing to write a review. I myself thought it seemed a bit chaotic and strange, but hey, that might've been the point

Well, that's the reason I come here. To find new ways to appreciate "Simpsons" episodes. Not additional reasons to hate them.

[Simpson Purist]

I don't think subtle satire can be used to explain Otto's "show me your boobs" line. I can see the rest of your points, right now my score stands at 7/10