Rate & Review: Double, Double, Boy in Trouble (KABF14)

[Van]

I didn't find anything truly awful about it but it wasn't all that exciting either. Bart was terrifically annoying in the first act but Lenny's singing was way too long, just like the McMansions gag. I also liked Burns's role but really could have done without the Smithers bit. Also the way Simon's half siblings are so blantantly obvious in their efforts to eliminate him (Bart) turned out quite funny. Homer and Bart going down the hill was too long and it ended really abruptly so ... yeah... 3/5

[Gatorgod]

This ep gave me one thing I look forward to. A good Bart/Lisa Battle!
If their was ever a poll made for such a thing, I'd nominate this one for one of the best tussles in awhile. well animated, was very kid like, not over the top action or simple pushing & shoving.
This throw down rocked!! ..If there was a better one, I'd like to hear it!

[JaceFurse]

Alright, finally managed to watch the full episode! Thank you *cough* "magical ways" *cough*! xD

Here's my verdict on "Double, Double, Boy in Trouble":

First act

Surprised to see Homer and Lisa's bits in the opening credits have returned, I almost forgot what those looked like! Lazy chalkboard gag though, but the couch gag more than makes up for that!

Nice to see Apu again, his appearances at the beginning of this episode are great. Although, "Tales from the Kwik-E-Mart"? I compared this episode's story to one Simpsons Comic story already and there's an accidental (or maybe it's not, he was holding a comic, you tell me ) reference to a Treehouse of Horror comic story of the same name? Wow...

Story's a little drab so far, Bart was messing around and Homer got distracted from buying a scratchcard that Lenny then retrieved and immediately won $50,000 from and Homer's feeling upset over it. Could get better, however! At least there's a few gags that are a little funny so far.

The entrance of this nerdier Bart was delivered in a pretty predictable way. In the sense that you knew it was coming because a certain line triggered it, hmmm... The much older Bart is a very good odd gag though so it makes up for that!

Second act

Starts off pretty well actually! I love the Mac Mansion scene... xD Okay, the cameo from that American Football player was a little dumb but I guess the fickle thing about the Simpsons now is no matter how great an episode is, there always has to be an annoying celebrity cameo and it usually never fits in with anything but for marquee value. Very nice twist on the story when Burns gives Bart (as Woosterfield) a talk, now it's not as unoriginal as I thought!

Third act

Wow, the animated shots in the background of Aspen as Lisa pokes her head out of the car are beautiful! Don't know if anybody noticed these shots but they were from roughly 18:50-18:52.

 Aaaaand thank the lord for Homer and the progressing snowball! Though wait, isn't this carrying off the "Homer Ball" concept somewhat from The Simpsons Game? Heh, maybe it's so late in the night here I keep making these comparisons I guess... xD 

Overall verdict

Not actually as bad as expected, but certinely not the best by all means. The plot's a slight bit all over the place but the best gags in the episode are definitely those of good quality so I guess this qualifies this as at least a decent episode or half-decent at least. Though it's definitely not the sort I'd replay over and over again just yet.

3/5

Best gag: The Mac Mansion scene...or How Bart Became Bad.

[:FD:Mario]

i really liked this episode it was good 4/5!!!!

[dapper dan]

The 5/5 option on the poll should have read:

"I asked for the double, but they gave me the double double double double"

[Van]

The 5/5 option on the poll should have read:

"I asked for the double, but they gave me the double double double double"

Don't you mean "I asked for the double double, but they gave me the double double double double"

[Generic]

For the most part I enjoyed it but some jokes dragged on too long (notably the McMansion bit and Marge singing) and the plot would have been better if it further explored the contrasting experiences of Bart and Simon rather than simply throwing Bart into a perilous situation with Simon's half-siblings trying to kill him, leading to the inevitable action sequence that I didn't hate but was a bit silly. 4/5

[Itchy]

This idea of Bart and a rich look-a-like switching places had already been used in the Simpsons comics, and before that in a bunch of sitcoms, movies and other media. So pretty unoriginal plot and not that much of a impressive episode.
I loved the adult Bart marrying a female version of Milhouse though. Not sure why, but I found that hilarious.

[moonwalker69]

4/5. I don't know why there's so much negativity because I thought this was a terrific episode. Bit rushed towards the end but I really enjoyed this episode, very reminiscent of The Parent Trap and just a nice story about the family, good shift in tone.

-Homer was actually very funny and genuine - more calmer voice tone from Dan (which I prefer)
-McMansion section
-Lenny shouting a Party for his friends
-Bart being Bart and the mansion was pretty cool
-Adult Bart marrying a female version of Milhouse
-Moleman
-Mr Burns
-Some very rich animation
-Actual family stuff (family dinner, Lenny's party, Bart being tucked into bed etc)
-The ending was great - I'm loving the genuine (not too sappy) heartfelt endings so far this season

There were other great bits that I really liked so I'll have to re-watch it. Keep up the good season!

[Cartoonnetwork]

4/5. I don't know why there's so much negativity because I thought this was a terrific episode. Bit rushed towards the end but I really enjoyed this episode, very reminiscent of [I]The Parent Trap

And that's a good thing...

[UncieHerb]

imo it was somewhat of a decent episode. Some hilarious moments, but the rest got stale quickly. Gotta love the Marge/alcohol segment. 3/5.

[The Southern Dandy]

This is the first full new episode I've made it through since "The Boys of Bummer"...kind of. I got bored, flipped channels, and missed most of middle portion, including the entire Joe Montana guest spot. What I did see reminded me a lot of "The Simpsons Movie". A couple of okay lines and visual gags good for a chuckle ("Future Bart", Older Bart's wallet photo, and the evil siblings paying off Burnsie's potato line, which was probably the best gag in the episode) and some decent sentimentality (appreciated it ending on an emotional note that wasn't overdone) but way too many jokes that were dragged out for too long, which are like dead air on a radio show or watching a stand-up comic screw up (particularly the singing parts).

[IM A BRICK]

You guys are crazy with your negative posts. Good episode, funny and not a crazy plot.
Good use of secondary characters. They are finally using down to earth plots about the family like every one was asking for. I voted 4 but after viewing a second time I would give it a 5. this board is becoming very lame and hyper critical. Also only ever read about 1 or 2 comics, so complaining that the comic did better or first is just a Fanboy complaint. As you hear on the DVD commentary's the people who make the show never watch the show and I am sure NEVER read the comics or intentionally steal from them.

What happened No Homers you used to be cool.

[Mr Johannson]

A rather dull episode this week. Nothing terrible, but not great either.
I enjoyed the "adult Bart" and his wife gag, the Joe Montana spot and Marge accidentally consuming a drop of alcohol while pregnant with Bart. It was good to see Apu and Burns making an appearance, though the teeter-totter gag was unnecessary.
Lenny's voice seemed a bit off to me, and was even worse with his singing. Marge's singing wasn't good either.

3/5

[Rowdy Roddy Peeper]

You guys are crazy with your negative posts. Good episode, funny and not a crazy plot.

Yeah, because i always switch places with someone who looks and sounds exactly like me, then find out his siblings are trying to kill me in a skiing trip in Aspen, thankfully like the episode, my father saves me by becoming a giant snowball and falling down a mountain with me. Definately not a crazy plot.

By the way, i was being sarcastic.

[Dark Homer]

well, duh

[HappyPalooza]

Pretty awesome.

4/5

[IM A BRICK]

Yeah, because i always switch places with someone who looks and sounds exactly like me, then find out his siblings are trying to kill me in a skiing trip in Aspen, thankfully like the episode, my father saves me by becoming a giant snowball and falling down a mountain with me. Definately not a crazy plot.

By the way, i was being sarcastic.

It's a clasic story done a million times, i.e. Man in the Iron Mask.
So the Simpsons made it their own/funny.

[Disgruntled Goat]

OMG this is the first time I've posted in one of these threads since Season 18! I've enjoyed the first three episodes of this Season.

The beginning went on a bit too long, which meant the ending was almost non-existent. Would have loved to see some explanation of why Simon went back to the people scheming to kill him. They should have had a scene where his siblings killed each other or Bart had taught him how to get back at them or something.

Ironically, a funnier ending would have worked better than "this is the life". The episode wasn't particularly emotional, no need for an emotional ending.

Anyway I really thought this episode was a step up from the last couple years. There were loads of small touches I loved: Bart on the air hockey table when on the phone, the phrase "upper lower middle class" (reused from The Springfield Connection I believe), Grampa's stories, Bart putting a fish tank in his suitcase, the "champagne-oes"...

[Disgruntled Goat]

Did anyone notice when Milhouse was talking to Bart on the phone, if you look at the family portait in the background, it shows Kirk's face cut out and pasted on over someone else. I thought that was a funny background gag and considering it is following the continuity of him getting back together with Luanne.

I just looked and it's Kirk's face pasted over Kirk's body! No one else wears the same burgundy sweater. So the joke must be that Chase got pasted over Kirk originally, then Kirk pasted back on top when they got back together. Clever stuff, there's not nearly enough of that these days (that I've noticed).

[dapper dan]

Don't you mean "I asked for the double double, but they gave me the double double double double"

yeah, that.

What happened No Homers you used to be cool.

No, it didn't. The kid in the episode from where the NHC gets its name (the one that sticks his head out the window and says to little Homer, "It says No Hom-ers. We're allowed to have one"), pretty much personifies the average poster here.

And that includes all those "look at me I like indie music and watch arthouse movies, how different am I?" people over in AV.

[The Southern Dandy]

And that includes all those "look at me I like indie music and watch arthouse movies, how different am I?" people over in AV.

Well-played. I agree about Lenny's voice. I was disturbed by how weird it sounded in this episode. I also wish they hadn't used "Thank You For Being A Friend" so irritatingly. It's one of my favourite TV show theme songs...right up there with "Happy Days". It has such nice lyrics, I just wish someone would make a kick-ass rock version (as has been done with "Happy Days") because the music of the original is cheesy.

[Ramier Wolfcastle]

What the hell? Whenever I hate an episode, everyone else likes it, and when I like an episode, everyone else hates it.

Honestly, everyone is entitled to their own opinions, and I believe that this episode deserves a 5/5. I found nothing wrong with it, and my only complaint is that the ending was a bit rushed. They go to Aspen and Homer rolls around like a snowball, catching Bart, and it cuts to the Bart double and the real Bart switching back to their original lives. The ending with Bart and Marge was nice, though.

Bring on Treehouse of Horror XIX!!!

[lionelhutz123]

What the hell? Whenever I hate an episode, everyone else likes it, and when I like an episode, everyone else hates it.

Honestly, everyone is entitled to their own opinions, and I believe that this episode deserves a 5/5. I found nothing wrong with it, and my only complaint is that the ending was a bit rushed. They go to Aspen and Homer rolls around like a snowball, catching Bart, and it cuts to the Bart double and the real Bart switching back to their original lives. The ending with Bart and Marge was nice, though.

Bring on Treehouse of Horror XIX!!!

So you liked Bart's baby-like characterization in Act 1?

[Capt Hammer]

So you liked Bart's baby-like characterization in Act 1?

He Wasn't Being a baby,
Even if the shows been around for 20 years you have to remember he is a 10 year old boy.

[lionelhutz123]

He Wasn't Being a baby,
Even if the shows been around for 20 years you have to remember he is a 10 year old boy.

Yeah, but it's a more childish Bart characterization. He used to be this cool, clever character that messed around with Homer, pulled pranks, and like you said, acted like his bad-ass ten year old self. In this episode we see him mindlessly running around the kwike-mart like a loose toddler for no reason and threatening to pick his nose after being told to stop. That's not the Bart I know after watching this show after all these years. It was pretty irritating to watch because it isn't the type of ten year old he is. They portrayed his character very poorly in that first act. I mean besides the vaccum prank he did. I don't know, maybe I'm just getting old.

[Dave Shutton]

I really didn't notice any of that. He was just acting like an annoying little kid like he always has.

[RoyScorpio]

I enjoyed it 4/5.

[Whip-Smart]

It was enjoyable with few nice gags sprinkled about, but the story was pretty dull. 2/5

[Ramier Wolfcastle]

So you liked Bart's baby-like characterization in Act 1?

I don't think Bart was acting like a baby, but he was acting in a mischievous way, which seemed likely of him. His behavior in Act 1 was similar to that seen in Act 1 of Brother's Little Helper (which I recently saw, thanks to the Season 11 DVDs finally being released).