The Simpsons Tries to Clear Up Springfield and Its Personal Checkered Historical past

Plotwise, the episode is extraordinarily predictable, but there are some stunning twists of logic. It is smart that Kirk would flip right into a fascist dictator of public data. His household was on the unsuitable aspect of historical past, beneath it, if we’re being literal. Buried beneath the load of Springfield’s Nice Gazebo Tragedy, as his great-great-grandfather’s final act as mayor of the city. His final phrases had been “my unhealthy.” Kirk goes with the city’s motto, “A noble spirit embiggens the smallest man.” He has been solid because the perennial loser, one thing he’s going to cross on to Milhouse. It is smart he desires to bury data personally damaging to him, and to go mad with native energy within the course of.

Much less probably, and extra horrifying, is the logic that saves the day. This was foretold within the season six episode, “Bart’s Comet,” when Homer’s preliminary prediction, that the apocalyptic ball of fireside hurtling towards the city would dissipate within the ambiance, seems to be true. He’s as scared as his youngsters at his right evaluation, so when he champions science as an unyielding pressure of data through the schooling dystopia, we should always all be afraid.

In fact, essentially the most fearful needs to be Principal Skinner, as a result of his standoff with Nelson Muntz, talking fact to energy, is a small second of suspenseful comedian mastery. Superintendent Chalmers, nonetheless, wins no factors on this installment. His file of demeaning uneasiness within the halls of schooling is assured. That is the man who was appalled in any respect the “ugly, ugly, kids” enrolling at Springfield Elementary. He now pushes Kirk to the purpose of no return. The one downside is, he’s really proper, and the small act of loyalty to Mayor Quimby is strictly the form of slippery slope that topples gazebos.

Homer’s subplot of “milking the fad field out of the pink hat crowd” feeds nicely into the primary motion, not solely propelling it, however giving it that magnetic power Shaquille O’Neal brings to his each endeavor. The sequence the place The Simpsons takes a have a look at its personal checkered historical past, from the Monorail to Woman Gaga’s go to, and together with Homer’s earlier confusion over his precise age, is a enjoyable giggle on the present itself, and a reminder to not cover from catastrophe, however embrace it. The episode subverts this. Kerry Washington visitor stars as Rayshelle Peyton, an academic spokesman compelled to ponder: “When you can’t be ashamed of the previous, how are you going to be ashamed of the long run?” Kirk’s new educating plan guarantees “historical past is sanitized in your safety.”

There may be loads of propaganda to go round. Homer’s T-shirts have some very catchy slogans, like “Forgetting is a Privilege,” and Lisa’s response is totally in line with her long-held requirements. She’s towards it, however will get misplaced within the fantastic print. Homer’s greatest line just isn’t on his copper-infused inside outerwear, “Homeschooling, each half-assed dad or mum’s nightmare.” It’s one thing not taught in public colleges. Kirk is at his greatest when he tells gathered media how he’s being silenced, and divulges Hans Moleman to be a disaster actor. That is new characterization for Kirk Van Houten, considerably at odds with the pathetic loser nook he’s been painted into, nevertheless it received’t be a everlasting change.