Johnny Unusual
(He/Him)
The Bart of War
When I was a kid, I spent a lot of time by myself. My parents did try to get me into clubs every so often but I was always happier doing my own thing. But I often see kids go into clubs. Kids who are often wild and find strength and control within the structure. And organizing that is tough. Right now, I'm looking after kids from grade 2-5 and while they are generally good, it is hard to control their focus. Some are sensitive, some are suspicious and perceive other kids are always against them. It's a formative time and it's good to have a good outlet and a guiding hand... and it's a little bit worrisome when it is being done wrong.
After Bart and Milhouse cause trouble in Flanders' house, Marge and Homer decide Bart needs an activity to keep him out of trouble. They choose the Pre-Teen Braves, a youth group focused on bettering the community. Bart likes it at first but soon they find a rival in the Cavalry Kids, the youth group Milhouse joined. The two end up competing for attention in terms of altruism, which comes to a head during a candy bar sale for charity. After a prank war, the Cavalry Kids win and get to sing the national anthem at a baseball game. After another prank, the Pre-Teen Braves take their place in order to humiliate the Kids, which results in a fight where everyone at the game is drawn into. On the big screen, Marge cries over the chaos, inspiring everyone to get together and sing the national anthem of Canada.
Whew, OK, let's get this out of the way... this one aged bad. In fact, I think it was ill-considered even in the time it aired. Because the episode is filled with some pretty unfortunate appropriation of Indigenous culture in the Pre-Teen Braves. Like, so much of it. Now, I shouldn't be surprised... it took forever for some of the more offensive sports team names to get changed and without looking it up, am very confident a lot of major teams still have some racist mascots and team names left over. But the episode knows enough to have Apu point this out, which... boy, this episode aged weird all over, didn't it. And seeing so much imagery can't help but colour a lot of my opinion of this episode.
But beyond that is a merely so-so episode to begin with. There might be something in here about the toxic nature of tribalism and how it can creep in anywhere, but beyond that, it's a pretty shallow story. Part of it feels like it is the plot itself isn't taking shortcuts, any reason it be invested in what happens isn't properly provided. It's another one where it feels like the point is the jokes and there isn't much more depth than that, which leads to a forgettable episode that has the misfortunate of it's ill-considered imagery and use of another indigenous character voiced by a white guy.
Seriously, the Indigenous stuff is supposed to be much more window dressing but it takes up a lot of room. And also, Lisa doesn't seem to have a problem with this? Considering that she's barely in this one, you'd think she'd be the one to point out it's kind of fucked up. I mean, the last time I think of such appropriation is Parasite where the point is "The fact that this rich kid is making this cultural appropriation a hobby and a game is FUCKED UP!" The Simpsons might put a hat on it but it doesn't stop them from doing it itself. This really wasn't going to be a thing I was going to talk so much about but the show didn't think to give the rest of the episode enough for me to work with.
Other great jokes:
"We're going to watch a show about the everyday problems of angels."
"Now back to Good Heavens."
"Jesus called today."
"HE DID!?"
Best joke in the episode hands down.
"I wish I could fly. Then I'd be the most popular kid in school."
"Knowing you, you'd mess it up somehow."
"I wish we could see their happy faces."
"Sin of pride, Roddy."
"Sorry, Daddy."
"Sin of regret."
"Dad, maybe you could lead Bart's tribe."
"You mean like some sort of madman?"
"Ideally, no but---"
"I'll do it!"
"I've already got the perfect headline: 'Activity participated in by some'."
When I was a kid, I spent a lot of time by myself. My parents did try to get me into clubs every so often but I was always happier doing my own thing. But I often see kids go into clubs. Kids who are often wild and find strength and control within the structure. And organizing that is tough. Right now, I'm looking after kids from grade 2-5 and while they are generally good, it is hard to control their focus. Some are sensitive, some are suspicious and perceive other kids are always against them. It's a formative time and it's good to have a good outlet and a guiding hand... and it's a little bit worrisome when it is being done wrong.
After Bart and Milhouse cause trouble in Flanders' house, Marge and Homer decide Bart needs an activity to keep him out of trouble. They choose the Pre-Teen Braves, a youth group focused on bettering the community. Bart likes it at first but soon they find a rival in the Cavalry Kids, the youth group Milhouse joined. The two end up competing for attention in terms of altruism, which comes to a head during a candy bar sale for charity. After a prank war, the Cavalry Kids win and get to sing the national anthem at a baseball game. After another prank, the Pre-Teen Braves take their place in order to humiliate the Kids, which results in a fight where everyone at the game is drawn into. On the big screen, Marge cries over the chaos, inspiring everyone to get together and sing the national anthem of Canada.
Whew, OK, let's get this out of the way... this one aged bad. In fact, I think it was ill-considered even in the time it aired. Because the episode is filled with some pretty unfortunate appropriation of Indigenous culture in the Pre-Teen Braves. Like, so much of it. Now, I shouldn't be surprised... it took forever for some of the more offensive sports team names to get changed and without looking it up, am very confident a lot of major teams still have some racist mascots and team names left over. But the episode knows enough to have Apu point this out, which... boy, this episode aged weird all over, didn't it. And seeing so much imagery can't help but colour a lot of my opinion of this episode.
But beyond that is a merely so-so episode to begin with. There might be something in here about the toxic nature of tribalism and how it can creep in anywhere, but beyond that, it's a pretty shallow story. Part of it feels like it is the plot itself isn't taking shortcuts, any reason it be invested in what happens isn't properly provided. It's another one where it feels like the point is the jokes and there isn't much more depth than that, which leads to a forgettable episode that has the misfortunate of it's ill-considered imagery and use of another indigenous character voiced by a white guy.
Seriously, the Indigenous stuff is supposed to be much more window dressing but it takes up a lot of room. And also, Lisa doesn't seem to have a problem with this? Considering that she's barely in this one, you'd think she'd be the one to point out it's kind of fucked up. I mean, the last time I think of such appropriation is Parasite where the point is "The fact that this rich kid is making this cultural appropriation a hobby and a game is FUCKED UP!" The Simpsons might put a hat on it but it doesn't stop them from doing it itself. This really wasn't going to be a thing I was going to talk so much about but the show didn't think to give the rest of the episode enough for me to work with.
Other great jokes:
"We're going to watch a show about the everyday problems of angels."
"Now back to Good Heavens."
"Jesus called today."
"HE DID!?"
Best joke in the episode hands down.
"I wish I could fly. Then I'd be the most popular kid in school."
"Knowing you, you'd mess it up somehow."
"I wish we could see their happy faces."
"Sin of pride, Roddy."
"Sorry, Daddy."
"Sin of regret."
"Dad, maybe you could lead Bart's tribe."
"You mean like some sort of madman?"
"Ideally, no but---"
"I'll do it!"
"I've already got the perfect headline: 'Activity participated in by some'."