The Boy Who Knew Too Much is one of my favorite Simpson's episodes because of how brilliantly it works in quick witted jokes and relatively obscure movie references with a tongue and cheek satire of the American criminal justice system. To me it encapsulates the classic Simpson's formula executed to a T.
The premise of the episode is that Bart skips class and ends up attending Freddy Quimby's (the nephew of Mayor Quimby) birthday party, at which he witnesses an event that results in the trial of an innocent Freddy. Springfield elementary is depicted much like a dystopian prison, which to me was accurate to how I remembered my own schooling experience. Bart dreaming of playing hooky revealed a world of splendor, possibility, and pure American Huck-Finn-esq adventure. Of course the powers that be (in this case Principal Skinner) pursue Bart with an inhuman zeal leading to one of my favorite scenes where he wades effortless through a river, without swimming, a reference to the original Westworld film (which has a great trailer on YouTube under the account Cinema 85 if you are interested).
Bart has to choose between revealing that he skipped school, and thus incurring the wrath of Principle Skinner, and coming to the defense of an innocent albeit boorish man. The interplay between Skinner, Bart, and Lisa is hilarious. The interrogation scene of Lisa, and when Skinner inevitable has a heart to heart with Bart at the end of the episode, never fails to have me in stitches. But the real star of the episode is the courtroom scene. Lionel Hutz is just the best side character in the show (RIP Phil Hartman) and Homer ends up being the most egregiously terrible Juror imaginable. I once fell asleep on a jury during instructions and was reprimanded by the Judge whom said it could result in my expulsion, I have never related to Homer to such a degree before.
All and all this is a MUST WATCH, even if you're not a big Simpson's fan. Show it to your loved ones. And it's pronounced CHow-der.
The premise of the episode is that Bart skips class and ends up attending Freddy Quimby's (the nephew of Mayor Quimby) birthday party, at which he witnesses an event that results in the trial of an innocent Freddy. Springfield elementary is depicted much like a dystopian prison, which to me was accurate to how I remembered my own schooling experience. Bart dreaming of playing hooky revealed a world of splendor, possibility, and pure American Huck-Finn-esq adventure. Of course the powers that be (in this case Principal Skinner) pursue Bart with an inhuman zeal leading to one of my favorite scenes where he wades effortless through a river, without swimming, a reference to the original Westworld film (which has a great trailer on YouTube under the account Cinema 85 if you are interested).
Bart has to choose between revealing that he skipped school, and thus incurring the wrath of Principle Skinner, and coming to the defense of an innocent albeit boorish man. The interplay between Skinner, Bart, and Lisa is hilarious. The interrogation scene of Lisa, and when Skinner inevitable has a heart to heart with Bart at the end of the episode, never fails to have me in stitches. But the real star of the episode is the courtroom scene. Lionel Hutz is just the best side character in the show (RIP Phil Hartman) and Homer ends up being the most egregiously terrible Juror imaginable. I once fell asleep on a jury during instructions and was reprimanded by the Judge whom said it could result in my expulsion, I have never related to Homer to such a degree before.
All and all this is a MUST WATCH, even if you're not a big Simpson's fan. Show it to your loved ones. And it's pronounced CHow-der.