Summary
I always hat an otherwise well - regarded sequence ofThe Simpsonsfor mark two of the show ’s most important heroes against each other . Sibling rivalry is a very literal phenomenon and , since conflict is at the core of comedy and drama alike , it makes sense for sitcom siblings to drop years at each other ’s pharynx . Sincethe Simpsons never age , it would be understandable if Bart and Lisa had spend the last 35 years forever fight for outer space in their nonadaptive folk . However , althoughThe Simpsonsseason 36may change this , the show has n’t historically tilt into their contention .
Bart and Lisa have fought plenty of times , and often with good reason . As anyone with sibling can manifest , Bart ’s immature pranks and Lisa ’s smug superiority complex are both somewhat recognisable from puerility . Despite this , Bart and Lisa ’s dynamic was never defined by hateful - mettlesome opposition . The dyad is more similar to the Belcher sibling ofBob ’s Burgers , often arrange aside their differences to get one over on parents or teachers . This is why one otherwise acclaimed outing from theGolden Age ofThe Simpsonsnever sat right with me and has only grown more litigious as the years went by .
The Simpsons Season 8 Episode 17 Betrayed Bart and Lisa’s Relationship
The Simpsons Siblings Truly Hated Each Other In This Episode
In time of year 8 , episode 17 , “ My Sister , My Sitter , ” Lisa ’s burgeoning baby sitting commercial enterprise is give a major hike when she successfully cares for Rod and Todd despite her relative youth . Lisa ’s babysitting abilities are pushed past their limitation when she is enquire to give care for Bart , who is outraged by the implication that his younger sister is more responsible than him . needs , Bart counters this affront by bombarding Lisa with increasingly cockeyed pranks that soon get out of script . Eventually , the episode ’s proceedings take a obscure number that never made sentiency to me as a longsighted - time viewer .
As far as I ’m concerned , Bart by choice causing himself a severe promontory injury just to wound Lisa for being left in charge betrays his essentially good nature . AlthoughThe Simpsonsseason 35 finale proved Bartisn’t altogether stable , the nasty savagery of his ego - bring down concussion jolt with the tone of the series . At this stage in the outing , Bart already has a slip shoulder from a frustrated Lisa pushing him down the step . Solely to disbelieve Lisa ’s baby sitting , he barricades himself into a elbow room and repeatedly runs into a rampart . The subsequent combat injury exit him unconscious for hour .
Lisa and Bart Usually Work Together In The Simpsons
The Siblings Shared Some Classic Sweet Moments
Bart and Lisa ( and , on function , Maggie ) repulse each other demented , but they also always had each other ’s rear .
For most of the show ’s Golden Age , The Simpsonsillustrated what I thought was an natural truth about mature up with siblings . Bart and Lisa ( and , on affair , Maggie ) drive each other crazy , but they also always had each other ’s backs . liken to the schmaltzy , moolah - coat family lives inThe Cosby Show , Full House , orThe Brady Bunch , the Simpson kids had a more recognizably real kinship . However , “ My Sister , My Sitter ” take the show ’s cynicism too far , lead in an excursion that felt more mean - bouncy and glib than mostSouth ParkorFamily Guyepisodes .
I always think Lisa and Bart would look out for each other . For all ofthe bad habitsThe Simpsonshas , the show has been logical in its portrayal of Bart and Lisa as reluctant friends and mismatched co - plotter . Season 3 , episode 18 , " Separate Vocations , ” saw Bart take the fall for Lisa ’s rebellion to assure that her reputation was n’t damage . In season 6 , episode 8 , “ Lisa On Ice , ” the duo throw a life-sustaining hockey game since their rivalry was driving them asunder . In time of year 6 , episode 22 , “ Round Springfield , ” Bart pass $ 500 on a Bleeding Gums Murphy criminal record for Lisa .
Why Bart and Lisa’s Season 8 Episode 17 Rivalry Didn’t Work
This Episode’s Central Conflict Was Too Mean-spirited
This instalment add an element of straight-out disdain and antipathy to the duo ’s dynamic that never really rang true .
There are mass of other examples of both Simpson children helping each other out , meaning“My Sister , My Sitter “ is a wakeless betrayal of Lisa and Bart ’s friendship . The Simpsonsdoesn’t postulate to make puerility out to be a fairy story of invariant cooperation , specially when much of the show ’s original solicitation came from its subversion of schmaltzy family sitcom convention . That said , this sequence tote up an element of outright disdain and antipathy to the duet ’s dynamic that never really rang dependable . I feel like the series forget Bart and Lisa ’s adhesion in the picnic , replace it with genuine hatred .
Like many of the show ’s weaker episodes , “ My Sister , My Sitter ” feel like it did n’t care about its discrepant portrayal of the show ’s Heron . In this heed , the excursion helped herald the remainder of the show ’s Golden Age . AlthoughThe Simpsonsseason 35 ’s good character reference arcdid improve the show ’s decisive receipt , the serial still peaked decades ago . Among the large crusade of its decline was a drawing string of seasons that betray the original characterization of the show ’s Hero . Homer became meaner and more ill-chosen , Lisa became far smarter and less democratic , and Bart became markedly less intelligent .
The Simpsons Revisited This Story In Later Seasons
Worse Episodes Of The Show Pitted Bart Against Lisa
time of year 16 , installment 11 , “ On a Clear Day I Ca n’t See My Sister , ” pitted Bart and Lisa against each other for an even more bitter and drawn - out conflict .
AsThe Simpsonsexaggerated the delimit characteristic of its heroes or , in Bart ’s case , change these character trait solely , the show revisited the plot of “ My Sister , My Sitter ” less successfully . Most infamously , time of year 16 , episode 11 , “ On a Clear 24-hour interval I Ca n’t See My Sister , ” play off Bart and Lisa against each other for an even more bitter and drawn - out conflict . Since the episode vent so long after the end of the show ’s Golden Age , unlike “ My Sister , My Sitter , ” the outing was n’t even particularly funny or well - indite to make up for the unpleasant moral force between Bart and Lisa .
Much likeHomer ’s mysterious deteriorate intelligencemade him less relatable , I could n’t see anything recognizable in Lisa have a restraining ordination against Bart . By this percentage point , The Simpsonshad given up on saying anything relatable about sibling rivalry and was more concerned in maximize difference . “ On a Clear Day I Ca n’t See My Sister ” is the weak sequence since it never even got a grin from me , but the seeds of its issues were sown in “ My Sister , My Sitter . ” With this Golden Age outing , I realizedThe Simpsonsdidn’t really care about even the show ’s most important characters .
