4 things before we start:
- First of all, this is my favourite episode in the series of what I've watched. BEST. EPISODE. EVER. (Comic Book Guy reference)
- Second of all, since this is my favourite episode, the summary will be longer and have more pictures!
- Thirdly, this is also the finale of season 7, therefore, I'll review Season 21 after this.
- Lastly, here's a picture if Lisa, Erin, and 2 other new friends I'll mention later on in the story.
On the last day of school, Lisa (and Nelson) hand out yearbooks to everyone, but when she shares her yearbook for autographs, she gets none and feels upset.
Bart has a yearbook signing station and Becky gets her yearbook signed by him.
Bart has a yearbook signing station and Becky gets her yearbook signed by him.
Meanwhile, Ned Flanders offers the Simpson family the use of his beach house over the summer. Marge likes the idea and suggests that Bart should bring Milhouse and that Lisa should bring a friend too.
However, Lisa has no friends to bring and decides to change herself, so she brings an empty suitcase.
When they reach the beach house, Lisa tells Marge that she forgot to pack, so they go shopping for new clothes.
When Marge offers her childish clothes, Lisa buys a new set of clothes that she believes will make her look "cool", and goes to look for some cool kids.
They go to the library, introduce themselves, and become friends. But Bart spies on them and attempts to steal Lisa's friends, but fails to.
In the night, while Bart complains of playing a stupid board game in the night, Lisa and her friends go to the beach and look at crabs.
The next day, because of their vacationing there during Independence Day week, Homer buys illegal fireworks at the Li'l Valu-Mart to celebrate the holiday.
But back at the beach house, Homer didn't have any matches and lights the firework in the dishwasher. Marge has to clean it up.
Lisa and Erin become seriously close friends after they trade off a friendship bracelet and a homemade necklace.
Bart continuously becomes jealous of the attention Lisa is getting (she even stole some of his catchphrases) and attempts to ruin her friendship with them by showing them Lisa's accolades in her yearbook.
While Lisa is getting a trampoline toss by Erin and the boys, Bart shows them Lisa's accolades, and they stop the tossing, shocked of what just happened.
Lisa cries and runs away.
The following morning, THIS happens.
Then Marge mentions that there is a carnival tonight, where Bart and Lisa continue to fight over the previous night's events.
Finally having had enough of her brother's torment, Lisa sadly walks back to the beach house and Bart feels guilty for his behavior.
Once she arrives, she discovers her friends have decorated the family car with seashells.
(This was big on purpose)
When Lisa asks why they would do such a thing for her, they let her know that her yearbook reputation doesn't matter. To them, she's still a great person.
Homer walks out and sees the new decorations on his car, and exclaims "Sweet merciful crap! My car!"
Bart returns Lisa's yearbook. He reveals to her that before they left he showed it to her new friends, who all signed little messages inside.
Lisa smiles and thanks Bart for the kind gesture, as the Simpsons head home.
My thoughts:
How many times have I watched it: At least 15 times, I first watched this back in 2013 when Global aired old Simpsons episodes back before on Saturdays and Sundays.
Storyline: I've LOVE this episode. Lisa's plight is one that attracts sympathy (or empathy, as the case may be) and is very well played out with the right mix of laughs, emotion and to an extent, social commentary. Great stuff from all the characters with Lisa obviously being the main character, but the Homer/Ned "bargaining" was great, excellent "Marge is out of touch with what's cool" stuff and Milhouse nicely fulfilled the role of comic foil. Bart was a bit mean-spirited but it made sense in the context of the episode due to his jealousy and the sibling rivalry with Lisa. I loved the guest star Erin, when she was with Lisa trading the necklace and the bracelet. That was very touching. Also was the trampoline toss.
The jokes were amazing. From Homer's "hot potato" with the firework, to Lisa's iconic "Like you know, whatever", to the board game (Homer's priceless reaction with Milhouse's lookalike in a board game, then he said "Stand up for yourself poindexter!" I thought TeeJay's ZayMart was pretty good, Homer's 4th of July line of "celebrate your country's idependence by blowing up a small part of it", Homer picking up Lisa's light suitcase ("well, I have been eating more")... everything Homer did was funny. The kid's dialogue is pretty good too. "Well it beats doin' stuff." "Yeah, stuff sucks." And then in her yearbook one kid rights "Like I like you." EVERY MAIN CHARACTER IN THIS EPISODE WAS FRICKIN' FUNNY AT LEAST ONCE IN THE STORY. Enough said.Overall, this was the best story ever on The Simpsons.
My grade: A++
PS- no other episode is going to get A++
Which one was dean??
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