Bart of Darkness

Season 6, Episode 1, Aired
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Episode Summary

It is really hot and the Simpson family does not have air conditioning. They try to live in a tent beside the refrigerator, but that does not work. Otto drives by with a traveling swimming pool. This gives Bart and Lisa the idea to hound Homer for a pool which they relentlessly do until he caves in and buys them one. All the kids in the neighborhood come by to use it. Bart tries to jump from his tree house into the pool, but winds up breaking his leg. He will have to spend the rest of the summer in a cast, so there will be no more swimming for him. He watches as Lisa becomes incredibly popular. Bart finds himself a new hobby by spying on the neighborhood with Lisa's telescope. While looking out the "Rear Window" of the house, Bart thinks he's seen Flanders commit a murder. He gets Lisa to break into Flanders' house and look for clues. He watches as Flanders returns home with an axe. He goes to help her, broken leg and all. Then Flanders tells them that Maude has been away at bible camp, but now she is back.moreless
9.1
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EPISODE RATING: Superb
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Fan Episode Reviews (13)

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  • perfect

    10
    "Perfect"
    By futuramarama, Aug 19, 2011 Report Abuse
    what i liked- the guy singing at the beginning, the simpsons using a tent in the refrigerator (marge, can you set the oven to cold), nelson's epidermis line, the end to the episode with martin singing, ned's girlie scream, bart thinking ned killed maude, the mystery aspect, etc.
    good episode. of course ned wouldn't kill his wife, but it was still a fun episode to see why there was a scream and ned burying something. fun episode, and so i give thee a grade of an A+moreless

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  • Great Episode.

    9.5
    "Superb"
    By fenway98, Jun 19, 2010 Report Abuse
    It is extremely hot in Springfield, and the Simpsons don't have an air conditioner. They try sitting in a tent next to the fridge, and putting on fans, but they're still hot. Then, Otto drives by in the poolmobile. All of the kids swim in it, and when Otto drives off, Bart and Lisa beg Homer for a pool. Homer gives in, and soon the whole town is using The Simpson's pool. When Bart breaks his leg by jumping in the pool from a tree branch( but falling), he must stay inside all summer. Lisa lends Bart her telescope, and Bart begins spying on people. He overhears a shrill scream at Flander's house, and hears him say "I'm a murdeerer". Bart thinks that Ned killed Maude. When Ned is out, Bart sends Lisa to search around his house for evidence. When Ned comes back, he explains that Maude was away at Bible Camp. And that he killed a houseplant.

    This is a great episode. I loved when Martin wore 17 bathing suits, but still gets pantsed. I also love Jimbo's line:"Um.. hello Mrs.. Bart."

    Overall, a great episode from a great season.

    Overall Grade: A/95%moreless

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  • this was a good ep

    8.5
    "Great"
    By cube2k8, May 18, 2010 Report Abuse
    in this ep of the simpsons show homer installes a pool during a very hot summer in springfield in the simpsons backyard bart attempts to do a really cool dive but breaks his leag and while the other kids are using the pool and he cant bart sees something that he thinks is murder like the movie rearwindow. and in this one he sse what he thinks is maud flaners when ned is buring something and he tries to get lisa to help him by sneeking in neds house but thing is ned was just buring his wifes favorite plant this was a good ep to start the sixth season of the simpsonsmoreless

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  • Watchers

    9.5
    "Superb"
    By sh811a, Feb 11, 2010 Report Abuse
    Simpsons always knows how to do parodies right and this is one of their best on one of my top ten favorate suspense thrillers "Rear Window". And on a sidenote at the time I watched this episode I didn't even know or see the movie at the time.

    The subplot with the pool is not important, there really isn't much to say about that part. So, I'm just going to get to what's important. What I love is that this episode maintains a great balance in both comidy and suspense.

    From some of the first minutes seeing Bart's life with the cast we see that he is cronically bored, which makes him a bit sympathtic, let alone the fact most people are being jackasses toward him. Though the boredom did work to his advantage as Lisa discovers Bart is currently writing a play, too bad we never got to see an episode of what that play was I wanted to know what it was about.

    But Lisa gives him her telescope, which helps a little if not much at first. I like how in the first moments there is that homage joke on the film "Rear Window" when Bart zeros in on a Jimmy Stewart look and sound alike doing the same thing as him. And then looks toward Ned Flanders house where something has happened, I like how their able to make some of the details that Bart saw seem like pieces of a puzzle, we know were seeing something and something did happen but we're not completely sure because certain other crucial info is blocked.

    What also makes this episode great is just the team dynamic going on between Bart and Lisa. Both of them truely do make a good team and it's something I don't see often in the show or at least not as much. Like in some espinashe thrillers both have roles, Bart is the suvelance man which Lisa is sort of the point woman. From they way they interact and what they do you really want both Bart and Lisa to win. I love the final conflict where we see Lisa is going on point to find and retrive the evidence to convict but then Bart and we see that she's in deep crap when Ned comes back and is closing in on her. Bart of course calls the police but knowing they won't come on time he then goes off survalence and goes on point to help her despite his limitation. I admire Bart more for his act it just goes to show he's got guts, not letting his limitation get in the way to save his sister. In a way it sort of reminded me of that scene in "Kill Bill" when Betrix Kiddo had atrophy on her legs but was still able to take action against a scumsucker. I'll admit though even though Bart was coming to Lisa's rescue it was strange that he didn't bring or get a weapon with him like a knive or bat, but oh well.

    The end result doesn't disapoint in fact made things all the more funnier. Think your neighborhood is safe, look closer.moreless

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  • A great parody of Rear Window surley a classic

    9.6
    "Superb"
    By Iverson82094, Jan 26, 2008 Report Abuse
    It is really hot and the Simpson family does not have air conditioning. They try to live in a tent beside the refrigerator, but that does not work. Otto drives by with a traveling swimming pool. This gives Bart and Lisa the idea to hound Homer for a pool which they relentlessly do until he caves in and buys them one. All the kids in the neighborhood come by to use it. Bart tries to jump from his tree house into the pool, but winds up breaking his leg. He will have to spend the rest of the summer in a cast, so there will be no more swimming for him. He watches as Lisa becomes incredibly popular. Bart finds himself a new hobby by spying on the neighborhood with Lisa's telescope. While looking out the "Rear Window" of the house, Bart thinks he's seen Flanders commit a murder. He gets Lisa to break into Flanders' house and look for clues. He watches as Flanders returns home with an axe. He goes to help her, broken leg and all. Then Flanders tells them that Maude has been away at bible camp, but now she is back.moreless

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    1 0
 

Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • Trivia

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    • The classic Krusty episode is dated February 6th, 1961. Edit

  • Notes

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    • Blackboard Joke: Beans are neither a fruit nor musical. Couch Gag: The family is sitting in midair when the couch runs in and assembles itself on top of them, making them collapse. Edit
    • Itchy & Scratchy: "Planet of the Aches" Itchy entombs Scratchy behind a brick wall for 3000 years. Future rats uncover him, bathe and clothe him, then put him in an arena and hurl knives at him through telekinesis. Edit

  • Quotes

    ADD QUOTES
    • Bart: But I saw the murder and then I saw you bury the corpse in the back yard! Ned: (crying) All right, it's true. I am a murderer! (everyone gasps) I over watered Maude's favorite ficus plant, I panicked, then I buried the remains. I was hoping to replace it before you got home. Bart: But I heard a woman scream. Ned: Oh? Well, now that I can't explain. Lou: (holding up plant) Found it, Chief. Ned: (screams like a woman) Bart: Oh. Well, I guess that explains everything. Homer: Not everything. There's still the little matter of the whereabouts of your wife. Maude: Um, I'm right here. Homer: (sarcastic) Oh, I see. Then everything is wrapped up in a neat little package. (everyone looks at him) Really, I mean that. Sorry if it sounded sarcastic. Edit
    • Bart: (watching Flanders) An ax. He's got an ax! I'll save you, Lisa! (tries to walk on his leg and falls back) Uh, I'll save you by calling the police. (dials 911) Voice: Hello, and welcome to the Springfield Police Department Resc-u-Fone. If you know the name of the felony being committed, press one. To choose from a list of felonies, press two. If you are being murdered or calling from a rotary phone, please stay on the line. Edit
    • Marge: Mmm, I wish you'd stop spreading bad rumors about people. Remember how you got Grampa tarred and feathered? Bart: Sure, that was twenty minutes ago. Edit

  • Allusions

    ADD ALLUSIONS
    • National Lampoon's Animal House The part in the beginning where the hippie sings "Sunshine on My Shoulder" and gets punched by a passerby is similar to a scene in National Lampoon's Animal House during the toga party where a hippie singer performs "The Riddle Song" and gets his guitar wrecked by Bluto (played by John Belushi). Edit
    • Star Trek The mice with the big brains from the Itchy & Scratchy cartoon are similar to the Talosians from the original pilot of the original Star Trek pilot episode "The Cage" and re-introduced in the first season episode "The Menagerie." Edit
    • Caddyshack The scene involving the kids do the syncronized swimming is a take off of a similar scene in the 1980 film Caddyshack. Both scenes have the same music. Edit

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