From Newsgroup: alt.tv.simpsons

Argh. Maybe it would be good to run with the logic that if there aren't
any more good flashback stories to tell, perhaps one shouldn't be told.
If one is, though, it ought to be better than ridiculous nonsense with
abysmal characterizations. Seriously, I get the idea of exaggerating
Homer's worse tendencies for an episode, but why does the first act or
so of this tale show past Homer not as well-meaning but inept, but as basically a sociopath? I really checked out with that. Too much, not
made up for by the end (and the steady flow of ungrounded nonsense).

Previous episode stuff
3F02: Bart using dino sponges for a prank (more successfully here)
9F08: Bart's clown bed makes an appropriately timed appearance (yet no attention is called to its possible contribution to his problems)
CABF22: Apparently Judge Harm was making life difficult for the Simpsons
years before they ever met her
3F03: Paul McCartney among the (very hard to read)
second-half-of-credits lefties in the gallery

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From Newsgroup: alt.tv.simpsons

Re: Notes for 36ABF17 (Bad Boys...for Life?)
By: Matt Garvey to All on Sun Nov 02 2025 20:50:47

Argh. Maybe it would be good to run with the logic that if there
aren't
any more good flashback stories to tell, perhaps one shouldn't be
told.
If one is, though, it ought to be better than ridiculous nonsense
with
abysmal characterizations. Seriously, I get the idea of exaggerating
Homer's worse tendencies for an episode, but why does the first act
or
so of this tale show past Homer not as well-meaning but inept, but
as
basically a sociopath? I really checked out with that. Too much, not
made up for by the end (and the steady flow of ungrounded nonsense).

The "Bart being left handed" thing is something I would have expected
to be
revealed during several past episodes that revolved around Flanders
and/or the
Leftorium -- in particular, "When Flanders Failed."

There were so many past opportunities for that, it almost felt like a
retconn.

Argh, indeed.
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From Newsgroup: alt.tv.simpsons

On 11/4/2025 8:36, Dumas Walker wrote:

Re: Notes for 36ABF17 (Bad Boys...for Life?)
By: Matt Garvey to All on Sun Nov 02 2025 20:50:47

> Argh. Maybe it would be good to run with the logic that if there
> aren't
> any more good flashback stories to tell, perhaps one shouldn't be
> told.
> If one is, though, it ought to be better than ridiculous nonsense
> with
> abysmal characterizations. Seriously, I get the idea of exaggerating
> Homer's worse tendencies for an episode, but why does the first act
> or
> so of this tale show past Homer not as well-meaning but inept, but
> as
> basically a sociopath? I really checked out with that. Too much, not
> made up for by the end (and the steady flow of ungrounded nonsense).

The "Bart being left handed" thing is something I would have expected
to be
revealed during several past episodes that revolved around Flanders
and/or the
Leftorium -- in particular, "When Flanders Failed."

There were so many past opportunities for that, it almost felt like a
retconn.

Argh, indeed.

To be fair, Bart's been pretty clearly portrayed as a leftie for the
entire series (as influenced by his creator's own sinister leanings), so
this part was hardly a surprise or a grand reveal, though it is a little
odd that no one mentions this in When Flanders Failed, especially when
Homer is mocking the entire idea of the store...

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