This was supposed to be a Valentine's Day video, but I got hit by a pretty bad cold for the past couple weeks. My voice wouldn't let me record anything, even though the script was done. So for the first Simpsons Showdown in awhile, you all get Low Energy TheRealJims 😉
when will you do I married Marge vs. Lisa's First Word, Homer Simpson In Kidney Trouble vs. Co-Dependents Day, and Itchy & Scratchy & Marge vs. The Day That Violence Died?
I think the biggest retroactive weakness of New Kid on the Block is that they never ended up using Laura Powers again. She was a really good character, and I liked the dynamic they set up between her and the Simpson kids, plus I think she would have presented the writers with some good opportunities to explore the comedy of the teenage demographics, which was something they would go on to struggle with when they approached it in later seasons. Laura (And her Mom, though she at least got a follow-up focus episode in Marge on the Lam) just feels like she'd have made such a great addition to the recurring cast and it's a shame she never really showed up again
Its one of the biggest problems with the simpsons guest star characters: so many of them turn out to be so fun and interestinf but end up never being used ever again. Hank Scorpio, Mr. Bergstrum, lurleen lumpkin, roy, allison taylor, larry burns, roy, john, don brodka, karl, roy, leon kompowski, joey jojo shabadoo jr, roy. Its rare when a show makes some guest star character so compelling that you want them to come back. Simpsons did this with, like, 20 characters.
@@dugonman8360 They tried to bring Karl back, but Harvey Fierstein turned them down due to the poor quality of the script. They tried to bring Leon Kompowski back with him being voiced by Prince, but Prince wanted to do a script some fan sent him rather than the one The Simpsons writers wrote. They discussed this on the DVD commentary, but I guess you have to buy a used DVD to hear that now. There was at least one more episode featuring Lurleen Lumpkin in a prominent role.
Before I watch the video, I just wanna say, Homers subplot in New Kid on the Block with suing the frying Dutchman is probably my favorite b plot in the entire show. Homers the greatest hero in American history
Yeah I remember when people were watching him to eat and they were like he's hideous and then the one guy said I heard they shaved a gorilla but I didn't believe it.
i still love Conan's summation of the conclusion of "New Kid" on the dvd commentary "Sorry Jimbo, it's not working out, you got scared when a maniac bursted in the living room while swinging around a steak knife"
I feel like that really hurts the ending honestly, funny as it all is. Like what does Bart really learn from that? Not much. Kinda closes with a bad message.
The ending should have gone something like: Bart challenges Jimbo to a boxing match, bart eats a few punches and then knocks Jiimbo out on the floor, or at least makes him cry or smth that would make so much more sense
I think the ending of New Kid on the Block is mildly cathartic for Moe who thinks he finally found the punk who has been prank phone calling him for years. And that run he does back and forth always gets a laugh out me. In the other episodes defense, the line where Moe sniffs the collection money and says “Oh yeah, smells like church.” has lived rent free in my head for decades.
Bart's Girlfriend is the episode for me where everything suddenly clicked with one of my favorite characters, Reverend Lovejoy. Timothy outright refusing to even hear about his daughter's misbehavior makes the entire episode better and better every time I rewatch it. Jessica wants her parents' attention desperately, doesn't feel like she lives up to their standards, so that's why she acts out. The Lovejoys in general need more episodes about them, especially Jessica who despite only having one episode about her is iconic to fans, similar to Bartman or Frank Grimes.
@@e-122psi3 I think she was dating Bart in the first place as a rebellious act to get attention from her parents, but when it didn't work she decided to frame Bart to make her parents worry about Bart dating her. Her parents intervening and telling her not to date him is a type of attention.
That final thought is so on-point really. It always irked me how both Laura and Jessica could've fitted so well as recurring characters, but were seldom seen even as extras despite Ruth and the Lovejoys constantly showing up everywhere in Springfield.
Same, that one has a special place in my heart because it was one of the first episodes I showed one of my younger cousins, when it got to Barts prank phone call she was so confused about why Moe would be so mad about “Amanda Hugnkiss” that he’d want to kill a kid, she laughed so hard when I explained it to her
Same. It’s one of the best episodes. I love the thorough analysis on this channel but almost never agree with the opinions. One of my favorite B plots and I think the ending was great. Who cares if it followed some Joseph Campbell arc. It’s comedy and it’s funny.
As a person who has never watched the Simpsons in my life, this channel is a godsend, I swear, when I watch your videos, I feel like I'm a Simpsons veteran, I've been binge watching your videos for a while, I never knew how much depth this show had, I thought it was just a 90s sitcoms parody, but I was very wrong, I found your channel from emplemons video bout Homer's enemy, and the rest is history, you're the best man!
@@facepalmfoxindustries8835 I really really want to, but is there even like a continuing story line, or is it just random sitcom stuff where everything resets for the next episode???
@@I_am_Mic resets at the end of episode sitcom. Rarely does anything ever have a continuity such as death or marriage. But it's still funny all around you won't forget most things
I remember they had some kind of special featurette on Fox back in the mid '90s where they discussed recording sound effects for that scene, how it was very challenging and they ultimately ended up getting the sound they wanted by rubbing celery on something like waxed paper. That was how I first learned about foley in film and television.
The heart tearing out fantasy scene in New Kid is so iconic and it was me so many times in my teens. I think many of us felt the same there, sympathized with Bart and gave us the feeling that we are not alone in these shoes. So for me New Kid on the Block is the winner, without a doubt. And also, today I learned that Laura Powers is Leslie Winkle. Thanks RealJims.
I was going to go for Bart's Girlfriend, since we're talking about love interests. The plot is laser focused on love and a relationship in that one. But damn, they're both fantastic. I really like your Versus format where you hype both episodes up so high.
Not even a close choice for me, but due to New Kid on the Block airing in Belgium when I was roughly Bart's Age, i responded to the character almost exactly like Bart. She may well have been the initial prototyping for the kind of girls I ended up fancying for the next few decades. Bart's Girlfriend might be the better told story, but NKOTB ended up fundamentally moulding me in my formative years so... uhhh. thanks Simpsons writers, I guess?
I don't really agree with your assessment of Laura's character. She always felt very underbaked to me; yes, she's an older girl, and she's cool and mischievous in a way that appeals to Bart, but that's kinda all we know about her. Bart's infatuation with Laura feels mostly driven by boyish fantasy. She just quickly became a sort of feminine ideal that Bart pursues, without feeling like a complete person. His crush on Jessica is a lot more compelling to me, and it's a nice twist on the previous approach. At first Bart is, again, attracted to her at first based only on how he sees her -- she's the reverend's daughter, so he needs to fly straight in order to get her attention, right? But that doesn't pan out, and things only really get going when he learns who she really is. I'm more interested in their relationship because we're right there with Bart when Jessica shows him her true colors.
I agree. Laura is obvious written to be what a 10 year old boy thinks is a cool girl. We never learn much about her except the stuff that Bart finds admirable. I wouldn't call her a pixie maniac dream girl since she doesn't change Bart's view on life but she does have some traits from that archetype. I don't necessarily think it's an issue since Laura's personality works fine for the episode's plot but both she and Jessica purely exist to be foil for Bart in their respective episodes. I can't imagine Laura outside of this episode unless they added more depth to her because she is a pretty shallow character
I agree. Not only that but I also disagree with his assessment of Jessica being shallow and gimmicky. I knew a lot of manipulative girls like her growing up that put up a facade of sweetness to all the adults and which caused them to assume the girls could do no wrong, but as soon as the adults were not around they would be outright sadistic. Honestly I found her to be a more realistic character than many on the simpsons.
I think its simply due to seeing laura always from Barts perspective, meaning you always see her in his idealized vision of her. If you notice i the episode, laura never interacts with anyone on screen without bart also being in the scene. With jessica, we definately see her from other characters viewpoints and from others perspective which makes her more dynamic as a character.
You make a good point, but I believe we weren’t supposed to see the other facets of Laura’s personality. Bart is only 10 years old. It’s not like she’d really open up to him. In fact, there’s a good chance Laura was acting differently around Bart than she would act with her peers, since he is a kid she’s babysitting. If she were brought back for more episodes, we’d probably see there’s a lot more to Laura than what Bart sees
2 personal favorites from my childhood. New Kid on The Block, Laura seems like a prototype for characters like Wendy from Gravity Falls and Frankie from Foster's Home. She definitely gave off a chill vibe 🤣 But Bart's Girlfriend, Jessica Lovejoy's being "a bad girl" was so fascinating as a kid and as an adult...i realize it's low key realistic af, I've known a couple of pastors kids and they can definitely be rebellious as a form of protest almost.
New Kid on the Block (for me that's the winner) has one of my favourite things from the early series - Bart's imagination. The early series portrayed the mind of a 10-year old really well, with Bart imagining being chased by Nelson, his heart being torn out, everyone blaming him for Thanksgiving going wrong, etc. They really captured how a child can catastrophise things by thinking the worst will happen, how bullies are really scary, getting blamed for something is horrible, etc. It's a pity that was something that departed in the later series, because that really helped emphasise how Bart is a 10-year old with that same level of understanding about the world - but then that goes hand-in-hand with the more down-to-earth early series too.
Dang, the way you laid out the arguments I genuinely thought you were going to go the other way that yes the fun b-plot would be enough to clinch it. Do think the choice was right though as dang that little girl has ice running through her veins. The way she says "and you're just yellow trash" is just so memorably brutal in a way that you don't get from other Simpsons villains like Mr Burns or Sideshow Bob.
I like New Kid On the Block's central romance (well, 'romance' in that case) for one simple reason: I can see EXACTLY why Bart falls for Laura basically immediately. She is 100% Bart's type, that immediate relationship seed makes sense. But Jessica's start feels a little bit... forced, I guess? It's not completely artificial like some 'Simpsons kid does a romance' episodes, and the middle chunk of the story actually does make me buy that Bart would see something he likes in her, but at the start I just don't see why Bart would be into her.
New kid on the block is always one I love returning to whenever I feel like watching some old episodes again. The buffet subplot has and always will contain some of the funniest Homer moments for me.
I know he isn't the subject of the episode, but Moe's part in _New Kid_ is easily a major plus for me for the entire episode, and i admit just my favorite part in general Not only is it a really clever use of Moe and Bart's 'dynamic', it's exactly as awesome and dramatic for a viewer as it is for Moe, it's seasons' worth of buildup to finally see Moe _actually go after_ that little brat who keeps calling! It's a huge moment, and the theatrical quality of everything following it feels totally earned and strangely awesome while being funny It's also just one of my favorite unexpected character moments for Moe - i could see some people feeling differently, but i find it legitimately sweet that he just gives up because Jimbo is so terrified. Moe having that standard (and that "Jeez, I was just gonna cut ya!") is really wholesome to me in a perfectly Moe kind of way, it shows his decent side without taking his edge away or making this whole moment of payoff feel dissatisfying _(At least for me - his part in the episode is so left-field to begin with that i just see it as a delightful surprise you get to suddenly see Moe's triumph at thinking he's _*_found 'im_*_ here than like it's 'bait' or anything)_ Moe's probably flat-out my favorite Simpsons character so i admit i'm probably not difficult to sway with a truly excellent Moe-ment, but this Moe scene _is_ a pretty foundational part of that, so i guess that's sort of a circular note - It just does a great job showing why Moe's hilarious and still lovable while also being iconically scuzzy, and it does that in one brief but _incredibly_ memorable scene that has a few layers of genuine satisfaction to it while working within a solid plot (It is also hysterically funny at every point; The comedic quality is the last thing i feel a need to vouch for or like i ought to try to describe, i really just think every part of Moe's reactions in that sequence is delivered perfectly) All of that said, your point of it working a lot less as plot closure than _Bart's Girlfriend_ 's ending is a completely valid one analyzing these episodes from a totally different angle than the one i'm yammering from, i just like it a ton and think it's superb
As an autistic sapphic, I reacted like Bart does in these episodes to some degree every time I met a new girl. The far more common situation was that I'd be 100% friendzoned, but the Jessicas would walk all over me, despite them seeing my crush as platonic clingyiness. For that reason, both of these episodes were pretty compelling to me. Bart's Girlfriend is more interesting and structured, and at the same time, NKOTB is more fun. I would probably have to choose NKOTB for contributing more to the series compared to BGF being very self-contained. Either way, I want to give kudos to the attention paid to making sure that the girls are both intentionally unsexualised. Jessica looks very much like a normal little girl, and they did well to steer clear of anything resembling fanservice with Laura. To see what I mean, swapping out either character design with Alex Whitney would feel incredibly uncomfortable. There are a few Simpsons episodes that miss the mark and feel a bit sleazy when it comes to women and girls, and it was important to avoid it with these ones in particular. Good job to Susie Dietter and Wes Archer.
I totally agree about the fan service thing! In other shows, the young boy fantasizing about his crush would see her in skimpy outfits or bathing suits, but Laura wears these fancy gowns that are not only tasteful for her age, but also reflects how much he admires her for her maturity and not just her looks
One of my all time favorite Simpsons lines was when the cars are zooming passed Bart and they are heckling him with "Crook!", "Thief!", and then really fast the one guy in the car says "Stole the money from the church collection plate!"
The commentary for New Kid is amusing. They comment on the ending how it doesn't really work: "Sorry Jimbo, you're not the man for me, you were scared when a crazy man came at you with a knife."
Great episode, Lovejoy's daughter is my favourite of the two episodes, Merry Streep is such an amazing VA I came up with a simpson's mystery idea suggestion while watching hungry hungry homer last night, an episode about: what do the simpsons usually eat for dinner. I know they have a meatloaf night, and a spegetti night. breakfast is usually cereal, sometimes bacon, eggs, toast.. and homer loves pork chops
I mentioned in your video on Brother from the same planet, that in my house we used to have season 4 on DVD. So I have a heavy nostalgic bias for New Kid on the Block. I think it's one of those early season stories that feels so incredibly relatable. They really made our Laura as that cool older girl that you will never have a chance with. I do wonder how much the writers of Gravity Falls took for inspiration with Wendy & Dipper on this. Plus the visuals are just great in this one, Bart's vision of dancing with Laura, and the later nightmare of her ripping his heart out is particularly memorable. But tbh I don't love the b-plot of the episode. I find Marge's testimony just depressing, especially as in this story she didn't even want to go because she's allergic to shellfish (if I remember rightly). Lionel Hutz is so hilarious though. As for Bart's girlfriend I think it's alright. I do think there's realism with having the vicar's daughter secretly being a menace. I'm not the biggest fan of episodes where Bart gets strung along though.
I was literally just thinking about pulling up some of your videos to watch for the last three days, but I hadn't because I've been too tired from work and taking care of my injured mother. What an utter delight to wake up and see a new Simpsons video from TheRealJims! *And* it's an Episode vs Episode one! It's been forever since we last got one of those! Glad to have you back!
New Kid on the Block is one of those episodes I related to hard as I grew up. One of those episodes that makes me thankful to have had The Simpsons when I was a kid. How richly they expressed these childhood experiences with respect for their young characters.
I love both of these episodes so much, mainly for Laura and Jessica. Jessica is a fascinating character and I think it would be neat if she came back for another episode. Maybe it‘s winter break and she’s back in Springfield for Christmas. Jessica could try to sabotage her dad’s sermon/the church Christmas pageant. The focus would be on her and her parents this time. I’d love to hear Jessica tell her parents off, especially Helen, and hopefully see her get some kind of closure with them. As for Laura, if she had stuck around, I think her dynamic with Shauna could have been awesome. Shauna is the only teen girl who’s not a one-off, and so much of her character revolves around her being a troublemaker and seeking attention. Therefore, I think giving her a female friend as chill as Laura would show us a more self-possessed Shauna and possibly explore the more intense side of Laura’s emotions. On top of that, they’ve both dated Jimbo, and that can serve as another thing in common, or create a rivalry between Laura and Shauna.
I actually liked how New Kid on the Block managed to do something with the Moe's Tavern prank phone call running gag. And Moe going on a maniacal quest for vengeance with a rusty and dull butcher knife was just wonderful, stupid wishing well and all.
I always felt kinda bad for Jimbo at the end of New Kid on The Block. How was he supposed to react to a stranger running in and pointing a gun at him? XD
I mean yeah, under normal circumstances its very much "what do you expect in the face of death" but the point was pulling Jimbo in his place for pretending to be alot of things he wasn't, the honesty of him breaking all that down to beg for his life and ruin that fake tough guy thing he had going that we as the audience hate him for because we've all at one point dealt with phony's who don't get called out on living a lie
I remember in the commentary Conan making fun of Laura turning on Jimbo for (rightfully) begging for his life when a man barged in and threatens him with a rusty knife 🤣
This video made me realize how cute it would be if, in one of the now *many* future episodes we have now, we got to see Bart and Laura actually end up together once they're older and the 6-year age difference doesn't matter anymore. Why have the writers never done that?!
This is probably the most one-sided Showdown yet imo. Not only is the Frying Dutchman B-plot some of the absolute best material in the history of the show, both Laura and Bart feel so much more like real people in that episode than Simpsons characters usually get to be. EDIT: and the pattern continues… I have never once voted for the one that RealJims ended up choosing 😂
Bart and Laura would actually make an awesome couple. It would certainly be awkward when he’s 10. However when they are adults, it wouldn’t be that awkward. That’s the better matchup for sure. However I enjoy Bart’s girlfriend more as a story. I see it as a more entertaining episode overall. Also yes gives more for Lisa to do. I appreciate any story where Lisa and Bart feel like a true team! I’m glad to see Lisa help out Bart in tough situations. I agree that it would have been so much fun to have a sequel episode with either girl. Both girls are definitely way overdue for their return! Thank you for making this video!
I think this really comes down to what question are you looking for: “Which is the better Bart love story” vs “which is a more interesting episode of a television show” I think Jessica Lovejoy is a great character to really explore Bart and if you were asking the former I’d agree. But when we ask what tells a more interesting relationship that’s relatable to a larger audience Laura Powers comes across as realistic and more palpable connections possible for the audience. Honestly I do think the first question of “which is the better Bart story” fits this comparison better because of how narrow the goal is and Jessica succeeds at said focus.
New Kid on the Block was one of the first episodes I ever saw and is still a really good one. I'm not really too invested in Bart's Girlfriend as much as others as it's basically to me just putting Bart's more tiresome bad boy tropes against a girl's more extreme bad girl tropes. Laura just feels like a genuine person Bart really likes as more than just a girlfriend and actually wants her as a friend despite his attraction to her.
Shocker, for once me and Jims agree on something. "Bart's Girlfriend" was always one of those episodes that stood out the most, because it's a love story with a real villain. Jessica is pure evil, and that makes her much more memorable. The problem with "New kid on the block" is that while the main issue is obviously the age difference, Jimbo gets brought in as the main "obstacle" for Bart to overcome. And when he does... then he gets told he's too young, and.... that's it, roll credits. There's a reason they had to use the B-plot as the final scene- because the main story doesn't carry it.
I was totally ready to pick New Kid on the Block but after rewatching the episodes Bart's Girlfriend won me over with its madcap humor - I think NKOTB feels more uneven overall, and its strength comes from Laura's character and the pathos you feel for Bart. You might not relate to Bart as much in Bart's Girlfriend, but it's much more dynamic and fun whereas you can feel NKOTB drag. Totally agreed on the Jimbo/Moe ending feeling weak, the writers really had to pull some strings to give Bart a win. The town of Springfield being totally willing to investigate the Reverend's daughter's room is also a bit farfetched but it's not as jarring as the episode is more wacky in general (Plus it's in-character for the town and it's kind of sweet if you interpret it as Lisa convincing Homer to support his son.) Jessica is also a more interesting character than I remember - that whole interaction with her dad at the end is interesting enough to warrant further exploration. I wouldn't mind Laura coming back either but it feels like the show has since adapted Shauna into that role whereas there isn't a similar equivalent to Jessica.
bart's girlfriend is my fave out of the two because bart actually gets depressed over the fact she was using him wheras new kid on the block she was an infatuation more than anything and he just didnt want Jimbo getting some action Don't get me wrong new kid on the block has an amazing B plot with Homer but as a bart centric showdown thats not the reason we are here
"we went fishing" is probably one of my favorite lines/moments in the whole series so I LOVE new kid on the block for that alone but this are both great episodes. BUT also think Bart's GF has the great line "probably misses his old glasses" if I'm not mistaken....
Surprised you didn’t mentioned the sequence on New Kid on the Block where Bart gets his heart ripped out by Laura. It’s bloody gory and I am surprised it made it with no censorship. I swear it inspired many of my nightmares as a kid.
I've missed Simpsons Showdown, and it's cool to see it again. I thought it was cool to see one one two of Bart get's a love interest episodes, given there are quite a few of them, and of course, the ones from the classic era are the two best ones, even if some from later years are pretty good too. I would have gone with New Kid on the Block myself, but both episodes are really good in their own ways. Great job as always Jim. I hope we get more Simpsons Showdowns soon.
New Kid on the Block is definitely one of my all-time favourite Simpsons episodes. I love everything about it - the realism, the relatability, the chill tone - but most notably because Laura is probably my favourite female guest star in the series, and the "greatest hero in American history" line is an all-time classic with magnificent delivery.
you made a great point of the b plot in new kid on the block, although the entire episode is one of my favorites, the b plot is so legendary. even to the point that in finland, the name was ''syömäkone'' meaning ''eating machine'' as the captain refers to homer and i was always confused why it was called that as a kid. great video once again! watching these always inspires me to watch some episodes
The Jessica Lovejoy Episode clinched it from me because of her interaction with reverent Lovejoy at the end. Hilarious plot twist when they reveal she was expelled from boarding school but the reverend just doesn't want to admit it. You raised a naughty rebellious daughter, can't deny it any longer.
As an ace/aro person, I can't exactly relate to the 'unrequited crush' thing, but I still enjoy "New Kid on the Block" more. It's just more enjoyable overall to me, I don't feel nearly as bad for Bart, and while I can agree that it's probably not the best ending they could've gone with, I enjoy the stuff with Moe in that episode's final act. With "Bart's Girlfriend", while I do love certain jokes and can still enjoy them, the overall plot is kinda miserable and I don't like listening to Jessica's sort of whispery voice. I had both these eps on DVD as a kid, but I definitely remember rewatching New Kid more often.
Yeah, I can imagine the symbolic appeal of the Jessica storyline is lost when you don't have that feeling, like how the box factory only has an appeal to box enjoyers.
You've given really compelling arguments for both of them and I love both episodes in probably equal measure, so asking me to choose between the two is agonizing. If asked to choose one under pain of torture or death, I'd probably give a slight edge to "New Kid on the Block" simply because I loved the seafood B-plot so much and, unlike you, I loved the final confrontation between Moe and Jimbo -it's one of my favorite moments. Also, I don't totally agree with you about there being no payoff for Bart in "New Kid on the Block". Yes, he's never going to get Laura, but he's gotten her out of a relationship which he doesn't believe (admittedly partly for his own emotional reasons) is good for her and shown up her boyfriend for who he really is. And Laura does concede, if I remember correctly, that he'd be the type of guy she'd date if he were older. Believe me, for someone who has a crush, to be told something like that by your crush is an immense form of self-validation even if it ultimately ends up going nowhere. And yes, I agree with you it's a shame we didn't see more of either character, particularly -as you said -since we do get to see more of people like Sophie -who's much more of a bit character than either Jessica or Laura were
One thing i do love about the end of the "New Kid om the Block" is that has pay off too the Moe prank call gag, which i allways love the bit where moe is running towards barts home
"I guess we brought you home from boarding school a little early." "I was expelled dad! Remember the pipe bomb, the Glee Club brawl, the school chapel collection plate?" I loved that she had such an intricate criminal history and had even previously stolen from a collection plate but her parents were in such deep denial.
I'm always down for team Laura! She's a sweetheart that can indulge in barts pranks( but does it better) and is the classic girl next door! ❤ Sara Gilbert, please come back!
Easy contest for me. Bart's Girlfriend is one of my least favourite episodes because I find Jessica Lovejoy absolutely insufferable 😆 I definitely get your perspective of seeing her as mysterious, but to me she's just exhaustingly malicious and always rubbed me the wrong way. But Laura seems like a genuinely nice person and I find it much easier to see why Bart would actually like her. Either way, I always appreciate in these showdowns getting your insight on both episodes. Thanks!
New Kid on the Block is the better episode for me. It feels much more natural and relatable. It also helps that the B plot is one of the funniest of all time. I do agree that the ending of it is not that satisfying, but situations like this don't always have a satisfying ending in real life so I think it fits the theme of the episode in that regard.
New Kid on the Block is the better and more memorable episode. You had to reminded me of funny scenes from Bart's Girlfriend. The highest laugh in Bart's Girlfriend is Willie's Turtle scene which you could cut into other episodes. New Kid on the Block is still quoted in my circles to this day.
New Kid on the Block always felt like an episode where not very much happens compared to an episode like Bart's Girlfriend where it feels like there's more progression.
The B-plot for "New Kid on the Block" is so strong that I sometimes forget that it's the b-plot when looking back on it. Though idk if that's actually a point in favor of the episode or against it.
As much as I love New Kid on the Block, I’d always pick Bart’s Girlfriend, mainly because of the dinner scenes with Bart and the Lovejoys, and the fact that Bart finally meets his match and sees what it feels like when things go too far - I just think the comedy is better and the overall story, as great as the other one is, is just superior and makes it a classic in my eyes. It’s always in my favourites to go back and rewatch
"Homer, I don't use the word 'hero' very often... But you are the greatest hero in American history". Like, when did we get too good for Lionel Hutz? The frying dutchman storyline blows the episode (and my sides) into the stratosphere. Also, with Homer the Heretic as my favorite episode, I enjoy the hangout.
I just realized that in Future-Drama, Jenda is wearing basically the same Army surplus jacket as Laura Powers when she dumps Bart. It's just a slightly different shade of green. Dude totally fell for a girl who reminded him of his first crush.
Overall, I like New Kid on the Block best. For one, I had a thing for Sarah Gilbert as a teen. The "heart in the trash" scene will always be iconic. Also, Moe's oddly inappropriate hip-thrusting while watching the two teens make out through the window will always be creepy. However, the best joke (in my opinion) goes to Flanders' singing in Bart's Girlfriend. I die every time I see it. I also love Bart's "strut" parody from Stayin Alive.
I may not always agree with the final outcome of these, but I always appreciate the in depth analysis and thorough explanation of each rationality. That said... I have to disagree. I think you lost me when you argued that "nothing happens" in New Kid - You have the ultimate payoff for the prank call running gag escalating to part weaponizing Moe, and Moe literally running off with a rusty knife to make good on all his threats. The threat of Jimbo getting machete'd is a lot more action and higher stakes than... oh no, the Lovejoys are embarrassed by their sociopath of a daughter. Sure, breaking up Rebecca and Jimbo seems like a small victory, but it's more than he got and more significant than anything vs. Jessica. Lisa calling her out in front of the congregation, and... her not really getting the kind of comeuppance she deserves. It's not a satisfying episode or conclusion, even if the emotional and character pathing for Bart are better. Those things are important, maybe the most important two issues, but... they're not so important as to override everything else. Also the Frying Dutchman B-Plot alone is better than both stories, so that episode wins why default.
This was supposed to be a Valentine's Day video, but I got hit by a pretty bad cold for the past couple weeks. My voice wouldn't let me record anything, even though the script was done. So for the first Simpsons Showdown in awhile, you all get Low Energy TheRealJims 😉
i mean this comes out a day before my b day
@@zEr-ne5ri Happy birthday
You should do the computer wore menace shoes vs I am furious yellow battle of the web episodes
@@darkwingdaffy1991 I am furious yellow mops the floor with the computer wore menace shoes.
when will you do I married Marge vs. Lisa's First Word, Homer Simpson In Kidney Trouble vs. Co-Dependents Day, and Itchy & Scratchy & Marge vs. The Day That Violence Died?
I think the biggest retroactive weakness of New Kid on the Block is that they never ended up using Laura Powers again. She was a really good character, and I liked the dynamic they set up between her and the Simpson kids, plus I think she would have presented the writers with some good opportunities to explore the comedy of the teenage demographics, which was something they would go on to struggle with when they approached it in later seasons. Laura (And her Mom, though she at least got a follow-up focus episode in Marge on the Lam) just feels like she'd have made such a great addition to the recurring cast and it's a shame she never really showed up again
I agree, I think she was a really sympathetic take in comparison to the other teenage characters
Its one of the biggest problems with the simpsons guest star characters: so many of them turn out to be so fun and interestinf but end up never being used ever again.
Hank Scorpio, Mr. Bergstrum, lurleen lumpkin, roy, allison taylor, larry burns, roy, john, don brodka, karl, roy, leon kompowski, joey jojo shabadoo jr, roy.
Its rare when a show makes some guest star character so compelling that you want them to come back. Simpsons did this with, like, 20 characters.
@@dugonman8360 They tried to bring Karl back, but Harvey Fierstein turned them down due to the poor quality of the script.
They tried to bring Leon Kompowski back with him being voiced by Prince, but Prince wanted to do a script some fan sent him rather than the one The Simpsons writers wrote. They discussed this on the DVD commentary, but I guess you have to buy a used DVD to hear that now.
There was at least one more episode featuring Lurleen Lumpkin in a prominent role.
I do wish Marge and Ruth powers ended up together
@@jennymaurer5170 real
Before I watch the video, I just wanna say, Homers subplot in New Kid on the Block with suing the frying Dutchman is probably my favorite b plot in the entire show. Homers the greatest hero in American history
Yeah I remember when people were watching him to eat and they were like he's hideous and then the one guy said I heard they shaved a gorilla but I didn't believe it.
Mr. Simpson, this is the worst case of fraudulent advertising I’ve seen since that movie The Never-Ending Story
"And what did you do after you didn't find any more seafood buffets? Remember mrs Simpson, you are under oath!"
"... We went fishing"
10/10 line
that man ate all our shrimp, and two plastic lobsters!
Captain McAllister, isn't it true that you're NOT A REAL CAPTAIN???
i still love Conan's summation of the conclusion of "New Kid" on the dvd commentary "Sorry Jimbo, it's not working out, you got scared when a maniac bursted in the living room while swinging around a steak knife"
I feel like that really hurts the ending honestly, funny as it all is. Like what does Bart really learn from that? Not much. Kinda closes with a bad message.
The ending should have gone something like: Bart challenges Jimbo to a boxing match, bart eats a few punches and then knocks Jiimbo out on the floor, or at least makes him cry or smth that would make so much more sense
I think the ending of New Kid on the Block is mildly cathartic for Moe who thinks he finally found the punk who has been prank phone calling him for years. And that run he does back and forth always gets a laugh out me.
In the other episodes defense, the line where Moe sniffs the collection money and says “Oh yeah, smells like church.” has lived rent free in my head for decades.
Moe is a treasure
@@JargonMadjin he is my 😅character
Marge/Julie Kavner's line reading of "we went fishing" is magnificent.
That line stands alone as the greatest Simpsons line in my head.
Bart's Girlfriend is the episode for me where everything suddenly clicked with one of my favorite characters, Reverend Lovejoy. Timothy outright refusing to even hear about his daughter's misbehavior makes the entire episode better and better every time I rewatch it. Jessica wants her parents' attention desperately, doesn't feel like she lives up to their standards, so that's why she acts out. The Lovejoys in general need more episodes about them, especially Jessica who despite only having one episode about her is iconic to fans, similar to Bartman or Frank Grimes.
What I never got was if Jessica acts out to get attention, why does she frame Bart?
@@e-122psi3 I think she was dating Bart in the first place as a rebellious act to get attention from her parents, but when it didn't work she decided to frame Bart to make her parents worry about Bart dating her. Her parents intervening and telling her not to date him is a type of attention.
Hmm why is it that I could imagine that Helen Lovejoy could of been a bit like Jessica, when she was her age?
use your *imaginations* people!
@@e-122psi3 Probably because, since Bart has a history of being a torubl maker, then it's easy to frame him.
That final thought is so on-point really. It always irked me how both Laura and Jessica could've fitted so well as recurring characters, but were seldom seen even as extras despite Ruth and the Lovejoys constantly showing up everywhere in Springfield.
I just love the fact that Willie was ready to put himself in danger to save the wee turtles. Hilarious and telling of his character at the same time.
Willie is an absolute chad
"Well no offense lady, but what you don't know could fill a warehouse." Is something I still yearn to use in a real conversation one day
I'll always rewatch "New Kid on the Block" over "Bart's Girlfriend" anyday, so that's my winner.
Same, that one has a special place in my heart because it was one of the first episodes I showed one of my younger cousins, when it got to Barts prank phone call she was so confused about why Moe would be so mad about “Amanda Hugnkiss” that he’d want to kill a kid, she laughed so hard when I explained it to her
Same. It’s one of the best episodes. I love the thorough analysis on this channel but almost never agree with the opinions. One of my favorite B plots and I think the ending was great. Who cares if it followed some Joseph Campbell arc. It’s comedy and it’s funny.
Bart’s Girlfriend is one of the most underrated classic Simpsons episodes and I’m glad it got the recognition it deserves. A great Bart episode
Finally, the showdown of episodes where Bart goes from Simpson to Simp!
As a person who has never watched the Simpsons in my life, this channel is a godsend, I swear, when I watch your videos, I feel like I'm a Simpsons veteran, I've been binge watching your videos for a while, I never knew how much depth this show had, I thought it was just a 90s sitcoms parody, but I was very wrong, I found your channel from emplemons video bout Homer's enemy, and the rest is history, you're the best man!
It's never too late to start watching
@@facepalmfoxindustries8835 I really really want to, but is there even like a continuing story line, or is it just random sitcom stuff where everything resets for the next episode???
@@I_am_Mic resets at the end of episode sitcom. Rarely does anything ever have a continuity such as death or marriage. But it's still funny all around you won't forget most things
@@facepalmfoxindustries8835 sounds like a fun time! May as well pull up good ol' KissCartoon to binge it all
Why not watch the show too?
Before I watch the video.
I think the one with Laura stuck in my head the most over the years. The bloody hearty thing is very iconic.
"You won't be needing this anymore" rings in my head
@@thorinpeterson6282 We all felt like that once in our life and it's such a perfect visual for it.
its sooo good!!!!
I remember they had some kind of special featurette on Fox back in the mid '90s where they discussed recording sound effects for that scene, how it was very challenging and they ultimately ended up getting the sound they wanted by rubbing celery on something like waxed paper.
That was how I first learned about foley in film and television.
@@TerrenceNowicki Foley is a fascinating thing, I wonder if these skills are lost to time by now. It's probably all digital now
The heart tearing out fantasy scene in New Kid is so iconic and it was me so many times in my teens. I think many of us felt the same there, sympathized with Bart and gave us the feeling that we are not alone in these shoes. So for me New Kid on the Block is the winner, without a doubt.
And also, today I learned that Laura Powers is Leslie Winkle. Thanks RealJims.
I was going to go for Bart's Girlfriend, since we're talking about love interests. The plot is laser focused on love and a relationship in that one.
But damn, they're both fantastic. I really like your Versus format where you hype both episodes up so high.
Not even a close choice for me, but due to New Kid on the Block airing in Belgium when I was roughly Bart's Age, i responded to the character almost exactly like Bart. She may well have been the initial prototyping for the kind of girls I ended up fancying for the next few decades.
Bart's Girlfriend might be the better told story, but NKOTB ended up fundamentally moulding me in my formative years so... uhhh. thanks Simpsons writers, I guess?
I don't really agree with your assessment of Laura's character. She always felt very underbaked to me; yes, she's an older girl, and she's cool and mischievous in a way that appeals to Bart, but that's kinda all we know about her. Bart's infatuation with Laura feels mostly driven by boyish fantasy. She just quickly became a sort of feminine ideal that Bart pursues, without feeling like a complete person. His crush on Jessica is a lot more compelling to me, and it's a nice twist on the previous approach. At first Bart is, again, attracted to her at first based only on how he sees her -- she's the reverend's daughter, so he needs to fly straight in order to get her attention, right? But that doesn't pan out, and things only really get going when he learns who she really is. I'm more interested in their relationship because we're right there with Bart when Jessica shows him her true colors.
I agree. Laura is obvious written to be what a 10 year old boy thinks is a cool girl. We never learn much about her except the stuff that Bart finds admirable. I wouldn't call her a pixie maniac dream girl since she doesn't change Bart's view on life but she does have some traits from that archetype. I don't necessarily think it's an issue since Laura's personality works fine for the episode's plot but both she and Jessica purely exist to be foil for Bart in their respective episodes. I can't imagine Laura outside of this episode unless they added more depth to her because she is a pretty shallow character
I agree. Not only that but I also disagree with his assessment of Jessica being shallow and gimmicky. I knew a lot of manipulative girls like her growing up that put up a facade of sweetness to all the adults and which caused them to assume the girls could do no wrong, but as soon as the adults were not around they would be outright sadistic. Honestly I found her to be a more realistic character than many on the simpsons.
I think its simply due to seeing laura always from Barts perspective, meaning you always see her in his idealized vision of her. If you notice i the episode, laura never interacts with anyone on screen without bart also being in the scene.
With jessica, we definately see her from other characters viewpoints and from others perspective which makes her more dynamic as a character.
You make a good point, but I believe we weren’t supposed to see the other facets of Laura’s personality. Bart is only 10 years old. It’s not like she’d really open up to him. In fact, there’s a good chance Laura was acting differently around Bart than she would act with her peers, since he is a kid she’s babysitting. If she were brought back for more episodes, we’d probably see there’s a lot more to Laura than what Bart sees
2 personal favorites from my childhood.
New Kid on The Block, Laura seems like a prototype for characters like Wendy from Gravity Falls and Frankie from Foster's Home. She definitely gave off a chill vibe 🤣
But Bart's Girlfriend, Jessica Lovejoy's being "a bad girl" was so fascinating as a kid and as an adult...i realize it's low key realistic af, I've known a couple of pastors kids and they can definitely be rebellious as a form of protest almost.
Pretty sure Laura was the actual inspiration for Wendy, given Hirsch's well-known love for Simpsons.
New Kid on the Block (for me that's the winner) has one of my favourite things from the early series - Bart's imagination. The early series portrayed the mind of a 10-year old really well, with Bart imagining being chased by Nelson, his heart being torn out, everyone blaming him for Thanksgiving going wrong, etc. They really captured how a child can catastrophise things by thinking the worst will happen, how bullies are really scary, getting blamed for something is horrible, etc. It's a pity that was something that departed in the later series, because that really helped emphasise how Bart is a 10-year old with that same level of understanding about the world - but then that goes hand-in-hand with the more down-to-earth early series too.
I just rewatched the Thanksgiving episode so good
Dang, the way you laid out the arguments I genuinely thought you were going to go the other way that yes the fun b-plot would be enough to clinch it. Do think the choice was right though as dang that little girl has ice running through her veins. The way she says "and you're just yellow trash" is just so memorably brutal in a way that you don't get from other Simpsons villains like Mr Burns or Sideshow Bob.
I like New Kid On the Block's central romance (well, 'romance' in that case) for one simple reason: I can see EXACTLY why Bart falls for Laura basically immediately. She is 100% Bart's type, that immediate relationship seed makes sense. But Jessica's start feels a little bit... forced, I guess? It's not completely artificial like some 'Simpsons kid does a romance' episodes, and the middle chunk of the story actually does make me buy that Bart would see something he likes in her, but at the start I just don't see why Bart would be into her.
Because she’s designed to be “pretty” love interest for a 10 year old
New kid on the block is always one I love returning to whenever I feel like watching some old episodes again. The buffet subplot has and always will contain some of the funniest Homer moments for me.
I know he isn't the subject of the episode, but Moe's part in _New Kid_ is easily a major plus for me for the entire episode, and i admit just my favorite part in general
Not only is it a really clever use of Moe and Bart's 'dynamic', it's exactly as awesome and dramatic for a viewer as it is for Moe, it's seasons' worth of buildup to finally see Moe _actually go after_ that little brat who keeps calling! It's a huge moment, and the theatrical quality of everything following it feels totally earned and strangely awesome while being funny
It's also just one of my favorite unexpected character moments for Moe - i could see some people feeling differently, but i find it legitimately sweet that he just gives up because Jimbo is so terrified. Moe having that standard (and that "Jeez, I was just gonna cut ya!") is really wholesome to me in a perfectly Moe kind of way, it shows his decent side without taking his edge away or making this whole moment of payoff feel dissatisfying _(At least for me - his part in the episode is so left-field to begin with that i just see it as a delightful surprise you get to suddenly see Moe's triumph at thinking he's _*_found 'im_*_ here than like it's 'bait' or anything)_
Moe's probably flat-out my favorite Simpsons character so i admit i'm probably not difficult to sway with a truly excellent Moe-ment, but this Moe scene _is_ a pretty foundational part of that, so i guess that's sort of a circular note - It just does a great job showing why Moe's hilarious and still lovable while also being iconically scuzzy, and it does that in one brief but _incredibly_ memorable scene that has a few layers of genuine satisfaction to it while working within a solid plot (It is also hysterically funny at every point; The comedic quality is the last thing i feel a need to vouch for or like i ought to try to describe, i really just think every part of Moe's reactions in that sequence is delivered perfectly)
All of that said, your point of it working a lot less as plot closure than _Bart's Girlfriend_ 's ending is a completely valid one analyzing these episodes from a totally different angle than the one i'm yammering from, i just like it a ton and think it's superb
As an autistic sapphic, I reacted like Bart does in these episodes to some degree every time I met a new girl. The far more common situation was that I'd be 100% friendzoned, but the Jessicas would walk all over me, despite them seeing my crush as platonic clingyiness. For that reason, both of these episodes were pretty compelling to me.
Bart's Girlfriend is more interesting and structured, and at the same time, NKOTB is more fun. I would probably have to choose NKOTB for contributing more to the series compared to BGF being very self-contained.
Either way, I want to give kudos to the attention paid to making sure that the girls are both intentionally unsexualised. Jessica looks very much like a normal little girl, and they did well to steer clear of anything resembling fanservice with Laura. To see what I mean, swapping out either character design with Alex Whitney would feel incredibly uncomfortable. There are a few Simpsons episodes that miss the mark and feel a bit sleazy when it comes to women and girls, and it was important to avoid it with these ones in particular. Good job to Susie Dietter and Wes Archer.
I totally agree about the fan service thing! In other shows, the young boy fantasizing about his crush would see her in skimpy outfits or bathing suits, but Laura wears these fancy gowns that are not only tasteful for her age, but also reflects how much he admires her for her maturity and not just her looks
One of my all time favorite Simpsons lines was when the cars are zooming passed Bart and they are heckling him with "Crook!", "Thief!", and then really fast the one guy in the car says "Stole the money from the church collection plate!"
Same
The commentary for New Kid is amusing. They comment on the ending how it doesn't really work: "Sorry Jimbo, you're not the man for me, you were scared when a crazy man came at you with a knife."
Great episode, Lovejoy's daughter is my favourite of the two episodes, Merry Streep is such an amazing VA
I came up with a simpson's mystery idea suggestion while watching hungry hungry homer last night, an episode about: what do the simpsons usually eat for dinner. I know they have a meatloaf night, and a spegetti night. breakfast is usually cereal, sometimes bacon, eggs, toast.. and homer loves pork chops
I mentioned in your video on Brother from the same planet, that in my house we used to have season 4 on DVD. So I have a heavy nostalgic bias for New Kid on the Block.
I think it's one of those early season stories that feels so incredibly relatable. They really made our Laura as that cool older girl that you will never have a chance with.
I do wonder how much the writers of Gravity Falls took for inspiration with Wendy & Dipper on this.
Plus the visuals are just great in this one, Bart's vision of dancing with Laura, and the later nightmare of her ripping his heart out is particularly memorable.
But tbh I don't love the b-plot of the episode. I find Marge's testimony just depressing, especially as in this story she didn't even want to go because she's allergic to shellfish (if I remember rightly). Lionel Hutz is so hilarious though.
As for Bart's girlfriend I think it's alright. I do think there's realism with having the vicar's daughter secretly being a menace. I'm not the biggest fan of episodes where Bart gets strung along though.
the whole "wire hangers? expired medicine? old newspapers?" gag will always keep New Kid on the Block in the first place spot for me.
I was literally just thinking about pulling up some of your videos to watch for the last three days, but I hadn't because I've been too tired from work and taking care of my injured mother. What an utter delight to wake up and see a new Simpsons video from TheRealJims! *And* it's an Episode vs Episode one! It's been forever since we last got one of those!
Glad to have you back!
The scene when Laura tears out Bart's heart wrecked me as a kid. I was terrified to fall in love after that!
YOU WON'T BE NEEDING THIS❤💔
New Kid on the Block is one of those episodes I related to hard as I grew up. One of those episodes that makes me thankful to have had The Simpsons when I was a kid. How richly they expressed these childhood experiences with respect for their young characters.
I love both of these episodes so much, mainly for Laura and Jessica.
Jessica is a fascinating character and I think it would be neat if she came back for another episode. Maybe it‘s winter break and she’s back in Springfield for Christmas. Jessica could try to sabotage her dad’s sermon/the church Christmas pageant. The focus would be on her and her parents this time. I’d love to hear Jessica tell her parents off, especially Helen, and hopefully see her get some kind of closure with them.
As for Laura, if she had stuck around, I think her dynamic with Shauna could have been awesome. Shauna is the only teen girl who’s not a one-off, and so much of her character revolves around her being a troublemaker and seeking attention. Therefore, I think giving her a female friend as chill as Laura would show us a more self-possessed Shauna and possibly explore the more intense side of Laura’s emotions. On top of that, they’ve both dated Jimbo, and that can serve as another thing in common, or create a rivalry between Laura and Shauna.
I actually liked how New Kid on the Block managed to do something with the Moe's Tavern prank phone call running gag. And Moe going on a maniacal quest for vengeance with a rusty and dull butcher knife was just wonderful, stupid wishing well and all.
I always felt kinda bad for Jimbo at the end of New Kid on The Block. How was he supposed to react to a stranger running in and pointing a gun at him? XD
I mean yeah, under normal circumstances its very much "what do you expect in the face of death" but the point was pulling Jimbo in his place for pretending to be alot of things he wasn't, the honesty of him breaking all that down to beg for his life and ruin that fake tough guy thing he had going that we as the audience hate him for because we've all at one point dealt with phony's who don't get called out on living a lie
I remember in the commentary Conan making fun of Laura turning on Jimbo for (rightfully) begging for his life when a man barged in and threatens him with a rusty knife 🤣
Marge: "We went fishing"
Hutz: "Does that sound like a man who has had "ALL he could eat?"🎣 🦐
This video made me realize how cute it would be if, in one of the now *many* future episodes we have now, we got to see Bart and Laura actually end up together once they're older and the 6-year age difference doesn't matter anymore. Why have the writers never done that?!
Cos thatd be kinda problematic
Given the show's "Holidays of Future Passed" future they've been setting up, I'd like to see one where they reconnected and gave a relationship a try.
I thought Laura was around middle school age.
Yarr, you're a remorseless reviewing machine!
3 simple words: We. Went. Fishing.
The frying dutchman plot is one of my favorite plots in all the simpsons, its so funny
Glad you acreencapped the weird iced tea bit from the frying Dutchman commercial. It's my favorite gag of the episode.
This is probably the most one-sided Showdown yet imo. Not only is the Frying Dutchman B-plot some of the absolute best material in the history of the show, both Laura and Bart feel so much more like real people in that episode than Simpsons characters usually get to be.
EDIT: and the pattern continues… I have never once voted for the one that RealJims ended up choosing 😂
Bart's Girlfriend wins purely because of 'probably misses his old glasses'
Bart and Laura would actually make an awesome couple. It would certainly be awkward when he’s 10. However when they are adults, it wouldn’t be that awkward. That’s the better matchup for sure. However I enjoy Bart’s girlfriend more as a story. I see it as a more entertaining episode overall. Also yes gives more for Lisa to do. I appreciate any story where Lisa and Bart feel like a true team! I’m glad to see Lisa help out Bart in tough situations. I agree that it would have been so much fun to have a sequel episode with either girl. Both girls are definitely way overdue for their return! Thank you for making this video!
I think this really comes down to what question are you looking for:
“Which is the better Bart love story” vs “which is a more interesting episode of a television show”
I think Jessica Lovejoy is a great character to really explore Bart and if you were asking the former I’d agree.
But when we ask what tells a more interesting relationship that’s relatable to a larger audience Laura Powers comes across as realistic and more palpable connections possible for the audience.
Honestly I do think the first question of “which is the better Bart story” fits this comparison better because of how narrow the goal is and Jessica succeeds at said focus.
Yep had a good laugh when Lionel Hutz was like I haven't heard such fraud since my case against The NeverEnding Story.
New Kid on the Block was one of the first episodes I ever saw and is still a really good one. I'm not really too invested in Bart's Girlfriend as much as others as it's basically to me just putting Bart's more tiresome bad boy tropes against a girl's more extreme bad girl tropes. Laura just feels like a genuine person Bart really likes as more than just a girlfriend and actually wants her as a friend despite his attraction to her.
New Kid for me, I just like the vibes more
Also simpsons in court = instant classic
I personally prefer new kid on the block but Jessica’s delivery of “Bart, you can’t trust your perception at this altitude” lives rent free in my head
Season 6 is my favorite season so any win for any episodes in that season is so rewarding
I'm so happy another one of these Simpsons Showdowns has been uploaded. Please don't stop uploading these. They're fire 🔥🔥
Shocker, for once me and Jims agree on something. "Bart's Girlfriend" was always one of those episodes that stood out the most, because it's a love story with a real villain. Jessica is pure evil, and that makes her much more memorable.
The problem with "New kid on the block" is that while the main issue is obviously the age difference, Jimbo gets brought in as the main "obstacle" for Bart to overcome. And when he does... then he gets told he's too young, and.... that's it, roll credits. There's a reason they had to use the B-plot as the final scene- because the main story doesn't carry it.
That one shot of Moe lifting the bed with a Jack in Bart’s Girlfriend is so funny and I’ve never noticed that before.
introducing someone to TheRealJims: "Arr, tis no man. Tis a remorseless Simpsons machine."
I was totally ready to pick New Kid on the Block but after rewatching the episodes Bart's Girlfriend won me over with its madcap humor - I think NKOTB feels more uneven overall, and its strength comes from Laura's character and the pathos you feel for Bart. You might not relate to Bart as much in Bart's Girlfriend, but it's much more dynamic and fun whereas you can feel NKOTB drag. Totally agreed on the Jimbo/Moe ending feeling weak, the writers really had to pull some strings to give Bart a win. The town of Springfield being totally willing to investigate the Reverend's daughter's room is also a bit farfetched but it's not as jarring as the episode is more wacky in general (Plus it's in-character for the town and it's kind of sweet if you interpret it as Lisa convincing Homer to support his son.) Jessica is also a more interesting character than I remember - that whole interaction with her dad at the end is interesting enough to warrant further exploration. I wouldn't mind Laura coming back either but it feels like the show has since adapted Shauna into that role whereas there isn't a similar equivalent to Jessica.
bart's girlfriend is my fave out of the two because bart actually gets depressed over the fact she was using him wheras new kid on the block she was an infatuation more than anything and he just didnt want Jimbo getting some action
Don't get me wrong new kid on the block has an amazing B plot with Homer but as a bart centric showdown thats not the reason we are here
I love your choice of music for this video series. 🎵
One of my favourite Simpsons back-and-forths comes from New Kid on the Block:
"Sometimes I think you want to fail"
"Shut up just shut up!"
"we went fishing" is probably one of my favorite lines/moments in the whole series so I LOVE new kid on the block for that alone but this are both great episodes. BUT also think Bart's GF has the great line "probably misses his old glasses" if I'm not mistaken....
Surprised you didn’t mentioned the sequence on New Kid on the Block where Bart gets his heart ripped out by Laura.
It’s bloody gory and I am surprised it made it with no censorship. I swear it inspired many of my nightmares as a kid.
I've missed Simpsons Showdown, and it's cool to see it again. I thought it was cool to see one one two of Bart get's a love interest episodes, given there are quite a few of them, and of course, the ones from the classic era are the two best ones, even if some from later years are pretty good too. I would have gone with New Kid on the Block myself, but both episodes are really good in their own ways. Great job as always Jim. I hope we get more Simpsons Showdowns soon.
New Kid on the Block is definitely one of my all-time favourite Simpsons episodes. I love everything about it - the realism, the relatability, the chill tone - but most notably because Laura is probably my favourite female guest star in the series, and the "greatest hero in American history" line is an all-time classic with magnificent delivery.
you made a great point of the b plot in new kid on the block, although the entire episode is one of my favorites, the b plot is so legendary. even to the point that in finland, the name was ''syömäkone'' meaning ''eating machine'' as the captain refers to homer and i was always confused why it was called that as a kid. great video once again! watching these always inspires me to watch some episodes
The Jessica Lovejoy Episode clinched it from me because of her interaction with reverent Lovejoy at the end. Hilarious plot twist when they reveal she was expelled from boarding school but the reverend just doesn't want to admit it. You raised a naughty rebellious daughter, can't deny it any longer.
As an ace/aro person, I can't exactly relate to the 'unrequited crush' thing, but I still enjoy "New Kid on the Block" more. It's just more enjoyable overall to me, I don't feel nearly as bad for Bart, and while I can agree that it's probably not the best ending they could've gone with, I enjoy the stuff with Moe in that episode's final act. With "Bart's Girlfriend", while I do love certain jokes and can still enjoy them, the overall plot is kinda miserable and I don't like listening to Jessica's sort of whispery voice. I had both these eps on DVD as a kid, but I definitely remember rewatching New Kid more often.
Yeah, I can imagine the symbolic appeal of the Jessica storyline is lost when you don't have that feeling, like how the box factory only has an appeal to box enjoyers.
You've given really compelling arguments for both of them and I love both episodes in probably equal measure, so asking me to choose between the two is agonizing. If asked to choose one under pain of torture or death, I'd probably give a slight edge to "New Kid on the Block" simply because I loved the seafood B-plot so much and, unlike you, I loved the final confrontation between Moe and Jimbo -it's one of my favorite moments.
Also, I don't totally agree with you about there being no payoff for Bart in "New Kid on the Block". Yes, he's never going to get Laura, but he's gotten her out of a relationship which he doesn't believe (admittedly partly for his own emotional reasons) is good for her and shown up her boyfriend for who he really is. And Laura does concede, if I remember correctly, that he'd be the type of guy she'd date if he were older. Believe me, for someone who has a crush, to be told something like that by your crush is an immense form of self-validation even if it ultimately ends up going nowhere.
And yes, I agree with you it's a shame we didn't see more of either character, particularly -as you said -since we do get to see more of people like Sophie -who's much more of a bit character than either Jessica or Laura were
I always enjoy your videos, sometimes don't know what to say but I wanted to feed the algorithm with a comment haha
YES! My favorite series on this channel. Thank you, Jim’s.
One thing i do love about the end of the "New Kid om the Block" is that has pay off too the Moe prank call gag, which i allways love the bit where moe is running towards barts home
"I guess we brought you home from boarding school a little early."
"I was expelled dad! Remember the pipe bomb, the Glee Club brawl, the school chapel collection plate?"
I loved that she had such an intricate criminal history and had even previously stolen from a collection plate but her parents were in such deep denial.
I'm always down for team Laura! She's a sweetheart that can indulge in barts pranks( but does it better) and is the classic girl next door! ❤ Sara Gilbert, please come back!
I think the same, but I think the point of the video is which episode is better overall, rather than who we would ship.
Easy contest for me. Bart's Girlfriend is one of my least favourite episodes because I find Jessica Lovejoy absolutely insufferable 😆 I definitely get your perspective of seeing her as mysterious, but to me she's just exhaustingly malicious and always rubbed me the wrong way. But Laura seems like a genuinely nice person and I find it much easier to see why Bart would actually like her. Either way, I always appreciate in these showdowns getting your insight on both episodes. Thanks!
New Kid on the Block is the better episode for me. It feels much more natural and relatable. It also helps that the B plot is one of the funniest of all time. I do agree that the ending of it is not that satisfying, but situations like this don't always have a satisfying ending in real life so I think it fits the theme of the episode in that regard.
New Kid on the Block is the better and more memorable episode. You had to reminded me of funny scenes from Bart's Girlfriend. The highest laugh in Bart's Girlfriend is Willie's Turtle scene which you could cut into other episodes. New Kid on the Block is still quoted in my circles to this day.
New Kid on the Block always felt like an episode where not very much happens compared to an episode like Bart's Girlfriend where it feels like there's more progression.
Man I have been waiting to see this! Love the Simpsons videos dude 😂
"Now my pants are chafing me" Good chat up line, Jimbo.
“Now that’s good labna” will forever be engrained in my head…
The B-plot for "New Kid on the Block" is so strong that I sometimes forget that it's the b-plot when looking back on it. Though idk if that's actually a point in favor of the episode or against it.
Dammit, now I finally realized the intro reminds me of Ducktales.
I will never unhear it!
As much as I love New Kid on the Block, I’d always pick Bart’s Girlfriend, mainly because of the dinner scenes with Bart and the Lovejoys, and the fact that Bart finally meets his match and sees what it feels like when things go too far - I just think the comedy is better and the overall story, as great as the other one is, is just superior and makes it a classic in my eyes. It’s always in my favourites to go back and rewatch
This is one where I like both at about the same level, so a great showdown to watch!
"Homer, I don't use the word 'hero' very often... But you are the greatest hero in American history". Like, when did we get too good for Lionel Hutz? The frying dutchman storyline blows the episode (and my sides) into the stratosphere. Also, with Homer the Heretic as my favorite episode, I enjoy the hangout.
If I may recommend a future Simpsons Showdown:
Bart vs. Australia vs. The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson
Great vid. Picked 2 episodes that really do go well In the vs format. Now do extra seconds- whacking day
I just realized that in Future-Drama, Jenda is wearing basically the same Army surplus jacket as Laura Powers when she dumps Bart. It's just a slightly different shade of green. Dude totally fell for a girl who reminded him of his first crush.
“Crook!”
“Thief!”
“Whydyoustealthemoneyfromthechurchcollectionplate!?”
“Give me a chance, hey can your grandfather do this?” “Hey hi, hey hi, hey hi!…aww”
Yay! New Simpsons Showdown! I ended up just thinking the series was dead honestly
i was just thinking its been a while since you've made one
Overall, I like New Kid on the Block best. For one, I had a thing for Sarah Gilbert as a teen. The "heart in the trash" scene will always be iconic. Also, Moe's oddly inappropriate hip-thrusting while watching the two teens make out through the window will always be creepy. However, the best joke (in my opinion) goes to Flanders' singing in Bart's Girlfriend. I die every time I see it. I also love Bart's "strut" parody from Stayin Alive.
You definitely deserve more subs. I love your content! Thank you!
Is nobody gonna mention the scene of Flanders singing in the church? Possibly the biggest laugh I've ever got from a Simpsons episode
I may not always agree with the final outcome of these, but I always appreciate the in depth analysis and thorough explanation of each rationality.
That said... I have to disagree.
I think you lost me when you argued that "nothing happens" in New Kid - You have the ultimate payoff for the prank call running gag escalating to part weaponizing Moe, and Moe literally running off with a rusty knife to make good on all his threats. The threat of Jimbo getting machete'd is a lot more action and higher stakes than... oh no, the Lovejoys are embarrassed by their sociopath of a daughter.
Sure, breaking up Rebecca and Jimbo seems like a small victory, but it's more than he got and more significant than anything vs. Jessica. Lisa calling her out in front of the congregation, and... her not really getting the kind of comeuppance she deserves. It's not a satisfying episode or conclusion, even if the emotional and character pathing for Bart are better. Those things are important, maybe the most important two issues, but... they're not so important as to override everything else.
Also the Frying Dutchman B-Plot alone is better than both stories, so that episode wins why default.
TheRealJims, you are the Greatest Hero in American History.
It was a good attempt Jim, but the battle was over the moment we saw 'ALL YOU CAN EAT'.
If Simpsons Showdowns are back, can we get Lisa's Substitute vs. Marge Be Not Proud? The ultimate Lisa and Homer vs Marge and Bart grudge match.