Bart the General was the fifth non short Simpsons episode released on television. The episode deals with Bart's troubles with the school bully, Nelson Muntz. It is the first episode with the Grampa Simpson character.

Episode details

Production Number: 7G05
Original Air Date: February 4, 1990
Writer: John Swartzwelder
Director: David Silverman

Synopsis

Lisa makes cupcakes for her teacher, offering one to Otto Mann and another, which fell on the bus floor, to Bart. At school, one of Nelson's friends swipes the cupcakes and Bart gets in a fight over the theft. Nelson shows up and Bart bloodies his nose; Nelson and his two friends meet Bart after school and beat him, then put him in a trash can and roll him down a hill. Bart is unable to stop the bullying and Lisa suggests that he go talk to Grampa Simpson at his rest home.

When Bart arrives, Grampa is typing a letter decrying the television depiction of elderly people as happy and energetic. Jasper enters the room and he and Grampa get in a fight over a newspaper; Grampa loses and Jasper takes the newspaper and leaves. Grampa takes Bart to a military supply store for help with his problem. The one-armed proprietor of the store is crazy, but gives Bart and his fellow students military training. Together they surround Nelson and his crew and bombard them with water balloons; Nelson surrenders and is tied up. Bart is ready to release him until Nelson says he will just beat him up again; then Nelson and his conquerors draft a peace treaty. Bart unties Nelson; Marge brings cupcakes and everyone shares them.

After the show, Bart addresses the audience directly from a table top in a library, noting that war is "neither glamorous nor fun."

This episodes introduces Nelson Muntz and Grampa Simpson (previously seen only in photos at the Simpsons house), as well as Jasper (previously seen in the background during Homer's presentation to the City Commission in Homer's Odyssey)

Memorable Quotes

• "I thought I was too old. I thought my time had passed. I thought I'd never hear the screams of pain, or see the look of terror in a man's eyes. Thank heaven for children!" -- Grampa Simpson

• "There are no good wars (with the following exceptions: The American Revolution, World War II, and the Star Wars trilogy)." -- Bart in the conclusion of the episode

Parodies

• Full Metal Jacket
• The Longest Day
• Patton
• The famous World War II photo, shot by Alfred Eisenstaedt, showing a sailor kissing a woman in a busy street (featuring Lisa and a boy whom Lisa slaps after the camera flashes).