History Recap / TheSimpsonsS4E21MargeInChains

** Helen Lovejoy's "testimony" full of gossip and slander of Marge's character not only wouldn't be admissible in a real trial but Helen would actually be looking at jail time herself for perjury, whether she [[BelievingTheirOwnLies believed in these lies herself]] or not.

** Helen Lovejoy's "testimony" full of gossip and slander of Marge's character not only wouldn't be admissible in a real trial but Helen would actually be looking at jail time herself for perjury. Whether she [[BelievingTheirOwnLies believed in these lies herself]] or not.

* {{Gaslighting}}: During the court case, Hutz attempts to manipulate Apu into believing his memory is faulty. He does this by asking Apu what color tie he is wearing and, when Apu not only tells him the color but what type of knot it's in, he not-so-discreetly takes it off and demonstrates his bare neck.

* TheDogBitesBack: Literally. When the Springfieldians riot over the Jimmy Carter statue, Wiggum attempts to sic the police dogs on the rioters. When Lou notes that they look angry, Wiggum explains that's because he's been mistreating the dogs to rile them up (such as starving them, teasing them and [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking singing off-key]]). The dogs proceed to tear him apart when they're set loose.

* JerkassBall: Apu, Sanjay and the majority of on-screen characters who gossip about Marge because she forgot to pay for the bourbon even though it was clearly an accident due to how stressed out she was. Special mention goes to [[GossipyHen Helen Lovejoy]], whose gossip mongering and testimony help get Marge thrown in prison.

* TheScourgeOfGod: Played for laughs. [[TheFundamentalist Ned Flanders]] believes that he got infected because God [[DisproportionateRetribution did not liked]] the fact that Ned [[TakeThat found ''Series/MarriedWithChildren'' [[TakeThat funny]].

*** This episode aired in 1993, eight years before George W. Bush became president. At the time this episode aired, Bush wasn't involved in politics at all, as he was still managing partner of the Texas Rangers and wouldn't run for governor of Texas until 1994.

* JerkassBall: Apu, Sanjay and the majority of on-screen characters who gossip about Marge because she forgot to pay for the bourbon even though it was clearly an accident due to how stressed out she was. Special mention goes to [[JerkWithAHeartOfJerk Helen Lovejoy]], whose gossip mongering and testimony help get Marge thrown in prison.

* {{Gaslighting}}: During the court case, Hutz attempts to manipulate Apu into believing his memory is faulty. He does this by asking Apu what tie he was wearing, not-so-discreetly hiding it away when Apu isn't looking, then demonstrating his bare neck.

* HongKongDub: Parodied; the two Japanese factory workers' dialogue is deliberately wildly out of sync to give the impression it has been dubbed.

** Helen Lovejoy's "testimony" full of gossip and slander of Marge's character not only wouldn't be admissible in a real trial but Helen would actually be looking at jail time herself for perjury. Whether she [[BeliveInTheirOwnLies believed in these lies herself]] or not.

** Helen Lovejoy's "testimony" full of gossip and slander of Marge's character not only wouldn't be admissible in a real trial but Helen would actually be looking at jail time herself for perjury.

* NoodleIncident: What did Hutz do to piss off the National Council of Churches so much that it resulted in a lawsuit?

* NoodleIncident: What did Hutz do to piss of the International Council of Churches so much?

** Even though it worked as Dr. Nick intended, Sun 'N Run could also be seen as this. Troy ''instantly'' has to head to the men's room after using it.

* KangarooCourt: Poor Marge gets put through this, experiencing a FelonyMisdemeanor and untrustworthy testimonies to receive an excessive and unnecessary sentence.

** The majority of Springfield treating Marge like a pariah comes back to bite them big time when riots break out after the city purchases a statue of Jimmy Carter instead of Abraham Lincoln, all because they couldn't raise enough money to buy Lincoln. The reason behind this is because, had Marge been able to help out with the bake sale used to fund the statue's purchase, they would've made just enough to buy Lincoln.

Episode - 9F20\\
First Aired - 5/6/1993

"Marge in Chains" is the twenty-first episode of the fourth season of ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons''. In this episode, Marge is tried and imprisoned for shoplifting a bottle of bourbon. Her time behind bars however makes Springfield go haywire.

* CannotKeepASecret: Chief Wiggum mentions to Mayor Quimby that Marge was arrested for shoplifting, telling him not to tell anyone. Quimby [[WorstNewsJudgementEver not only makes a public announcement of the fact]] but [[{{Spoiler}} spoils]] ''Film/TheCryingGame'' for good measure.

* CannotKeepASecret: Chief Wiggum mentions to Mayor Quimby that Marge was arrested for shoplifting, telling him not to tell anyone. Quimby [[WorstNewsJudgementEver not only makes a public announcement of the fact]] but [[AllThereIsToKnowAboutTheCryingGame spoils]] ''Film/TheCryingGame'' for good measure.

* UnwittingInstigatorOfDoom: A juice loosener factory worker refuses to take a sick day, which sends an epidemic to the places they were shipping.

** Even though it worked as Dr. Nick intended, Sun 'N Run could also be seen as this. Troy *instantly* has to head to the men's room after using it.

** Even though it worked as Dr. Nick intended, Sun 'N Run could also be seen as this. Troy *instantly* has to head to the men's room after using it.

--->'''Random Townsperson:''' He's history's greatest monster!