History Recap / TheSimpsonsS7E23MuchApuAboutNothing

* ChekhovsGunman: Manjula first appeared as a little girl in Apu's flashback, in which Apu tells her that he is sorry that their arranged marriage will not happen, before he travels to the U.S. She comes back in "The Two Mrs. Nahasapeemapetilons" where Apu finds that he can't escape his arranged marriage with her.

* FalseCause[=/=]InsaneTrollLogic: an isolated bear attack leads the mayor to fund a massive Bear Patrol scheme. Homer claims that the lack of bears proves the Bear Patrol works, at which point Lisa points out that you might as well say that a rock keeps tigers away, since she's holding the rock, and she can't see any tigers. Homer's response? "[[ComicallyMissingThePoint Lisa, I want to buy your rock]]."

* XDaysSince: The sign outside the federal building reads "131 years without a Civil War."

* DisproportionateRetribution: It's even more hypocritical that Springfield bitches over a two-dollar tax increase, considering that among the vehicles the Bear Patrol uses to keep an eye out (and deal with) bears there is a ''B-2 "Spirit" Stealth Bomber''.

* DisproportionateRetribution: It's even more hypocritical that Springfield bitches over a two-dollar tax increase, considering that among the vehicles the Bear Patrol uses to keep an eye out (and deal with) bears there is a ''B-52 Stealth Bomber''.

* DisproportionateRetribution: It's even more hypocritical that Springfield bitches over a two-dollar tax increase, considering that among the Bear Patrol's vehicles there is a ''B-52 Stealth Bomber''.

* FantasticRacism: Everyone in Springfield has this toward bears.

* KickTheDog: The horrible treatment that immigrants suffer at the hands of Springfieldites. Special mention goes to the elementary school students (and principal) picking on Uter, a foreign exchange student who came to America legally. Even [[NiceGuy NED]] [[TookALevelInJerkass FLANDERS]] joins in!

-->'''Homer:''' Most of us here were born in America. We take this country for granted. But not immigrants like Apu. While the rest of us are drinking ourselves stupid, they're driving the cabs that get us home safely. They're writing the operas that entertain us every day. They're training our tigers and kicking our extra points. [[MixedMetaphor These people are the glue that holds together the gears of our society]]. If we pass Proposition 24, we'll be losing some of the truest Americans of all. When you go to the polls tomorrow, please vote no on Proposition 24."

* UnwittingInstigatorOfDoom: The Bear epically. It doesn't do anything to harm people it comes across and just walks around and sits down curiously. Yet people go into a mass panic. The incident is what spearheads the Bear Patrol and later on starts Proposition 24 when the citizens refuse to pay taxes for it.

* WindmillCrusader: The people of Springfield form an angry mob and demand the town government do something to protect them from "constant bear attacks." All because a total of ''one'' bear wandered into town, destroyed ''one'' mailbox, and was swiftly and painlessly taken down by Animal Control. Naturally the mayor forms a "Bear Patrol" and passes the cost onto the taxpayers.

* DemocracyIsBad: Stated by by Homer after a proposition is passed that requires all illegal immigrants to be deported.

* GuiltByAssociationGag: A rather dark one. The people of Springfield originally said they just wanted to get rid of ''illegal'' immigrants. Instead, [[AggressiveCategorism they tried to get rid of immigrants period]].

* BaitAndSwitch: After Apu reveals that he, too, is an illegal immigrant, Homer (one of the major proponents of the anti-immigration bill) has an empathetic expression and admits, "I got so swept up in the scapegoating and fun of Proposition 24 I never stopped to think it might affect someone I cared about. You know what, Apu?.... I'm really, really gonna miss you." And proceeds to staple an "I want you OUT" poster next to him. ** Later, during the party held to celebrate Apu's recently-gained American citizenship, Homer makes a speech that convinces the attendees to vote against Proposition 24. It still passes with a landslide.

* BaitAndSwitch: After Apu reveals that he, too, is an illegal immigrant, Homer (one of the major proponents of the anti-immigration bill) has an empathetic expression and admits, "I got so swept up in the scapegoating and fun of Proposition 24 I never stopped to think it might affect someone I cared about. You know what, Apu?.... I'm really, really gonna miss you." And proceeds to staple an "I want you OUT" poster next to him. Later, during the party held to celebrate Apu's recently-gained American citizenship, Homer makes a speech that convinces the attendees to vote against Proposition 24. It still passes with a landslide.

* BaitAndSwitch: After Apu reveals that he, too, is an illegal immigrant, Homer (one of the major proponents of the anti-immigration bill) has an empathetic expression and admits, "I got so swept up in the scapegoating and fun of Proposition 24 I never stopped to think it might affect someone I cared about. You know what, Apu?.... I'm really, really gonna miss you." And proceeds to staple an "I want you OUT" poster next to him.

* BittersweetEnding: Apu gets his American citizenship, [[spoiler:but the anti-immigration proposition is still passed.]]

* DemocracyIsBad: Stated by by Homer after [[spoiler:a proposition is passed that requires all illegal immigrants to be deported]].

-->'''Quimby:''' Is that crowd bigger or stupider?

* NoPronunciationGuide: Apu mispronounces the NY Mets as "the Nye Mets".

** The town in general won't get rid of the bear patrol, but aren't prepared to pay taxes for it.

* ValuesResonance: The episode's theme on illegal immigration and race issues is still relevant today (moreso now, considering Arizona's laws).
* WhatCouldHaveBeen: The working title for this episode was "The Anti-Immigrant Song", a play on Music/LedZeppelin's "Immigrant Song".