Line #5 Recap/TheSimpsonsS16E3SleepingWithTheEnemy


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/sleeping_with_the_enemy.jpg]]
2	'''Original air date:''' 11/21/2004
3
4	'''Production code:''' FABF-19
5
6	In the final episode written by GoldenAge Simpsons writer Jon Vitti, Nelson moves in with the Simpsons while Lisa purposely starves herself to lose weight in her allegedly big butt.
7
8	----
9	!! Tropes:
10	* AbusiveParents: Nelson's mom has been seen before as simply neglectful but here, she's considerably crueler.
11	* AdultsAreUseless: [[SuckySchool As expected]], none of the staff takes any action against Sherri and Terri's bullying of Lisa.
12	* AssholeVictim: The prank Nelson pulls on Sherri and Terri. Given that they are the reason why Lisa develops an eating disorder, it's very satisfying seeing both of them getting what they deserve.
13	-->'''Nelson:''' He who "ha-ha"s last, "ha-ha"s best!
14	* BittersweetEnding: Nelson is reunited with his dad, but Lisa's body image issues haven't been resolved, and will likely be a recurring problem throughout her life. Homer lampshades this as not being a conclusive enough ending.
15	* {{Bowdlerization}}: On the UK's Channel 4, the scene of Marge telling Nelson's mother "Go home, Mrs. Muntz. AND TRY NOT TO HAVE INTERCOURSE ON THE WAY!" had the "try not to have intercourse on the way [home]!" cut.
16	* TheBully: Sherri and Terri spend the whole episode tormenting Lisa to the point where she develops an eating disorder.
17	* CompressedVice: {{Subverted}} with Lisa's disordered eating; at the end she points out that her unhealthy obsession with her weight isn't something that's going to be quickly or easily resolved. Homer is stressed that it can't be fixed with a simple lesson.
18	-->'''Homer:''' Come on! Say something conclusive!
19	* CouchGag: The Simpsons arrive to find the couch missing. It then falls on top of them.
20	* DisappearedDad: Bart finds Nelson's father, who had been in a freak show after suffering a peanut allergy.
21	* DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything: Bart sees Marge mothering Nelson and, naturally, reacts like the cheated party in an affair.
22	-->'''Bart:''' My mother? My bully? ''[[RuleOfThree My God!]]''
23	* EnragedByIdiocy: During a game of "Duck, Duck, Goose", Bart gets fed up of Ralph repeatedly saying "Duck" and snaps "Say "Goose", you stupid freak!"
24	* HardTruthAesop: People's words can have a harsh impact on others that may stick with them for a long time, or even for the rest of their lives. Standing up to the bully may make you feel better in the short term, but long-term effects will still remain.
25	* InformedDeformity: The B-plot revolves around Lisa being told by Sherri and Terri that her butt is too big. However, from what's seen, her butt doesn't look any bigger than most of the other Springfield kids. According to Homer, Lisa has the "Simpson butt"--a body structure similar to that of himself and Bart ([[GenericCuteness and many other male characters in the show]]) represented by a round midsection comprising the whole abdomen. It's possible that her dress slims it down.
26	* {{Jerkass}}: Sherri and Terri. They [[KickTheDog fat shame Lisa]] by saying her butt was supposedly "too big" and cause her to develop an eating disorder. LaserGuidedKarma strikes them hard after Nelson helps Lisa [[TheDogBitesBack get revenge on them]].
27	* JerkassHasAPoint: Bart gets a perfect score of 100 on a test and tries to cash the reward he's been promised in such an event, but Homer flat-out refuses to believe he got the grade legitimately despite failing to find any evidence of cheating, and even strangles him when his interrogation falls flat. While Bart ''did'' get a licit 100, it was only on a technicality: Mrs. Krabappel quizzed the class on state capitals and forgot to roll up the map, meaning that every student in the class got a perfect score, which she simply let stand. It should also be noted that Bart had conned Homer in the past. If anything, Homer not trusting Bart is justified, if a bit cruel.
28	* KidsAreCruel: Lisa's obsession with losing weight comes from unprovoked teasing from Sherri and Terri. This only leads her down a deeper rabbit hole about body image and beauty standards.
29	* LaughingMad:
30	** Bart when Homer fails to turn up any evidence that he cheated to get a 100 on a test and chokes him anyway.
31	** Lisa when, after days of disordered eating, she snaps and eats a whole cake.
32	* LeaningOnTheFourthWall: Explaining to Lisa that she inherited the "Simpson butt," Homer breaks down his own proportions by drawing a picture of himself that doubles as a how-to-draw guide for the viewer. He notes that "for some reason" his hair and ear form [[Creator/MattGroening an M and a G]].
33	* MicroDieting: PlayedForDrama when Lisa thinks she's fat because Sherry and Terri [[MockingSingSong sang]] that she had a "big butt" on the playground. She doesn't want to eat more than a tiny bite of carrot.
34	* MyNewGiftIsLame: The gifts that Bart gets for his party include a birdhouse, a thesaurus, a rake (from Homer), and a "Premiere Credit Union" cup. Of course, none of this is relevant to his interests.
35	-->'''Homer:''' Oh, what's the big deal? Bart didn't like his presents. So what? It's not like he gives us such great gifts. [[CrappyHomemadeGift Remember that maple leaf ironed between the sheets of wax paper? What was that? That was crap!]]
36	* OverlyLongGag: Ralph playing "Duck, Duck, Goose", until Bart scolds him. He later comes back and resumes the game with ''the objects in the room''.
37	* ParentNeverCameBackFromTheStore: Nelson's dad went to the store a few years ago and never came back. It is later revealed that he actually did to go to the store, at which point he suffered a peanut allergy and got abducted into a circus sideshow; later episodes ignore this, however, and portray him as if he still abandoned the family.
38	* ReadingForeignSignsOutLoud: In the Spanish dub, the "Premiere Credit Union" label on the cup is read by Bart, while Skinner's "test fraud" watermark is read aloud by Homer.
39	* SeriesContinuityError:
40	** [[TheMagazineRule Sherri and Terri read]] ''First-Born Twin'' and ''Second-Born Twin'' magazine, with Patty and Selma (respectively) on the covers. In "Principal Charming" Selma says that Patty is two minutes younger.
41	** Nelson's dad has been shown in previous episodes, as well as being implied to be either in jail or willingly estranged from Nelson and his mother. Here, it's shown that he became a circus attraction.
42	** Homer cannot for the life of himself believe that Bart scored 100% on a test, to the point of interrogating him and calling him a liar. However, Bart ''has'' got an A on a test before (specifically, in "Homer vs Dignity), without cheating.
43	* SmellySkunk: Nelson avenges Lisa by giving Sherri and Terri a box with a skunk inside. They get sprayed and called "Smelly Sherri and Smelly Terri" by the other kids.
44	* ShoutOut:
45	** Homer watches Creator/{{ABC}}, with the announcer ''begging'' viewers to please watch ''Series/TheGeorgeLopezShow''.
46	** Nelson sings "Papa, Can You Hear Me?" from ''Film/{{Yentl}}''.
47	* StatusQuoIsGod: Nelson's dad goes back to being missing in the following episodes, with his disappearances becoming a RunningGag to Nelson's family misfortunes.
48	* TakeThat: Bart decides that Lisa going crazy and jumping into a cake is better than Nelson [[Film/{{Yentl}} singing]] [[Music/BarbraStreisand Streisand]].
49	* WeightWoe: Sherri and Terri make fun of Lisa for supposedly having a big butt, causing her to develop an eating disorder.
50	* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: Marge takes Nelson to the dentist, but neither the visit nor the results are shown or discussed.

Context Recap / TheSimpsonsS16E3SleepingWithTheEnemy