Rich new neighbors trick Homer into approving elaborate renovations to the house next door. Meanwhile, Lisa takes action to stop Nelson after his bullying escalates.
At Springfield Elementary, there's a school assembly with an anti-bullying film seen. It proves to be counterintuitive, as it enrages Nelson into stepping up his bullying after he realizes grown-ups can be nerds too, giving a wedgie to the guest professor who made the film. Bart tries to relate to Nelson as the film instructed, but Nelson responded by giving Bart a wedgie over the water fountain, forcing everyone watching to record this action in landscape, or else. The professor admits that this happens in every school he shows the film to. Not even Principal Skinner is spared Nelson's wrath. With a laptop in hand, Lisa has an idea.
All worn out from a game of pickleball, Homer is exhaustedly eating some ice cream at the PQB across the street. Thayer appreciates that Homer is such a straightforward man, but Homer wants to know why someone like him is so interested in someone like himself, suspecting that Thayer is trying to sell him a car that he can't afford. Thayer claims he just wants to be a friend, and Homer reluctantly believes him, and asks for a test drive. Homer is thrilled, but there's no way a loser like him would be able to own a car so cool. Homer still thinks something is up, and Thayer mentions his house needs a few tweaks before reiterating he wants to be friends before mentioning someone else who also wants to be friends. With this second offer putting pressure on, Homer admits that he'll sign anything to become friends. Homer and Thayer and Marge and Anne are true couples friends, sparking jealousy in the Van Houtens and the Hibberts. Everything seems nice, then 7:00 AM the next morning rolls around, and Homer and Marge are awoken by the loud noises of construction. The house next door is being renovated, and Marge knows that Thayer tricked him.
Bart is so intimidated by Nelson's bullying that he tries to use the kindergarten entrance to the school, but is thwarted by a bunch of kindergartener bullies demanding lunch money despite going home for lunch. Lisa assures Bart he can use the regular entrance, Nelson won't be a problem. Nelson is being laughed at because Lisa has been getting back at his bullying with her own cyberbullying, having made a website with embarrassing videos of Nelson. After being shown Lisa also has footage of Nelson trying in vain to nurse a wounded hummingbird back to health, Nelson surrenders. He'll do whatever Bart and Lisa want.
Homer confronts Thayer at the Lambuggini dealership, angry that the "tweaks" are a complete renovation. He demands to know just how long this will take, and Thayer provides a non-answer. Thayer manages to ward off Homer's anger by giving him a free Lambo for as long as the renovations are happening, and a romantic drive in the Lambo was enough to ward off Marge's anger.
Bart and Lisa are the kids to be feared at school now, with Bart ordering Nelson around. But when Bart implicitly orders Nelson to squirt a juice box into his mouth, Nelson aims for the eyes. Lisa tries to upload a new video in retaliation, but her computer is frozen. Nelson has a nerd of his own to counter Lisa, and it's one of her classmates and someone she considered a friend, Hubert Wong. Nelson is back at the top of the food chain.
Construction on the Blackburn Mansion is still going on, the winds generated from the new air conditioning system breaking Homer's hammock, and the sheer scale of it all blacking out the backyard. Homer calls Thayer to give him a piece of his mind, but the Blackburns are getting away from the construction and taking an extended vacation in Bora Bora. There's nothing to do but sit and angrily mutter.
It's a showdown in the Springfield Elementary playground, a showdown between the nerds. Lisa VS Hubert. But as the two type on their laptops, they realize this would look bad on a college application. They reforge their bond, and Bart and Nelson, having forgotten what this was all about, they happily play on the teeter-totter.
Construction continues, and Homer and Marge are powerless to do anything, except possibly burn the house down and blame Grampa. But Lisa and Hubert have an answer to this. While doxxing her, Hubert found out that Evergreen Terrace was where Jebediah Springfield founded Springfield. The neighborhood is a historical landmark, and these renovations are not permitted, and neither can any renovations Homer can do to his house. Seeing this as a win-win, Homer returns the Lambuggini to the dealership, telling Thayer to go "fob" himself. Homer and Marge attempt to drive off into the sunset in the orange station wagon, but the engine stalls out.
The episode closes in the far future, 742 Evergreen Terrace now a museum to the Simpsons themselves.
Tropes:
- Bland-Name Product: Lambuggini is an obvious stand-in for Lamborghini and Bugatti. It's even called "Lambo" for short.
- Body Paint: After Nelson hands Bart over his vest, it's shown that Nelson's shirt is drawn onto him. Bart promptly gives the vest back.
- Brick Joke: Near the episode's beginning, Homer complains about one of the diagonal neighbors giving bad Halloween candy. During the credits scene, there's a picture of her with the label "Bad Halloween Candy Lady".
- Burn the Witch!: In the 1940s, 742 Evergreen Terrace was the site for a witch burning.
- Call-Back:
- During the couch gag/dream sequence, Homer's Lambuggini attempts to jump Springfield Gorge. It fails, but as it falls, Homer presses a button that makes it grow wings and propellers.
- Mention is made of Lisa becoming President in the Distant Finale credits, fitting in with her eventual fate in "Bart to the Future" and "Mother and Child Reunion"
- Homer's space suit is on display at the museum during the credits.
- Connected All Along: If the historical film seen in The Stinger is to be believed, Jebediah Springfield had a son and heir who strongly resembled Mr. Burns, implying Burns himself to be descended from the legendary town founder.
- Couch Gag:
- The pterodon version of Agnes Skinner from the evolution couch gag flies by the title.
- Homer has a fantasy about driving home in an impossibly cool Lambuggini, but upon reaching the couch, Marge tells him there's no food and the dog got sprayed by a skunk. Homer wakes up at work, mad at his imagination. This couch gag is alluded to in-universe, with Homer saying he's had a fantasy about owning a Lambuggini.
- Dream Sequence: The episode's Couch Gag ties into the episode as it being a fantasy Homer has had while sleeping at work.
- Distant Finale: The ending sequence for the episode takes place at an unknown point in the future, revealing that the Simpsons house becomes a museum dedicated to the family.
- Everyone Has Standards: Once Lisa starts blackmailing Nelson, Bart demands he hands over his vest. Upon realizing his shirt is just painted on, he returns it.
- Instant Humiliation: Just Add YouTube!: Lisa makes a website that collects embarrassing videos of Nelson to counteract his bullying.
- Landmark Declaration Gambit: Hubert Wong manages to stop the renovations to the house next door after discovering that the neighborhood was where Jebediah founded Springfield.
- "Lion King" Lift: The credits scene begins with one in a historical re-enactment of Jebediah founding Springfield, lifting his son over the townsfolk.
- Mooning: Right before the Simpsons are about to meet their new neighbors, Bart stands in front of the neighbor's front door, turns around and pulls down his shorts. The first thing the new neighbors see when they open the door is the ten-year-old troublemaker's butt.
- Running Gagged: Homer alludes to the fact he doesn't strangle Bart anymore, happily remarking "Times have changed."
- Shout-Out: The title is a pun based on McMillan & Wife.
- Special Guest: Dick Van Dyke appears in the Couch Gag, driving Chitty Chitty Bang Bang through the sky and almost running into Homer's flying Lambuggini.
- Thought Bubble: Moe pops up in a thought bubble after Homer sees that the Lambuggini comes with its own complimentary booze, reminding Homer that he goes to him for booze. Homer gets rid of this thought bubble by opening a window and having it be blown out.
