History Recap / TheSimpsonsS15E21BartMangledBanner

* AccidentallyCorrectWriting: There really is a town called "Libertyville" in Illinois

* MyCountryTisOfTheeThatISting: The whole episode is a satire of post-9/11 American patriotism, taking specific potshots at the American Republican Party. Despite the fact that the show has often mocked the United States and both Democrats and Republicans some Americans were not amused. Which is odd, because near the end of the episode The Simpsons do migrate back to the USA, because they miss it, despite everything that happened.

The episode was panned by some American fans for its mean-spirited humor, disjointed storyline and satirizing American patriotism and the American Republican Party in a very stingy way. It has routinely ranked highly in lists of worst episodes ever made, finishing in the top spot in 2009 and 3rd in 2011, with only season 11's "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS11E19KillTheAlligatorAndRun Kill the Alligator and Run]]" and season 21's "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS21E16TheGreatestStoryEverDohed The Greatest Story Ever D'ohed]]"[[note]]the episode where The Simpsons go to Jerusalem on a religious trip and Homer deludes himself into thinking he's the Messiah after suffering from dehydration[[/note]] above it, though somehow it manages to be better (or worse) than "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS12E5HomerVsDignity Homer vs. Dignity]]" and "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS11E13SaddlesoreGalactica Saddlesore Galactica]]".

* PatrioticFervor: Mercilessly parodied, to the point that it came across as a heavy-handed AuthorTract the likes of which would make ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' in its seventh season [[EvenEvilHasStandards blush]]. Because this episode aired recently after the 9/11 attacks, which triggered a strong wave of patriotism in the United States.

* PoliticalCorrectnessGoneMad: The switch from Springfield to "Libertyville", including making everything themed with PatrioticFervor to the point it's actually stupid ''and'' dangerous (like changing traffic lights to red, white and blue and apparently not keeping the red on the regular "stop" position, or changing '''all''' of the prices of items for sale in town to $17.76, which would only allow items like pizza slices to prosper).

* {{Hypocrite}}: The patriotic Americans claim their country endorses liberty and freedoms, but they're battling freedom of speech by locking up people with liberal, leftist opinions (including Bill Clinton) and demonizing whoever dislikes America. The Simpsons got locked up in [[spoiler: Alcatraz]] just for controversial speech!

* NoodleIncident: Elmo is in Alcatraz because he "went to wrong fundraiser".
** [[ComicallyMissingThePoint And why is]] [[RiddleForTheAges Dr. Hibbert not allowed in the library anymore]]? All we know is that Moe did something to make that happen.

The episode was panned by some American fans for its mean-spirited humor, disjointed storyline and satirizing American patriotism and the American Republican Party in a very stingy way. It has routinely ranked highly in lists of worst episodes ever made, finishing in the top spot in 2009 and 3rd in 2011, with only season 11's "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS11E19KillTheAlligatorAndRun Kill the Alligator and Run]]" and season 21's "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS21E16TheGreatestStoryEverDohed The Greatest Story Ever D'ohed]]"[[note]]the episode where The Simpsons go to Jerusalem on a religious trip and Homer deludes himself into thinking he's the Messiah after suffering from dehydration[[/note]] above it, though somehow it's manages to be better (or worse) than "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS12E5HomerVsDignity Homer vs. Dignity]]" and "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS11E13SaddlesoreGalactica Saddlesore Galactica]]".

* DumbassHasAPoint: ''Homer'' correctly advises Bart and his family to just apologize about the incident and not say anything else to make things worse. However, [[TookALevelInDumbass Marge]] has to ruin it.

* {{Hypocrite}}:
** The patriotic Americans claim their country endorses liberty and freedoms, but they're battling freedom of speech by locking up people with liberal, leftist opinions (including Bill Clinton) and demonizing whoever dislikes America. The Simpsons got locked up in [[spoiler: Alcatraz]] just for controversial speech!
** The very pro-American police officers that the Simpsons perform a (rather mediocre, non-catchy) musical number for appear to be this. As while the Simpsons pretend to boast that the United States is better than every other country, the officers cheer for Bart's cries that America keep receiving oil from supplier countries such as Saudi Arabia which would confirm America does rely on foreign countries to help boost its economy.

* InstantlyProvenWrong: A tenth of a second after Lisa gives a speech in church that America is built on the concept of free speech, and that this has all been an overreaction and people should be ashamed, federal agents [[DynamicEntry burst through the church's windows]] and arrest the Simpson family at gunpoint for violating the [[ThoughtPolice "Government Knows Best" act]].

The episode was panned by some American fans for its mean-spirited humor, disjointed storyline and satirizing American patriotism and the American Republican Party in a very stingy way. It has routinely ranked highly in lists of worst Simpsons episodes ever made, finishing in the top spot in 2009 and 3rd in 2011, with only season 11's "Kill the Alligator and Run" and season 21's "The Greatest Story Ever D'ohed"[[note]]the episode where The Simpsons go to Jerusalem on a religious trip and Homer deludes himself into thinking he's the Messiah after suffering from dehydration[[/note]] above it, though somehow it's manages to be better (or worse) than "Homer vs. Dignity" and "Saddlesore Galactica".

* ArtisticLicenseHistory: Alcatraz hasn't been used as an actual prison since 1963, and these days, is a tourist attraction, so The Simpsons (along with Elmo, The Dixie Chicks, and anyone who opposes George W. Bush) should not have been locked away there. Though it could be that all these prisoners are in some sort of underground facility that the tourists would not know about.

* DumbassHasAPoint: Homer correctly advises Bart and his family to just apologize about the incident and not say anything else to make things worse. However, [[TookALevelInDumbass Marge]] has to ruin it.

* NoodleIncident: [[Series/SesameStreet Elmo]] is in Alcatraz because he "went to wrong fundraiser".

* RageBreakingPoint: Marge can't tolerate the talk show host's constant instigation towards her family (he just asks them if they hate America and which part of it in specific, rather than allowing them to explain what happened with Bart which is the reason they were allegedly invited), so when she finally snaps she sarcastically says that she hates America and a lot of things in it, ''especially'' crappy talk show hosts. [[NiceJobBreakingItHero It puts her family in deeper water, eventually leading to them getting arrested]].

* ShoutOut: The Simpsons escaping fleeing military surveillance while singing in public? You would expect them to sing [[Theatre/TheSoundOfMusic Edelweiss]].

* ArtisticLicenseGeography: The United States and Europe (which contains France) are separated by the Atlantic Ocean. Alcatraz Island is next to California, meaning the Pacific Ocean contains Alcatraz. Then a French ship arrives to save the Simpsons who were escaping Alcatraz. What??

* PersonalNonGrata: Thanks to Moe, Hibbert got banned from the library for reasons unknown.

* HalfwayPlotSwitch and RandomEventsPlot: It started with Bart going deaf from a bad innoculation and then becomes a satire of post 9/11 Patriotism.

* KafkaKomedy: The family become town pariahs after Bart accidentally moons the flag after a donkey rips his shorts off (although it did so as revenge for Bart torturing it with a carrot, which is pretty mean in the first place.)

* RepeatingSoTheAudienceCanHear

* ArtisticLicenseGeography: The United States and Europe are separated by the Atlantic Ocean. Alcatraz Island is next to California, meaning the Pacific Ocean contains Alcatraz. Then a French ship arrives to save the Simpsons who were escaping Alcatraz. What??

* ArtisticLicenseHistory: Alcatraz hasn't been used as an actual prison since 1963, and these days, is a tourist attraction, so The Simpsons (along with Elmo, The Dixie Chicks, and anyone who opposes George W. Bush) should not have been locked away there.

* PatrioticFervor: Mercilessly parodied, to the point that it came across as a heavy-handed AuthorTract the likes of which would make ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' in its seventh season [[EvenEvilHasStandards blush]].

* ActuallyPrettyFunny: Skinner brings up other times Bart has [[CryingWolf feigned illness for mischief]], showing Blind!Bart, Wheelchair!Bart, and Pregnant!Bart. He then adds that his personal favorite is Railroad-Spike-Through-Head!Bart.

The episode was panned by some American fans for its mean-spirited humor, disjointed storyline and satirizing American patriotism and the American Republican Party in a very stingy way. It has routinely ranked highly in lists of worst Simpsons episodes ever made, finishing in the top spot in 2009 and 3rd in 2011, with only season 11's "Kill the Alligator and Run" and season 21's "The Greatest Story Ever D'ohed"[[note]]the episode where The Simpsons go to Jerusalem on a religious trip and Homer deludes himself into thinking he's the Messiah after suffering from dehyrdation[[/note]] above it, though somehow it's manages to be better (or worse) than "Homer vs. Dignity" and "Saddlesore Galactica".

** The patriotic Americans claim their country endorses liberty and justice, but they're battling freedom of speech by locking up people with liberal, leftist opinions (including Bill Clinton) and demonizing whoever dislikes America. The Simpsons got locked up in [[spoiler: Alcatraz]] just for controversial speech!

* PompousPoliticalPundit: The talk show host who interviews the Simpsons. He tells the audience to tune in next time to hear him talk louder.

* TrickedIntoSigning: Homer upon a malpractice waiver agreeing not to sue Dr. Hibbert.