History Recap / TheSimpsonsS18E8TheHawHawedCouple

* AnAesop: Fiction exists to entertain the reader, and if the reader finds the most enjoyment by ignoring the ending and writing their own fanfiction, that's a valid choice too.

* HardTruthAesop: "It's okay to lie to your kids to protect their innocence" is one that many parents would agree with, but an unusual moral for a show. Notably, it is coupled with the Aesop that "they will understand someday, when/because they're old enough to think for themselves".

* DisneyOwnsThisTrope: "Ha ha! I am Doctor Octopus, archfoe of Creator/MarvelComics' ''ComicBook/SpiderMan''!"[[note]]Ironically, this episode aired three years before Disney owned Marvel[[/note]]

* ShoddyShindig: Although Nelson's birthday party featured boxes of pizzas, a jumping castle and Franchise/SpiderMan, only Bart Simpson showed up to the party because Bart's parents demanded him to go. Nelson's [[TheBully personality]] and Bart's RousingSpeech to his fellow classmates not to go certainly didn't help in that matter. It does get [[ZigZaggingTrope zigzagged]], however, when Nelson has fun with Bart in taking down Doctor Octopus.

* FixFic: After Homer reads ahead in ''Angelica Button and The Dragon King's Trundle Bed'' (and learns that Greystash is killed by Malicious Krubb after saving Angelica), when he finds himself reading that very same chapter to Lisa, he decides to reinvent the ending: Greystash uses his "mustache power" to defeat Malicious Krubb, Angelica escapes from the trap "somehow", and the two ride off in his sports car. After Homer leaves, Lisa decides to look at the chapter herself.

* WritingByTheSeatOfYourPants: InUniverse, Homer decides to rewrite the ending to the Angelica Button book he was reading to Lisa after reading ahead and seeing that [[DownerEnding the mentor figure died]]. Half because he was thinking it up in the moment and half because of his own shortcomings as a writer, the resolution is nonsensical involving [[ItMakesSenseInContext mustache power]] but nonetheless a HappyEnding. Lisa reads the chapter for herself [[BetterThanCanon and preferred Homer's rewrite]].

* BetterThanCanon: Lisa's InUniverse reaction to Homer's revised ending for ''Angelica Button''.

-->'''Milhouse:''' Trust me Bart, it's better to walk in on both your parents than on [[ADateWithRosiePalms just one of them]].

* AbusiveParents: Marge surprisingly actually hits Bart on the head with a spoon after finding out he convinced his classmates not to go to Nelson's birthday party and threatens to hit him with a whole set of utensils if he doesn't start thinking about others. She also raises the spoon threateningly when she tells him he's going to that part.

* AbusiveParents: Marge surprisingly actually hits Bart on the head with a spoon after finding out he convinced his classmates not to go to Nelson's birthday party and threatens to hit him with a whole set of utensils if he doesn't start thinking about others. She also raises the spoon threatening when she tells him he's going to that part.

* AbusiveParents: Marge surprisingly actually hits Bart on the head with a spoon after finding out he convinced his classmates not to go to Nelson's birthday party and threatens to hit him with a whole set of utensils if he doesn't start thinking about others.

* NegativeContinuity: Nelson has been a BullyTurnedBuddy to Bart many times in previous episodes, but in this episode Bart balks at the idea of being friends with him.

* PrimalScene: Bart walks in on his parents having sex and is traumatized about it in school.

%%* NWordPrivileges: Parodied with the word "Bully".

* AnAesop: Fiction exists to entertain the reader, and if the reader finds the most enjoyment by ignoring the ending and writing their own fanfiction, that's a valid choice too.
* BaitAndSwitch: Skinner informs Bart that Nelson never woke up... because he never passed out.

** HandWave: "I somehow escaped from the hourglass!"

* NWordPrivileges: Parodied with the word "Bully".

* {{Yandere}}: Nelson, a non-romantic example.

* BadassMustache: Homer's revised ending to the ''Angelica Button'' book, where Greystash activates his "mustache powers," causing his mustache to enlarge and flex like muscular arms that punch Malicious Krubb into submission.

* {{Yandere}}: Nelson, a non-romantic example.
* WouldHurtAChild: Marge surprisingly actually hits Bart on the head with a spoon after finding out he convinced his classmates not to go to Nelson's birthday party and threatens to hit him with a whole set of utensils if he doesn't start thinking about others.

* {{Yandere}}: Nelson, a non-romantic example.

* WhatTheHellHero: While on the field trip, Nelson calls out Bart for being a bad friend.