The Yellow Badge of Cowardge
| "The Yellow Badge of Cowardge" | |
|---|---|
| The Simpsons episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 25 Episode 22 |
| Directed by | Timothy Bailey |
| Written by | Billy Kimball Ian Maxtone-Graham |
| Production code | SABF18 |
| Original air date | May 18, 2014 |
| Guest appearances | |
| |
| Episode features | |
Couch gag | The Simpsons (and Matt Groening) are part of a panel at the San Diego Comic Fest. When The Comic Book Guy asks whether or not there will be another Simpsons movie, everyone except Maggie leaves. |
"The Yellow Badge of Cowardge" is the twenty-second and final episode of the
Plot
In celebration of the last day of school,
As each student runs during the race, Milhouse leads the pack before Nelson and the bullies plan to sabotage him. Nelson waits for Milhouse at the pivotal turn of the race, punching him in the head. Bart sees this, but runs ahead of the race to win first place. As Bart is rewarded a blue ribbon for his victory, Milhouse emerges from the bushes, having contracted amnesia. Bart feels guilty and cannot confess the truth to Milhouse, even at a town ceremony honoring his victory. However, when one of the bullies slingshots a rubber band at Milhouse's forehead, he regains his memories and calls out Bart for lying.
The outraged townspeople chase Bart from the ceremony. Bart runs to the retirement home, to seek help from Grandpa, without much luck. Meanwhile, elsewhere, Homer enlists the help of a fireworks operator whom he knew as a child to execute a spectacular fireworks display for the town. On the Fourth of July, a fight breaks out between them as they are about to begin the celebration. The fireworks go awry, yet Bart quickly thinks on his feet to get the town to believe that Milhouse is the modest hero. That night, Bart gives his first place ribbon to Maggie.
Reception
Dennis Perkins of The A.V. Club gave the episode a C+, saying "After two straight episodes suggesting the enduring potential of The Simpsons, 'The Yellow Badge Of Cowardge' is a return to late-career form right in time for the end of the show's 25th season. Which is to say, it's a middling episode, indifferently constructed, whose chief pleasures come from familiarity and a few decent lines. It's not bad, it's not good—it's an acceptable half hour of television whose very adequacy damns it."[2]
Tony Sokol of Den of Geek gave the episode four out of five stars, saying "The Simpsons 'The Yellow Badge of Cowardge' was a good Springfield episode. The fourth of July is a good time to bring out the town and put them in stupid outfits and working muskets. The episode was funny, it taught a lesson. Probably the wrong lesson, but why quibble? And only Millhouse got hurt, which is probably the point. I also always like when the Simpsons lets Dan Castellaneta improv through songs in the fadeout. Pure unfettered Castellenata [sic]."[3]
The episode received a 1.6 rating and was watched by a total of 3.28 million people, making it the second most watched show on Animation Domination that night.[4]
References
- TVGuide. Retrieved May 20, 2014.
- ^ Perkins, Dennis (May 19, 2014). "The Simpsons: "The Yellow Badge Of Cowardge"". The A.V. Club. Retrieved May 20, 2014.
- ^ Sokol, Tony (May 19, 2014). "The Simpsons: The Yellow Badge of Cowardge, review". Den of Geek. Retrieved May 20, 2014.
- ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (May 20, 2014). "Sunday Final Ratings: 'The Amazing Race' & 'American Dream Builders' Adjusted Up". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on May 21, 2014. Retrieved May 20, 2014.
External links
- "The Yellow Badge of Cowardge" at IMDb
