This is a much more satisfying explanation than the OPs dubious claim nothing is contradicted. Of course that is why she loves him, because Skinner lets her treat him like that. However, the real Sergeant Seymour Skinner hadn't died in Vietnam and returns to Springfield to reclaim his life and name. Armin then tells the story of the events that led him to steal Seymour Skinner's identity. Directed by Steven Dean Moore. By using our services, you agree to our use of cookies. In the Season 26 episode, "Walking Big & Tall", "The Principal and the Pauper" was officially revealed to be non-canon by a scene showing a young Seymour with Agnes. Then that night Agnes Skinner gives out to Skinner that they never go anywhere,she then drives up to school school and then the surprise party starts,but someone sees a sign saying Seymour Skinners 20th year of principal,the person then walks in and says that hes Seymour Skinner and then Principal Skinner confesses that hes an impostor and his real name is Armen Tanzerian. He defiantly responded by telling her to mind her own business and staying out at night going to bars.
I think it beautifully shows just how close a bond Seymour has with his ever-cranky and hilarious mother, as well as how much he means to the people of Springfield, even if it takes them a while to realise it following their initial shock and anger. Even Harry Shearer, who voiced Principal Skinner, hated the episode and criticized both the episode and the transcript for ruining Skinner's backstory, saying "this is wrong!".
Seymour Skinner is not only a bad character, but also completely pointless. Borat is back! This FAQ is empty. Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? After Agnes orders Armin to return home, Homer persuades Mayor Quimby and all the other citizens to allow Armin to resume his assumed identity as Principal Skinner.
Even Agnes Skinner misses Armin, since she had lived with him for 26 years, and does not believe her actual son still needs her. 18:55 – “I think Homer’s fear of having his brain eaten by jockeys is . The new older Skinner may be the real one but he's been gone for so long that he immediately feels like an intrusion and might as well be the imposter himself, which after so many years is what he has kind of become, and that's why the citizens soon reject him, and it's not like they don't give him a chance. Metacritic Reviews. It also suffers from the fact that Sgt. There have been plenty of stinkers after this one (especially in seasons 10 and 11), and while this episode had some funny gags, the sheer chutzpah of uprooting everything about Skinner's life was a fatal flaw in my book. And Skinner has been the lovably officious stuffed shirt that he is for so long that he comes off as an imposter when he pitifully tries to go back to his old life, and crotchety Agnes realism that they've been together for so long that he's more her real son than her real son!
Seymour Skinner, a war veteran who was imprisoned in a Viet Cong POW camp and left to suffer for decades, being banished from Springfield, which is just insulting. Not only did the episode ruin Skinner's backstory, it really showed how disrespectful it is to fans who enjoyed the show and the characters. https://simpsons.fandom.com/wiki/The_Principal_and_the_Pauper?oldid=918137. He has stolen the real Sergeant Seymour Skinner's identity and has become the principal to try and forget his useless past as a punk boy during Vietnam. Well for a start I wholeheartedly agree that the decision to reveal the longstanding character of Principal Skinner as an impostor was a completely unnecessary one, but I think maybe it wasn't a decision that was taken as lightly most think, because in the context of the story it did deepen Skinner as a character and made for some of the strongest character development with him that we ever see, and for me personally, even though it's the episode that calls his very character into question, it's his best one! Seymour Skinner. I actually really like this episode. The celebration goes well until a strange man arrives, claiming to be the real Seymour Skinner. If they were specific memories, he could recreate that soup at home. The episode was the last one of the show written by Ken Keeler.
Skinner is one of my favourite characters. The contrast with the commentary from “The Principal and the Pauper” is stark as hell. It aired in the United States on September 28th, 1997 with Martin Sheen guest starring as Sgt.
But it seems really like an desperate attempt to come up with something "funny / clever " and a really press the word "attempt" while it is at parts somewhat interesting to watch, it just doesn't make sense or even a too good joke. However, Agnes refuses to acknowledge it, stating that Armin is her real son, having been her son longer than the real Skinner has, and neither she nor Skinner need each other anymore. February 24, 2012 February 24, 2012 ~ Mike! Many fans have stated that after the airing of the episode, the show's "Golden Era" had come to an end, while other fans have said it was one bad episode and it should just be declared non-canon. The Principal and the Pauper Some people just over analyse it take it too seriously, it's a cartoon. Furthermore, they should have at least agreed not to let this sort of thing happen again, which would've been a decent way to maintain the status quo. (originally aired September 28, 1997) This episode is a little bit controversial. Use the HTML below. "The Principal and the Pauper" is the second episode of Season 9. And so, Sergeant Seymour Skinner is banished from Springfield and the Skinner we love (Armin Tamzarian) remains our friendly principal forever. Can I offer you a cup of coffee-flavored Bevering? This page was last edited on 30 September 2020, at 17:36. Matt Groening himself hated the episode and considers it to be non-canon. I never hated the episode when I first saw it. Several funny lines, such as Ralph Wiggum's. External Reviews He takes the job, but the real Skinner finds himself isolated by the townspeople after rudely berating Bart for insulting the Pledge of Allegiance with his antics.
I feel like someone who isn't one of the staff members working on the show at the time needs to come forth and defend this episode. This is memorable for being the start, though. However, Homer persuades them to forgive Armin and let him resume his identity as Principal Skinner. Cookies help us deliver our services.
The Principal and the Pauper is a good Simpsons episode but it is one of the most shocking episodes of the series. With Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. He instead allowed Agnes to call him Seymour, and took over Seymour's life. They add that "Martin Sheen steals the show in a brief but important slice of Simpsons history." Most episodes of shows I rate 1 are actually worth 0 but they don't let you rate a 0, the other I rate 0 are because I believe the rating is too high and needs to be lowered. Bill Oakley and Josh Weinstein with Mike Scully also have openly defended the episode. Nobody cares if people hate me for an episode nobody loves, I never liked to care anyway!". They are watchable but not really memorable or good. He refuses to give up his job and his dignity just because the people of Springfield prefer Armin to him. | Take your favorite fandoms with you and never miss a beat. I reckon that to some degree its reputation proceeds it. Bleep-bloop, I'm a bot. Plow is a loser (and I think he's a boozer), Mr. The pair had already written the season five episode "Sweet Seymour Skinner's Baadasssss Song", which was an in-depth study of the character.