Separate Vocations

There is so much layered quality in this episode.

On the serious side

• an excellent critique of the cooky cutter education system
• an exploration of the power of encouragement and dismissal. How a young persons trajectory is so delicate. Which is quite horrifying given the first point.

• homer and Marge learning a bitter sweet lesson that their kids don't wish to follow in their footsteps and this is due to their own dreams being unfulfilled. But they accept this because they love their children and want their lives to be better than theirs.

• some very touching without being overly sentimental characterisation concerning Bart and Lisa's sibling bond. They walk a mile in each other's shoes and are the closer for it.

These serious themes are all interlaced with multilayered gags that keep the tone light and are very funny. Seeing Skinner and Bart become like prohibition era cops was hilarious.

The episode even managed to throw in a hilarious take down of too much authority and fascism.

So much high quality writing crammed into 20min and despite this it flows beautifully. 10/10.

Both Bart and Lisa take the same test on possibilities in their vocational lives. Bart manages to use his devious nature to disrupt things. Lisa wants to be a blues saxophonist and is told by a teacher her fingers are too short. This destroys her ambitions. Bart has a case of conscience.

I've seen over half of all episodes, and only around 25 of them really stick out to me. This one has a very good plot and is one of the first times we see Bart and Lisa pretty much switch personalities. I also thing that it is good because Lisa always gets praised and is the favorite child, and she feels what it's like being let down.

The story was little different this time and the ending really gave me goosebumps.

This USED to be a good episode back when it was first released. Sadly, since season 16 and in particular with the episode On A Clear Day I Can't See My Sister, this whole episode has been pretty much meaningless and forgotten about. That's a real problem I have (personally). You'd have thought in that episode Lisa would remember what Bart does in this episode, but I guess not, and the writers and producers of the episode On A Clear Day I Can't See My Sister just wants us all to forget about the episode Separate Vocations. Well, you... have got your wish. Congratulations. I'm so done with The Simpsons.