Episode Title: Lisa's Substitute
Episode Number: 32
Original Air Date: April 25, 1991
Plot Synopsis: When Lisa's teacher Miss Hover comes down with Lyme disease, she is quickly replaced by a substitute in the form of Mr. Bergstrom. Bergstrom is quick to make an impression on the entire class and on Lisa in particular, who almost instantly develops a crush on him.
Right around the same time, Bart gets the wacky idea that he should run for class president. His opponent is Martin Prince, who would do a legitimately okay job. Bart, always needing to be the center of attention, doesn't care about any of that and decides to throw his hat into the ring. The two boys launch smear campaigns against run another in the days leading up to the election. Bart, it seems, is a lock for the popular vote.
Mr. Bergstrom asks Lisa if Homer helps her with her homework on the grounds that her homework is always so "neat" and "correct." Lisa immediately lets her disappointment in Homer be shown, which surprises him. Later on, Homer and Lisa run into Mr. Bergstrom at a museum. Bergstrom tells Homer that he needs to be a better role model for his daughter, which is advice he takes to heart but ultimately doesn't really know what to do with.
Soon Miss Hover returns, much to Lisa's shock. It seems that her Lyme disease fears were psychosomatic, and she's fine. This crushes Lisa, who heads to Bergstrom's apartment to try to talk to him. She finds out that he's already moved out, and catches up with him at the train station. He understands that she's disappointed but knows that she'll understand why he needs to leave. He gives her a note saying "You are Lisa Simpson," which is designed to encourage her whenever she's feeling down and alienated.
Oh, and because nobody actually bothered to vote except Martin and one other person, Martin wins the election much to Bart's shock and horror.
So anyway, when Lisa gets home that night she ends up taking out all her grief on Homer and calling him a baboon. At Marge's insistence and with what Bergstrom told him firmly in mind, he heads up to Lisa's room later on and fixes everything. He also manages to help Bart get over his election loss and he helps Maggie get to sleep, which leads him to proclaim that he's on "the biggest roll of his life."
Right around the same time, Bart gets the wacky idea that he should run for class president. His opponent is Martin Prince, who would do a legitimately okay job. Bart, always needing to be the center of attention, doesn't care about any of that and decides to throw his hat into the ring. The two boys launch smear campaigns against run another in the days leading up to the election. Bart, it seems, is a lock for the popular vote.
Mr. Bergstrom asks Lisa if Homer helps her with her homework on the grounds that her homework is always so "neat" and "correct." Lisa immediately lets her disappointment in Homer be shown, which surprises him. Later on, Homer and Lisa run into Mr. Bergstrom at a museum. Bergstrom tells Homer that he needs to be a better role model for his daughter, which is advice he takes to heart but ultimately doesn't really know what to do with.
Soon Miss Hover returns, much to Lisa's shock. It seems that her Lyme disease fears were psychosomatic, and she's fine. This crushes Lisa, who heads to Bergstrom's apartment to try to talk to him. She finds out that he's already moved out, and catches up with him at the train station. He understands that she's disappointed but knows that she'll understand why he needs to leave. He gives her a note saying "You are Lisa Simpson," which is designed to encourage her whenever she's feeling down and alienated.
Oh, and because nobody actually bothered to vote except Martin and one other person, Martin wins the election much to Bart's shock and horror.
So anyway, when Lisa gets home that night she ends up taking out all her grief on Homer and calling him a baboon. At Marge's insistence and with what Bergstrom told him firmly in mind, he heads up to Lisa's room later on and fixes everything. He also manages to help Bart get over his election loss and he helps Maggie get to sleep, which leads him to proclaim that he's on "the biggest roll of his life."
Overall Thoughts: This is my favorite episode of the series as of right this second. I know that I haven't seen every last episode, but this one has always been my favorite and it remains so after getting the chance to watch it again. This is one for the books, for a wide variety of reasons that I will explain in painful detail starting right now:
What Works: This episode features a truly amazing guest appearance from the great Dustin Hoffman. He's perfectly cast as Mr. Bergstrom and manages to somehow elevate already well-written material. I mean, I know this shouldn't come as any surprise. He's Dustin Hoffman. But still, it's worth noting that yes, he's even good in animated form.
I believe I've said before that Lisa episodes are always among my favorite, and "Lisa's Substitute" is why. She goes through quite the little emotional shift in this episode and comes out the other side a much stronger character. There is so much packed into these twenty-odd minutes, and the episode isn't even entirely devoted to Lisa's story. It's a "Lisa's first crush" AND "Lisa doesn't see Homer as a role model" episode rolled into one. The result is that there isn't one moment that seems wasted. On paper, I can see this one being a tough sell because it's heavy on emotion, but in my mind that makes it all the more impressive that it was pulled off as flawlessly as it was.
Speaking of, Lisa's perception of Homer versus her perception Mr. Bergstrom is pretty fascinating. I like that Mr. Bergstrom almost immediately sees the issue at hand and even confronts Homer about it. The result is that Homer and Lisa's relationship examined quite perfectly. The episode gives Lisa something - Mr. Bergstrom - and then immediately takes it away. The result is that we get to see Lisa's true feelings about what is left - namely, her own father. Again - this isn't only a shocking amount of sentiment for an animated show, but it's also shockingly well done.
There isn't one moment in the episode that seems forced to me. The plot requires Mr. Bergstrom to be awesome so that we believe that Lisa could develop a crush on him, and it succeeds in accomplishing that goal immediately. Mr. Bergstrom is genuinely awesome and it's easy to see what Lisa sees in him.
This episode also features a really wonderful Lisa and Marge bonding moment. Lisa is talking about the way Mr. Bergstrom makes her feel and Marge keeps insisting that Homer makes her feel the same way. Lisa is annoyed by this, to which Marge replies "We can talk, but you're just going to have to accept the fact that I feel that way about your father." It's great.
If you don't at least fight the urge to tear up by the time you get to "You are Lisa Simpson," you are likely some sort of soulless robot who hates love. Like a Terminator.
Even the B-story from this episode is solid. It never overstays it's welcome, and it always comes along at just the right times. It's hardly my favorite part of the episode, but I definitely think it's necessary to help prevent the piece from getting too bogged down with anything overly touchy-feely. It's a really nice juxtaposition.
Also, I think it's important to note how great the entire cast is in this one, particularly Yeardly Smith and Dan Castellaneta. This is the kind of episode that proves that the cast isn't just filled with good voice over actors but good actors, period. Now, I'm not trying to take anything away from great voice over actors and I'm certainly not trying to separate that profession from actors in general.
My point is this: when "Lisa's Substitute" aired in 1991, the show was already hugely popular. It was a cultural phenomenon. Bart is everywhere. The show doesn't have to do an episode like this to be successful. Yet it did. And it wouldn't have been able to do such an episode without an amazing cast to back it up. So not only is the idea that this episode exists crazy, but the idea that it's so good is also pretty mind boggling.
This is such a good episode, you guys.
I believe I've said before that Lisa episodes are always among my favorite, and "Lisa's Substitute" is why. She goes through quite the little emotional shift in this episode and comes out the other side a much stronger character. There is so much packed into these twenty-odd minutes, and the episode isn't even entirely devoted to Lisa's story. It's a "Lisa's first crush" AND "Lisa doesn't see Homer as a role model" episode rolled into one. The result is that there isn't one moment that seems wasted. On paper, I can see this one being a tough sell because it's heavy on emotion, but in my mind that makes it all the more impressive that it was pulled off as flawlessly as it was.
Speaking of, Lisa's perception of Homer versus her perception Mr. Bergstrom is pretty fascinating. I like that Mr. Bergstrom almost immediately sees the issue at hand and even confronts Homer about it. The result is that Homer and Lisa's relationship examined quite perfectly. The episode gives Lisa something - Mr. Bergstrom - and then immediately takes it away. The result is that we get to see Lisa's true feelings about what is left - namely, her own father. Again - this isn't only a shocking amount of sentiment for an animated show, but it's also shockingly well done.
There isn't one moment in the episode that seems forced to me. The plot requires Mr. Bergstrom to be awesome so that we believe that Lisa could develop a crush on him, and it succeeds in accomplishing that goal immediately. Mr. Bergstrom is genuinely awesome and it's easy to see what Lisa sees in him.
This episode also features a really wonderful Lisa and Marge bonding moment. Lisa is talking about the way Mr. Bergstrom makes her feel and Marge keeps insisting that Homer makes her feel the same way. Lisa is annoyed by this, to which Marge replies "We can talk, but you're just going to have to accept the fact that I feel that way about your father." It's great.
If you don't at least fight the urge to tear up by the time you get to "You are Lisa Simpson," you are likely some sort of soulless robot who hates love. Like a Terminator.
Even the B-story from this episode is solid. It never overstays it's welcome, and it always comes along at just the right times. It's hardly my favorite part of the episode, but I definitely think it's necessary to help prevent the piece from getting too bogged down with anything overly touchy-feely. It's a really nice juxtaposition.
Also, I think it's important to note how great the entire cast is in this one, particularly Yeardly Smith and Dan Castellaneta. This is the kind of episode that proves that the cast isn't just filled with good voice over actors but good actors, period. Now, I'm not trying to take anything away from great voice over actors and I'm certainly not trying to separate that profession from actors in general.
My point is this: when "Lisa's Substitute" aired in 1991, the show was already hugely popular. It was a cultural phenomenon. Bart is everywhere. The show doesn't have to do an episode like this to be successful. Yet it did. And it wouldn't have been able to do such an episode without an amazing cast to back it up. So not only is the idea that this episode exists crazy, but the idea that it's so good is also pretty mind boggling.
This is such a good episode, you guys.
What Doesn't Work: Not a goddamn thing. Really, I mean it.
Closing Thoughts: I'll say it again: this episode is really touching, funny, and wonderful. If someone were to ask me for an example of how powerful the show can be, this is the episode that I'd show them.
As a kid in 1991, I'm sure I wouldn't have liked this episode because it isn't laugh-out-loud funny from beginning to end. Watching it later on as an adult, however, this was the episode that made me go "Shit. I think I identify with Lisa more than anyone else."
Mr. Bergstrom also has a really great quote right before he gets on a train and rides out of Lisa's life forever: "That's the problem with being middle class - anybody who really cares will abandon you for those who need it more."
Final Grade (out of 10): 10As a kid in 1991, I'm sure I wouldn't have liked this episode because it isn't laugh-out-loud funny from beginning to end. Watching it later on as an adult, however, this was the episode that made me go "Shit. I think I identify with Lisa more than anyone else."
Mr. Bergstrom also has a really great quote right before he gets on a train and rides out of Lisa's life forever: "That's the problem with being middle class - anybody who really cares will abandon you for those who need it more."
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