We all at one point or another have given into conformity. Whether it is giving up on a friend just because a bunch of other kids told you to do it, or it is doing something that you don't feel comfortable doing just because you want to fit in, we've all been there. We are human and we make mistakes. As one grows older, one may think that they are intelligent enough to avoid giving into peer pressure, but we actually subconsciously conform everyday without knowing it.
Anyway, in this episode, Bart also fucks up big time by cutting the town founder's head off. But before all that, we see some great Simpsons meta on the church. From the Sunday school teacher telling that all Christianity is is blind faith, to Homer pointing out the redundancy of human being apes and apes not going to heaven, it's all great mockery of religion that the Simpsons will continue to do in later years.
When Bart manages to get five bucks out of Homer to watch a movie, he meets Jimbo, Kerney and Dolph. Here we get our first look at the extended bullies of the schoolyard. The three bullies are truly malicious. From bullying kids to stealing from the Kwik-E-Mart, they truly are the bad models that parents tend to tell their children to avoid. However, Bart is just a kid trying to fit in. Unlike the Jimbo, Bart is merely mischievous, but not bad inside. We see Bart being pressured into doing things that he is not comfortable with. From throwing rocks at the statue, to sneaking into a movie, Bart would never do those things on his own. But because he looks up to Jimbo and hopes to gain recognition from the bullies or just to be "cool", he gives into peer pressure and does so.
When Bart is given the impression that the bullies will like him if he cuts Jebidiah's head off, Bart sneaks out at night to do so. His determination is reinforced by typical Homer's bad advice of popularity being everything. After Jebediah loses his head, the town goes into frantic mode. From Krusty telling children to betray their family members to Grampa wanting to cut the head off of the perpetrator, we see the impulsiveness of the town and the general stupidity of the people. With the growing pressure of the community, Bart eventually gives in and tells the truth to the family. As a result, Homer takes Bart to put the head back on Jebidiah.
On the way there, Homer and Bart meets a lynch mob out for blood, and is trapped and is on the brink of being torn to shreds before Bart makes an impassioned speech and puts the head back on Jebidiah's neck. The mob is moved and decides to let Homer and Bart go. I do buy this because of the nature of the Springfield mob. The people are generally stupid and really doesn't acutally know why they are there, but they just like to be in a mob, so the mob is easily swayed . So when a little boy makes a speech like that, it is probable that the mob will be easily swayed into not tearing Homer and Bart apart.
While this episode isn't anything special, we do get our further reinforcement in the characterisation of Bart and we get our first intro of Jimbo, Kerneay and Dolph. We also get some mockery of religion so in general I don't have any complaints.
Characterisation: 5/5
Plot: 3/3
Subjective: 1/2
Overall: 9/10
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