Bart The General.
This episode is perhaps the most reference-heavy Simpsons episode of season 1. With it's homages to several war films (Full Metal Jacket, The Longest Day, Stripes and especially Patton.) but within that, the show doesn't completely rely on film references, as it's actually a fairly entertaining episode in it's own right.
Even though the closing scene where Bart talks to audience about the grim realities of war (albeit somewhat humorously) the episode itself has what I feel to be a grim undertone of war hanging through it particularly through Grampa and Herman the one-armed clerk at the military goods store. Either through Herman's obsessive (even to the point of manic) seriousness to what is in reality a run-in between school children as well as Grampa's wry look on war (in particular his speech where he reminisces about the horrors of war and then praises the children for helping him relive his experience.)
Or maybe I'm just reading too much into it.
The interplay between the kids (especially Bart and Nelson, whom despite it being his first ever appearance is given quite a lot of air-time.) is inspired due to their dialogue towing the line between childish mocking and serious dislike which is as much a testament to the writers as it is to the voice over artists.
This in turn helps make Bart The General one of the all-over family-friendly episodes in The Simpsons (even if it is slightly grim) by it's use of both adult and child-friendly humour.
This episode is perhaps the most reference-heavy Simpsons episode of season 1. With it's homages to several war films (Full Metal Jacket, The Longest Day, Stripes and especially Patton.) but within that, the show doesn't completely rely on film references, as it's actually a fairly entertaining episode in it's own right.
Even though the closing scene where Bart talks to audience about the grim realities of war (albeit somewhat humorously) the episode itself has what I feel to be a grim undertone of war hanging through it particularly through Grampa and Herman the one-armed clerk at the military goods store. Either through Herman's obsessive (even to the point of manic) seriousness to what is in reality a run-in between school children as well as Grampa's wry look on war (in particular his speech where he reminisces about the horrors of war and then praises the children for helping him relive his experience.)
Or maybe I'm just reading too much into it.
The interplay between the kids (especially Bart and Nelson, whom despite it being his first ever appearance is given quite a lot of air-time.) is inspired due to their dialogue towing the line between childish mocking and serious dislike which is as much a testament to the writers as it is to the voice over artists.
This in turn helps make Bart The General one of the all-over family-friendly episodes in The Simpsons (even if it is slightly grim) by it's use of both adult and child-friendly humour.