COUCH GAG 1: Bart flies off the couch and lands in front of the camera during the end credits. Decent but also very standard, for a first use of the concept does use it well, enjoyable nevertheless. 6/10.
If the first season of The Simpsons was about introducing the world to the dysfunctional family, then "Bart the Genius" fulfills its role to a tee. With tight writing, an intriguing plot, a proper introduction to the character of Bart, nuances and all, and genuinely emotional scenes (the playing catch scene), it's no wonder the episode is so highly regarded. That being said, it doesn't feel like it's doing anything to particularly reinvent the wheel, but in spite of that it leaves you warm, questioning whether being smart is a blessing or curse.
If the first season of The Simpsons was about introducing the world to the dysfunctional family, then "Bart the Genius" fulfills its role to a tee. With tight writing, an intriguing plot, a proper introduction to the character of Bart, nuances and all, and genuinely emotional scenes (the playing catch scene), it's no wonder the episode is so highly regarded. That being said, it doesn't feel like it's doing anything to particularly reinvent the wheel, but in spite of that it leaves you warm, questioning whether being smart is a blessing or curse.