Ep 9. Saturdays of Thunder
- TV-PG
- November 14, 1991
- 22 min
-
7.9 (3,513)
Bart Simpson has always been a troublemaker in Springfield. From his constant pranks to his less than stellar academic performance, he's always been a bit of a black sheep in the Simpson household. However, in season 3 episode 9 of The Simpsons titled "Saturdays of Thunder", Bart finally finds something he's naturally good at: building soapbox racers.
At school, Bart's class is assigned the task of building their own soapbox racers and racing them against each other. Bart, who has always been mechanically inclined, excels at building his racer and quickly becomes the envy of his peers.
Meanwhile, Homer Simpson is struggling with the realization that he's not a great father. After losing out to a colleague for a promotion at work, his self-esteem is at an all-time low and he's worried that he's not doing enough to support his family. He decides to take action by signing Bart up for the soapbox derby, hoping to bond with his son and help him win the competition.
As Homer begins training Bart for the race, the two of them begin to bond over their shared love of building things. However, their newfound relationship is not without its bumps. Homer's tendency to push Bart too hard often leads to arguments, leaving Bart feeling overwhelmed and stressed out.
Despite the tension between them, Bart manages to build an incredible soapbox racer, much to the surprise and admiration of his classmates. On the day of the race, Bart and Homer head to the track to compete against the other kids in the derby.
As the race begins, Bart quickly takes the lead and seems poised to win. However, disaster strikes when his racer's wheels come off, causing him to crash and lose the race. Bart is devastated by the loss, feeling that he's let everyone down. However, Homer reminds him that winning isn't everything and that he's proud of him for trying his best and building such an amazing racer.
In the end, Bart learns a valuable lesson about the importance of family and the value of hard work. And while he may not have won the race, he's won something far more important - his father's love and support.
Overall, season 3 episode 9 of The Simpsons is a heartwarming and entertaining family-friendly episode that highlights the importance of perseverance and the power of familial love. With a well-crafted storyline and plenty of laughs, it's a classic installment of the long-running series that will no doubt continue to resonate with audiences for years to come.