Ep 2. The Principal and the Pauper
- TV-PG
- September 28, 1997
- 22 min
-
6.9 (3,713)
In the ninth season of the hit animated series, The Simpsons, episode 2 is titled "The Principal and the Pauper". In this episode, the beloved principal of Springfield Elementary School, Seymour Skinner, is abruptly replaced by a new principal who claims that Skinner is a fraud, and that his real name is Armin Tamzarian. This shocking revelation completely disrupts the lives of the residents of Springfield, as they struggle to come to terms with the fact that the man they thought they knew was not who he claimed to be.
As the episode progresses, we see Skinner reminisce about his past, and we learn that he was originally a member of the United States Army who served in the Vietnam War. After the war ended, Skinner returned home and was mistaken for his friend Armin Tamzarian, who had died in the war. Feeling guilty for causing Tamzarian's family pain, Skinner took on Tamzarian's identity and moved to Springfield to start a new life as a school principal.
As the truth comes to light, Skinner's friends and colleagues struggle to accept his true identity, and Skinner himself struggles to come to terms with his past actions. Meanwhile, the new principal, a former street hustler named Billy, finds himself overwhelmed by the responsibilities of his new job, and he begins to question whether he's truly cut out for the role.
As always, The Simpsons delivers a powerful mix of comedy and drama in this episode, exploring important themes of identity, forgiveness, and redemption. With memorable performances from the show's talented voice cast, "The Principal and the Pauper" is a must-see episode for fans of the series.