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Difference between revisions of "Revenge Is a Dish Best Served Three Times"

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{{Episode
{{episode
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|image= Homerbast.png
|image = Homerbast.jpg
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|number=389
|productionCode = JABF05
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|season=18
|originalAirdate = January 28, [[2007]]
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|snumber=11
|blackboardText =
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|prodcode= JABF05
|couchGag = The Simpsons climb onto the couch as babies, but quickly grow up into their proper ages.
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|airdate= January 28, [[2007]]
|Written By = [[Joel H. Cohen]]
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|couchgag= The Simpsons climb onto the couch as babies, but quickly grow up into their proper ages.
|Directed By = [[Michael Polcino]]
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|showrunner1= Al Jean
 +
|writer= [[Joel H. Cohen]]
 +
|director= [[Michael Polcino]]
 
}}
 
}}
  
"'''Revenge is a Dish Best Served Three Times'''" is the eleventh episode of the eighteenth season.
+
"'''Revenge is a Dish Best Served Three Times'''" is the eleventh episode of [[season 18]] of ''[[The Simpsons]]'' and the three-hundred and eighty-ninth episode overall. It originally aired on January 28, [[2007]]. The episode was written by [[Joel H. Cohen]] and directed by [[Michael Polcino]].
 
 
This is one of several Simpsons episodes which are considered [[anthology episodes]] that features mini-stories.
 
  
 
== Synopsis ==
 
== Synopsis ==
{{Desc|After the Simpsons' car breaks down, the family tells each other tales of revenge gone wrong. Marge offers a cautionary tale of revenge from 19th-century France, where Homer is charged with treason; Lisa tells of a nerd revenge at Springfield Elementary involving Milhouse leading the nerds to overthrow the bullies; and Bart's story follows the great crime-fighter Red Revenge}}
+
{{Desc|After being cut off while driving, [[Homer]] decides that he wants revenge. The family then offers up three stories about why revenge may not always be a good thing. [[Marge]] retells The Count of Monte Cristo, [[Lisa]] tells a story about [[Milhouse]] getting revenge on the school bullies, and [[Bart]] tells a story about him becoming the superhero {{ap|Bartman|Revenge Is a Dish Best Served Three Times}}.}}
  
 
== Plot ==
 
== Plot ==
After the Simpsons' car is cut off by the [[Rich Texan]], [[Homer]]'s lust for revenge prompts his family to tell three stories of vengeance, hoping to convince Homer that pursuing revenge is not a good idea.
+
As the [[Simpson family]] are driving to the airport to go to [[Hawaii]], [[The Rich Texan]] cuts in front of the car. This angers Homer who decides that he wants revenge on The Rich Texan. To try and convince him otherwise, Marge tells him a story.
  
 
=== The Count of Monte Fatso ===
 
=== The Count of Monte Fatso ===
[[Marge]] offers a cautionary tale of revenge from Nineteenth-Century France, based on Alexandre Dumas's ''The Count of Monte Cristo''.
+
[[File:The Count of Monte Fatso.png|thumb|left]]
 +
In [[Paris]] in the 1800s, Homer, Marge, Bart, and Lisa are a happy, rich family. However {{ap|Meaux|Revenge Is a Dish Best Served Three Times}} is jealous of Homer because he wants to be with Marge instead. To get his wish, Meaux decides to frame Homer for treason, by writing a fake letter in support of [[England]] from Homer. Homer is arrested and tried in the [[Palais de Justice]] where he is sentenced to life in prison at [[Château d'If]]. While in prison, Homer is tortured by the guards and is eventually shown a [[Chateau d'if Times|newspaper]] article about Marge getting married to Meaux. Homer decides that he will get revenge on Meaux, no matter how long it takes him.
  
[[Moe]] breaks up Homer and Marge's marriage by framing Homer as an English traitor. When Moe marries Marge, Homer, now in a French prison, swears revenge. His cellmate, [[Mr. Burns]], tells him to find treasure through a tunnel he dug. Homer finds the riches and becomes the Count of Monte Cristo. Five years later, Homer invites Moe and Marge to a party at his mansion, where Homer kills Moe in a home-made revenge machine. However, Marge angrily rebuffs him for killing Moe because wihtout him who will take care of her triplets? Back at the present, Marge tells Homer that revenge can lead to misery, but finds that Homer has been listening to a Jamaican music station instead of her story. When she tries to remind him, Homer brings out his bat and yells "Revenge!" Homer also claims that he shot Mr. Burns and placed the blame on Maggie, although this is most likely a joke by the writers.
+
While wondering about how he will get his revenge, Homer's [[Charles Montgomery Burns|cellmate]] tells him that he has made a tunnel out of the cell and also hands Homer a treasure map so he can have the money to get his revenge. His cellmate then reveals that he's too old and decrepit to take the tunnel anymore. Homer goes through the tunnel and ends up finding the treasure. He uses it to buy up a mansion and start working on a revenge torture device for Meaux. Five years later, his plan is complete and he invites Marge and Meaux, along with many other rich people, to a gala in his mansion. When the guests arrive, Homer puts Meaux into his contraption and he eventually gets cooked in a giant crepe. Marge, Bart, and Lisa are horrified at the death of Meaux, who they loved very much. Marge is annoyed at Homer that it took him so long plotting his revenge because he lost her and the family in the process.
  
 
=== Revenge of the Geeks ===
 
=== Revenge of the Geeks ===
[[Lisa]]'s story revolves around [[Milhouse]]'s campaign to fight back against the school bullies, and the consequences when he goes too far.
+
[[File:Revenge of the Geeks.png|thumb|right]]
 +
Marge tries to tell Homer that revenge only leads to misery. However, Homer doesn't listen and continues trying to get his revenge. Lisa then goes into telling her story.
 +
 
 +
At [[Springfield Elementary School]], the nerds (and [[Principal Skinner]]) are being bullied by the school bullies. The nerds decide that they've had enough and create the [[Get-back-inator]] that night. [[Milhouse]] is given control of the device and the nerds plan on using it. The next day, [[Martin]] insults the bullies and runs away from them, leading them to the library where Milhouse waits. When the bullies arrive, Milhouse uses the power glove to use different bullying techniques on [[Kearney]] and [[Dolph]]. Upon seeing this, [[Jimbo]] begs for mercy and tells Milhouse that he thought he was the coolest dork, but Milhouse gets him anyway.
  
Tired of being bullied by [[Jimbo]], Dolph and Kearney, the geeks plan their revenge. In the science lab, [[Martin]] reveals his latest creation, The Getbackinator, an awesome weapon of mass destruction. Milhouse - the only geek with any hand-eye coordination - uses the weapon on the bullies, but then begins attacking anyone who has ever wronged him, including Martin (for accidentally hitting him with a shuttlecock), Richard (for being more popular with girls), and Wendell (for giving him "Chinese cuts" in the lunch line). Milhouse even shoots a kid who had never done anything to him, claiming it is "prevenge". Milhouse gives [[Groundskeeper Willie]] an Ultimate Noogie which cuts his head off. Lisa eventually convinces Milhouse to stop, and he reluctantly throws the device away. [[Nelson]] then returns from an absence due to mumps, finds the weapon and turns it on the geeks. Homer likes the story because it has what he likes in a story—an ending. Lisa says the moral is that revenge can make you as bad as the person who harms you. Homer argues the moral should be "never let go of your weapon".
+
The school becomes nicer without the bullies attacking kids and Lisa congratulates Milhouse on his work. However, when Martin and [[Cosine]] accidentally hit Milhouse with a shuttlecock, Milhouse uses the Get-back-inator on them. He then starts to go through a list of people he wants revenge, and even attacks a [[new student]] as "pre-venge". After decapitating [[Groundskeeper Willie]] with the glove, Lisa tells Milhouse that he's addicted to revenge. Milhouse then asks Lisa to be his queen, but she turns him down and attempts to spare his feelings. Milhouse goes to get revenge on Lisa but then decides that he can't hurt her and drops the glove. [[Nelson]] then picks up the glove, with Milhouse forgetting about him because Nelson had been off school with the mumps. Nelson proceeds to use the glove to bully Milhouse.
  
 
=== Bartman Begins ===
 
=== Bartman Begins ===
Bart recounts [[Bart Simpson#Bartman|Bartman]]'s "origin story", based on [[Batman]]'s origin as revealed in the film ''Batman Begins''.
+
[[File:Bartman Begins.png|thumb|left]]
 +
After Lisa's story, Homer decides to follow through getting his revenge. Bart then tells Homer that he hasn't heard his story yet and then goes on to tell the tale of how Bartman was created.
 +
 
 +
In [[Gotham City]], Bart, Homer, and Marge left the [[Gotham City Opera House]] after seeing an opera that Bart hated. As they head down the alley, they are confronted by [[Serpent|a criminal]] who demands their valuables. The criminal then shoots Homer and Marge, killing them. Bart vows to get his revenge and is given the opportunity to at the funeral when [[Grampa]] reveals that he used to be the [[Crimson Cockatoo]], a superhero crime fighter. Grampa then helps Bart get into shape and prepares him to become Bartman.
  
After leaving the Gotham City Opera House, Homer and Marge are killed by [[Snake Jailbird]] in a dark alley. Homer pleads Bart to avenge him in "a flamboyant, impractical fashion". Bart does as his father says and swears revenge on Snake, giving birth to his superhero ego, Bartman with the help of his grandpa. He flies around Gotham City, defeating enemies on his way for justice they are [[The Diddler]], [[Mr. Mole]], [[Sugar and Spice]] and [[Poison Lenny]]. When Serpent, Snake's alter ego, attempts to steal the "Stealable Jewels of the Orient" from the Gotham Natural History Museum, Bartman arrives, saves the Jewels, and kills Serpent by impaling him on the fangs of a snake statue. In the end, a reporter (played by Lisa), reminds Bartman that the Serpent's death will not revive his parents. Bartman agrees, but adds that he now feels better and has gained zillions of dollars and freedom from his parents, then goes home to his mansion to exercise while being fawned over by a beautiful woman. Unlike the first two segments, this story implies revenge is satisfying; nevertheless, while Bart was telling the story Homer reconciled with the Rich Texan after discovering they are both from Connecticut.
+
Bartman goes around Gotham City and defeats various villains and criminals, including [[The Toker]], [[The Diddler]], [[Mr. Mole]], [[Sugar and Spice]], and [[Poison Lenny]]. After Poison Lenny is defeated, he tells Bartman and the police that he isn't a criminal, he's a transvestite. However, they don't listen to him and he is likely killed. Bartman realizes that none of these people are the criminal who killed his parents. At that moment, a blimp flies over the city piloted by the Serpent, who thanks Bartman for getting rid of the competition for him.
  
=== End Credits ===
+
At the [[Gotham Natural History Museum]], the Serpent shows up to rob the Stealable Jewels of the Orient. After charming everyone at the event, he grabs the jewels but Bartman shows up to stop him. Bartman hits the Serpent with his Bartarangs, which stops his charm spell on everyone and allows the police to surround him. When Bartman realizes that the Serpent is the man who killed his parents, he pushes him onto the fangs of a snake statue, killing him. Bartman feels a little bit better after getting his revenge and considers everything that happened a win.
At the end, the screen reads "Dedicated to all who died in the ''Star Wars'' films". The list includes: [[Darth Vader]], Darth Maul, Greedo, Uncle Owen, Storm Trooper #5, Jango Fett, General Grievous (Droid), Storm Trooper #22, Ralter, Dak, Obi Wan (Ben) Kenobi, "Whoever Jimmy Smits Played", Bail Organa, Jabba the Hutt, Sy Snootles, "Unfortunately, not [[Jar Jar Binks]]," and "everyone on both Death Stars when they blew up".
+
 
 +
After Bart's story, Homer and The Rich Texan have put aside their differences are getting along with each other. As the screen fades to black, a dedication to all the characters who died in ''[[Star Wars]]'' films scrolls on the screen.
  
 
== Production ==
 
== Production ==
 +
Director [[Michael Polcino]] said that they had to create basically three completely new worlds for the trilogy episode. But doing so gives the animators a chance to be more free with their angles and be more expressive. "Bartman Begins" was Polcino's favorite segment to direct, with him particularly liking the amount of shadows they got to use.<ref name="Polcino">{{Com|Polcino, Michael|Revenge Is a Dish Best Served Three Times|Eighteenth|(2017).|link=Michael Polcino}}</ref>
 +
 +
To get away with the Batman parody, the producers just had to have Bartman not have a symbol on his torso to clear it of any copyright issues.<ref name="Jean">{{Com|Jean, Al|Revenge Is a Dish Best Served Three Times|Eighteenth|(2017).|link=Al Jean}}</ref> Writer [[Joel H. Cohen]] acted out the dance that the Serpent made the people at the museum do to [[Al Jean]] to demonstrate how he wanted it to look.<ref name="Cohen">{{Com|Cohen, Joel H.|Revenge Is a Dish Best Served Three Times|Eighteenth|(2017).|link=Joel H. Cohen}}</ref>
  
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
File:JABF05_Script.jpg
+
File:JABF05 Script.jpg
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
  
{{season 18}}
+
== Reception ==
 +
Dan Iverson of {{W|IGN}} gave the episode a 7.7 rating. He said that there was some funny material in the episode, but it was still under par for ''The Simpsons''. Iverson in particular praised "The Count of Monte Cristo", but called the other two stories "mediocre".<ref>[https://www.ign.com/articles/2007/01/29/the-simpsons-revenge-is-a-dish-best-served-three-times-review IGN - "The Simpsons: "Revenge Is a Dish Best Served Three Times" Review"]</ref>
 +
 
 +
As of February [[2024]], the episode as a 7.0 rating on {{W|IMDb}}.<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0918866/ IMDb - "Revenge Is a Dish Best Served Three Times"]</ref>
 +
 
 +
== Gallery ==
 +
<gallery>
 +
File:Revenge Is a Dish Best Served Three Times promo.png|Poster for "Bartman Begins"
 +
</gallery>
 +
 
 +
== References ==
 +
{{Reflist}}
 +
 
 +
{{Images|ep=yes}}
 +
{{Season 18}}
 +
[[sv:Revenge Is a Dish Best Served Three Times]]
  
[[Category:Trilogy Episodes]]
 
[[Category:Anthology]]
 
 
[[Category:2007]]
 
[[Category:2007]]
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[[Category:Anthology episodes]]
 
[[Category:Episodes written by Joel H. Cohen]]
 
[[Category:Episodes written by Joel H. Cohen]]
[[Category:Episodes directed by Michael Polcino]]
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[[Category:Episodes directed by Mike Frank Polcino]]
  
[[sv:Revenge Is a Dish Best Served Three Times]]
 
 
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Latest revision as of 12:24, April 14, 2024

Season 18 Episode
388 "The Wife Aquatic"
389
"Revenge Is a Dish Best Served Three Times"
"Little Big Girl" 390
"Revenge Is a Dish Best Served Three Times"
Homerbast.png
Episode Information
Episode number: 389
Season number: S18 E11
Production code: JABF05
Original airdate: January 28, 2007
Couch gag: The Simpsons climb onto the couch as babies, but quickly grow up into their proper ages.
Showrunner: Al Jean
Written by: Joel H. Cohen
Directed by: Michael Polcino


"Revenge is a Dish Best Served Three Times" is the eleventh episode of season 18 of The Simpsons and the three-hundred and eighty-ninth episode overall. It originally aired on January 28, 2007. The episode was written by Joel H. Cohen and directed by Michael Polcino.

Synopsis[edit]

"After being cut off while driving, Homer decides that he wants revenge. The family then offers up three stories about why revenge may not always be a good thing. Marge retells The Count of Monte Cristo, Lisa tells a story about Milhouse getting revenge on the school bullies, and Bart tells a story about him becoming the superhero Bartman."


Plot[edit]

As the Simpson family are driving to the airport to go to Hawaii, The Rich Texan cuts in front of the car. This angers Homer who decides that he wants revenge on The Rich Texan. To try and convince him otherwise, Marge tells him a story.

The Count of Monte Fatso[edit]

The Count of Monte Fatso.png

In Paris in the 1800s, Homer, Marge, Bart, and Lisa are a happy, rich family. However Meaux is jealous of Homer because he wants to be with Marge instead. To get his wish, Meaux decides to frame Homer for treason, by writing a fake letter in support of England from Homer. Homer is arrested and tried in the Palais de Justice where he is sentenced to life in prison at Château d'If. While in prison, Homer is tortured by the guards and is eventually shown a newspaper article about Marge getting married to Meaux. Homer decides that he will get revenge on Meaux, no matter how long it takes him.

While wondering about how he will get his revenge, Homer's cellmate tells him that he has made a tunnel out of the cell and also hands Homer a treasure map so he can have the money to get his revenge. His cellmate then reveals that he's too old and decrepit to take the tunnel anymore. Homer goes through the tunnel and ends up finding the treasure. He uses it to buy up a mansion and start working on a revenge torture device for Meaux. Five years later, his plan is complete and he invites Marge and Meaux, along with many other rich people, to a gala in his mansion. When the guests arrive, Homer puts Meaux into his contraption and he eventually gets cooked in a giant crepe. Marge, Bart, and Lisa are horrified at the death of Meaux, who they loved very much. Marge is annoyed at Homer that it took him so long plotting his revenge because he lost her and the family in the process.

Revenge of the Geeks[edit]

Revenge of the Geeks.png

Marge tries to tell Homer that revenge only leads to misery. However, Homer doesn't listen and continues trying to get his revenge. Lisa then goes into telling her story.

At Springfield Elementary School, the nerds (and Principal Skinner) are being bullied by the school bullies. The nerds decide that they've had enough and create the Get-back-inator that night. Milhouse is given control of the device and the nerds plan on using it. The next day, Martin insults the bullies and runs away from them, leading them to the library where Milhouse waits. When the bullies arrive, Milhouse uses the power glove to use different bullying techniques on Kearney and Dolph. Upon seeing this, Jimbo begs for mercy and tells Milhouse that he thought he was the coolest dork, but Milhouse gets him anyway.

The school becomes nicer without the bullies attacking kids and Lisa congratulates Milhouse on his work. However, when Martin and Cosine accidentally hit Milhouse with a shuttlecock, Milhouse uses the Get-back-inator on them. He then starts to go through a list of people he wants revenge, and even attacks a new student as "pre-venge". After decapitating Groundskeeper Willie with the glove, Lisa tells Milhouse that he's addicted to revenge. Milhouse then asks Lisa to be his queen, but she turns him down and attempts to spare his feelings. Milhouse goes to get revenge on Lisa but then decides that he can't hurt her and drops the glove. Nelson then picks up the glove, with Milhouse forgetting about him because Nelson had been off school with the mumps. Nelson proceeds to use the glove to bully Milhouse.

Bartman Begins[edit]

Bartman Begins.png

After Lisa's story, Homer decides to follow through getting his revenge. Bart then tells Homer that he hasn't heard his story yet and then goes on to tell the tale of how Bartman was created.

In Gotham City, Bart, Homer, and Marge left the Gotham City Opera House after seeing an opera that Bart hated. As they head down the alley, they are confronted by a criminal who demands their valuables. The criminal then shoots Homer and Marge, killing them. Bart vows to get his revenge and is given the opportunity to at the funeral when Grampa reveals that he used to be the Crimson Cockatoo, a superhero crime fighter. Grampa then helps Bart get into shape and prepares him to become Bartman.

Bartman goes around Gotham City and defeats various villains and criminals, including The Toker, The Diddler, Mr. Mole, Sugar and Spice, and Poison Lenny. After Poison Lenny is defeated, he tells Bartman and the police that he isn't a criminal, he's a transvestite. However, they don't listen to him and he is likely killed. Bartman realizes that none of these people are the criminal who killed his parents. At that moment, a blimp flies over the city piloted by the Serpent, who thanks Bartman for getting rid of the competition for him.

At the Gotham Natural History Museum, the Serpent shows up to rob the Stealable Jewels of the Orient. After charming everyone at the event, he grabs the jewels but Bartman shows up to stop him. Bartman hits the Serpent with his Bartarangs, which stops his charm spell on everyone and allows the police to surround him. When Bartman realizes that the Serpent is the man who killed his parents, he pushes him onto the fangs of a snake statue, killing him. Bartman feels a little bit better after getting his revenge and considers everything that happened a win.

After Bart's story, Homer and The Rich Texan have put aside their differences are getting along with each other. As the screen fades to black, a dedication to all the characters who died in Star Wars films scrolls on the screen.

Production[edit]

Director Michael Polcino said that they had to create basically three completely new worlds for the trilogy episode. But doing so gives the animators a chance to be more free with their angles and be more expressive. "Bartman Begins" was Polcino's favorite segment to direct, with him particularly liking the amount of shadows they got to use.[1]

To get away with the Batman parody, the producers just had to have Bartman not have a symbol on his torso to clear it of any copyright issues.[2] Writer Joel H. Cohen acted out the dance that the Serpent made the people at the museum do to Al Jean to demonstrate how he wanted it to look.[3]

Reception[edit]

Dan Iverson of IGN gave the episode a 7.7 rating. He said that there was some funny material in the episode, but it was still under par for The Simpsons. Iverson in particular praised "The Count of Monte Cristo", but called the other two stories "mediocre".[4]

As of February 2024, the episode as a 7.0 rating on IMDb.[5]

Gallery[edit]

References[edit]


The Saga of Carl - title screen.png Wikisimpsons has a collection of images related to "Revenge Is a Dish Best Served Three Times".
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