A Serious Flanders (Part 1)

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Season 33 Episode

←

711

"Lisa's Belly"

712
"A Serious Flanders (Part 1)"

"A Serious Flanders (Part 2)"

713

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This episode is considered non-canon and the events featured do not relate to the series and therefore may not have actually happened/existed.

The reason behind this decision is: Separate continuity from the main show.

If you dispute this, please bring it up on the episode's talk page.

"A Serious Flanders (Part 1)"

Episode Information

Episode number:	712
Season number:	S33 E6
Production code:	QABF21
Original airdate:	November 7, 2021
Title screen:	The SIMPFLIX logo appears, followed by a list of several shows on the network appear. The show A Serious Flanders is then selected and played.
Guest star(s):	Brian Cox as Costas Becker Joe Mantegna as Fat Tony Cristin Milioti as Barbara Belfry Chris O'Dowd as Seamus Timothy Olyphant as Sheriff Flanders Jessica Paré as Colette
Showrunner:	Matt Selman
Written by:	Cesar Mazariegos
Directed by:	Debbie Bruce Mahan

"A Serious Flanders (Part 1)" is the sixth episode of broadcast season 33 of The Simpsons and the seven hundred twelfth episode overall. It originally aired on November 7, 2021. The episode was written by Cesar Mazariegos and directed by Debbie Bruce Mahan. It guest stars Brian Cox as Costas Becker, Joe Mantegna as Fat Tony, Cristin Milioti as Barbara Belfry, Chris O'Dowd as Seamus, Timothy Olyphant as Sheriff Flanders, and Jessica Paré as Colette.

"A Serious Flanders (Part 1)" is the first part of a two-part episode of The Simpsons and was followed by part two.

Synopsis[edit]

Ned finds a bag of money when picking up litter, which he then donates to the St. Giles Orphanage. While Ned and the orphanage's owner, Barbara Belfry, grow closer, a ruthless debt collector named Costas Becker tracks down Ned to take his money back, and Homer gets taken hostage.

Plot[edit]

Cold opening[edit]

At The Rich Texan's house, he tries to escape from three debt collectors—their leader, Costas Becker, Seamus, and Colette—but is ultimately caught, tied up with ropes, and shot.

Chapter One: The Harder the Good[edit]

Ned Flanders is gathering litter in the snow and finds Homer doing community service after telling the judge where to shove his parking tickets. They stumble down a slope and find themselves stuck in a log with a bag full of money.

Bringing the bag home, Rod and Todd argue over what to do with it, while Ned reflects on what his grandfather, Sheriff Flanders, would have done. In the past, Ned identified a thief and, instead of arresting him, gave him money to buy bread to teach both him and Ned a lesson.

At St. Giles Orphanage, Ned donates the money, asking them to credit his grandfather as the donor. However, the press reports that Ned made the donation. When Costas finds out where Ned got the money—while chopping up The Rich Texan's body—he decides to stay in Springfield to honor a debt.

Chapter Two: The Hippo's Conundrum[edit]

At The Android's Dungeon & Baseball Card Shop, Seamus and Colette force information out of Comic Book Guy about Ned's whereabouts. Comic Book Guy, feeling betrayed, calls Fat Tony to ask why he was not protected despite paying for it. Fat Tony assures him he'll handle it.

At the First Church of Springfield, the Simpson family praises Ned for his actions. Ned goes back inside to retrieve his Bible, only to find Costas holding it. Costas tells him that the debt is now in Ned's name since he took the money bag.

Barbara Belfry arrives with the orphans and temporarily saves Ned from Costas. She later invites Ned on a date to the Springfield Winter Markets opening. Meanwhile, Costas uses a ripped page from the Bible to find Ned's home address.

At the Markets, Ned and Barbara enjoy their date until Homer interrupts, claiming he bought their love. The crowd boos Homer and throws him into the Drunk Rink. At home, Marge scolds Homer for being selfish and wanting the money for himself. Meanwhile, Costas' car heads toward Flanders' house, but Seamus loses the address.

They arrive at 742 Evergreen Terrace and, mistaking it for Ned's home after seeing his belongings in the garden, paralyze Homer using The Rich Texan's face as a distraction, believing Homer is Ned.

Chapter Three: A Donut for the Devil[edit]

Barbara invites Ned into her house, and they start kissing. Ned soon finds out she's Sideshow Mel's wife, though they have an open arrangement for "fun." Feeling guilty, Ned runs away, to Mel's amusement.

At Costas' place, Homer is tied up. Costas realizes he has the wrong man and calls Ned, threatening to kill Homer unless he returns the money within 24 hours. Marge arrives at Ned's door, but he lies about his whereabouts to stop her from calling the police, which would endanger Homer.

Marge searches for Homer, while at Lard Lad Donuts, Fat Tony confronts Costas and warns him to leave town. A gunfight breaks out, and Disco Stu, Mr. Burns, Fat Tony, Legs, Louie, and Johnny Tightlips are killed. Snake Jailbird enters to rob the store and finds the aftermath, while Marge discovers Homer's ID card, which Costas had dropped.

Production[edit]

Costas Becker was originally named "Kostas" in the script and promotional material. However, the name was changed to "Costas" at some point as the name "Kostas" was not cleared by legal.^[1]

Originally, Costas Becker was going to say "You've brought me the wrong man! (DARK) And you know the price for failure", snatching Seamus' hat, tried to tear it with his hands and mouth, before stomping on it sputtering "stupid...STUPID HAT!", but the scene was cut for time.^[2]

Originally, it was Agnes Skinner that was shot instead of Mr. Burns, however it was changed because it was deemed too upsetting.^[3]

Chapter two was going to be called "Chapter Two: The Spoils of Humility", with a scene preceding the chapter of a chef preparing blueberry muffins.

A scene was added in for the Disney+ airing: During the shootout between the gangs, one of the members from Moe sneezes, a car muffler sets off and one of the members shoot another, but in all three cases nothing happen, and the sheriff says "It's a disciplined group, I'll give you that".

Video[edit]

Gallery[edit]

Title card

References[edit]

Promo videos[edit]

Wikisimpsons has a collection of images related to "A Serious Flanders (Part 1)".

view • talk • edit • past Two-part episodes

Who Shot Mr. Burns? (part 1 • part 2) • The Great Phatsby (part 1 • part 2) • Warrin' Priests (part 1 • part 2) • A Serious Flanders (part 1 • part 2)

← Season 32 Season 33 Episodes Season 34 →
The Star of the Backstage • Bart's in Jail! • Treehouse of Horror XXXII • The Wayz We Were • Lisa's Belly • A Serious Flanders (Part 1) • A Serious Flanders (Part 2) • Portrait of a Lackey on Fire • Mothers and Other Strangers • A Made Maggie • The Longest Marge • Pixelated and Afraid • Boyz N the Highlands • You Won't Believe What This Episode Is About – Act Three Will Shock You! • Bart the Cool Kid • Pretty Whittle Liar • The Sound of Bleeding Gums • My Octopus and a Teacher • Girls Just Shauna Have Fun • Marge the Meanie • Meat Is Murder • Poorhouse Rock

← Season ZABF Production season QABF Episodes Season UABF →
Sorry Not Sorry • Three Dreams Denied • A Springfield Summer Christmas for Christmas • The Dad-Feelings Limited • Diary Queen • Wad Goals • Yokel Hero • Do PizzaBots Dream of Electric Guitars? • Manger Things • Uncut Femmes • Burger Kings • Panic on the Streets of Springfield • The Man from G.R.A.M.P.A. • Mother and Child Reunion • The Last Barfighter • Treehouse of Horror XXXII • The Star of the Backstage • Bart's in Jail! • The Wayz We Were • Lisa's Belly • A Serious Flanders (Part 1) • A Serious Flanders (Part 2)

[1] Cesar Mazariegos on Twitter - "Costas Becker name change"

[2] Cesar Mazariegos's Twitter - "Costas cut scene"

[3] Matt Selman - "Skinner's mom death cut scene"

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