10 Times The Simpsons Broke Its Own Rules
4. Skinner's Parentage
Even though it was released way back in 1997, The Principal and The Pauper is still talked about as one of the most divisive and ill-conceived episodes in The Simpsons' long history.
The crux of the episode - that Principal Skinner is an imposter named Armin Tamzarian living the life of his old army Seargent - upset swathes of fans who felt betrayed after getting invested in Skinner over nine seasons.
Even Simpsons creator Matt Groening hates this episode, calling it "a mistake" in an interview in 2002.
Not only did The Principal and The Pauper leave fans feeling let down, it also created dozens of plot holes around Skinner.
Firstly, there's the Season 6 episode about The Flying Hellfish, Grampa Simpson's battalion in World War 2. Members of the squad include the fathers of various modern day Springfielders, including Principal Skinner's "Dad", Sheldon.
Sheldon looks and sounds exactly like the man we know as Seymour Skinner, but how can this be when that person isn't biologically related to him? Was he an imposter too? Is the whole Tamzarian family rotten?
Basically, The Principal and The Pauper is a bad episode that has given many Simpsons fans headaches for several decades now.