The Simpsons: 10 Episodes That Would Have Made Perfect Endings
9. The Principal And the Pauper
Speaking of critically-reviled episodes of The Simpsons, The Principle And The Pauper was judged to be such a misstep that both Matt Groening and Harry Shearer have publicly denounced it on several occasions, with the voice of Principal Skinner at the time reportedly chastising the writers for such a terrible, terrible decision. Watching the episode now, it feels like one of the most post-modern the show ever had in its run (and that's a description often thrown at the series as a whole). It's revealed that Principal Skinner was not a war hero but a rebel called Armin Tamzarian, and had stolen his identity from a buddy who died in Vietnam. Or so he thought, with the real Skinner showing up and demanding his life back. You may recognise this as he main plot in Mad Men. By the end of the episode, the Real Skinner is run out of town, because everybody prefers the Principal, and it's agreed nobody will ever speak of it again. They retcon the episode before it's over. What a stupid joke to go out on.
Tom Baker is the Comics Editor at WhatCulture! He's heard all the Doctor Who jokes, but not many about Randall and Hopkirk. He also blogs at http://communibearsilostate.wordpress.com/
