It's a shame the "Principal Skinner isn't really Principal Skinner" episode gets such a bad rap, as it has some of the best back-to-back jokes of any Simpsons episode to date.
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As a what if episode, it actually works great. Just wasn’t pitched or presented in that way, so it leaves a sour taste. But with the power of just writing off anything you don’t like as “non-canon”, the episode is much more enjoyable and there truly are some good jokes in there!
i like how jasper is just there and homer doesn't question it, but also (if i remember correctly, which i doubt i do) jasper isn't seen for the rest of the episode
either he fell at some point or just went off to be in capital city on his own
Even though the jokes are solid, it's the core concept that makes it a bad episode. You had a character as interesting and well thought out as Principal Skinner (former Vietnam vet, still haunted by his past, now principal of a terrible middle school) and reduced him down to a cheap psyche out.
Like it definitely earns its status of: even back then, the Simpsons had been running out of ideas. I would've respected it more if they actually stuck to their guns on it, and kept them as separate characters, but they retcon it in the end anyway, so it's completely meaningless.
honestly like i get why this episode was hated but considering how long its been and how many way worse episodes have come after i'd say this one is inoffensive. its not boring and its still funny lol
And then it has my favorite callback in a later episode. The episode where Lisa's cats keep dying back-to-back and she names an extraordinarily lucky cat after the first one, Skinner says "Why Lisa, isn't that something of a cheat?" She replies, "Yes, yes it is, Principal Tamzarian." "Carry on."
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either he fell at some point or just went off to be in capital city on his own
though based on what i've heard about recent episodes (especially with how lisa is written) i think we're the ones being tortured