Here�s once again a review by me. Little warning: I translated one of my rather difficult German reviews into English and I�m usually not very good in such translation work so there are maybe some sentences which doesn�t make much sense. Feel free to tell me.
After watching the awful BABF20 "A Tale Of Two Springfields" (what a piece of crap) on Monday I was in the mood to write a review about a really good classic to compensate my anger about the decline of the show. So here�s a review about the brilliant classic 3F02 "Bart Sells His Soul".
I�d say the episode is no simple sitcom, it�s no simple cartoon comedy, it�s almost a work of art (sorry for being so melodramatic ;-))
The episode is probably one of the most outstanding and most serious episodes ever and of course especially famous for its own special rendition of "In A Gadda Da Vida" at the beginning. However, the episode has way more to offer than just a single cool song - it�s once again deep on various levels and it uses a rather difficult symbolism behind its plot.
The episode is very successful in a thought-provoking concept maybe only a great season 7 episode could do that way: it confirms the existence of something like a soul but it also contains elements of satire and criticism about religion and it shows an abstract concept of soul existence which doesn�t neccessarily depend on religion or a belief in God - though "God" seems to appear at the end as solution to the problem. The entire topic is never too obvious or sappy or preachy in a too religious way but always of a very subtle and thought-provoking uncertainty. Such an excellently deep concept with many scenes of good (but silent) humour guarantees one of the greatest and most outstanding episodes ever. IMO of course.
Let�s have a look on the various concepts of the episode:
The first concept is satire and social criticism about religion - which doesn�t mean satire about faith or the belief in a higher being but satire about the old-fashioned system church as institution. That�s very clear at the beginning when Reverend Lovejoy considers "Rock and/or Roll" as something evil and Bart and Milhouse are forced to clean the organ pipes which they have "befouled" with "popular music". Bart�s question about the sense of religion and the scene of the Reverend counting money is also part of that satirical concept. Not faith is parodied but the church as institution.
The second concept is of course the one about Bart who seems to lose his soul. The dialogues and scenes are often very symbolic here, rather obvious in parts of Bart�s and Milhouse� dialogue and in Bart�s final statement "There�s no such thing as a soul" which is almost celebrated in the church with echo effect and light from above. Bart appears to be a preacher who makes his statement in front of some higher light/being. Another symbolic part of the scene is that the contract about the soul trade is made on a sheet of paper with Christian symbol. Showing the soul as something as simple as a sheet of paper is already part of the abstraction that tooks place later in the episode.
In the later parts of the episode the image of the soul starts to change from a mere religious concept into a more philosophical and abstract concept. Lisa defines the soul as "symbol of everything that�s fine inside us" or quotes Pablo Neruda with "Laughter is the language of the soul" (says Bart "I�m familiar with the works of Pablo Neruda.") The surreal dream sequence that shows the soul as "twin" of the body is also superb and explains the soul concept - and also the "loneliness" without soul - in a rather disturbing way without ever using Christian images or becoming too preachy. In that special case the abstraction of the concept and the strong surreality of the dream scenery is simply brilliant.
The episode is also very dark and serious in many scenes, especially outstanding Marge�s "You�re not a monster" and Bart�s disturbed reaction and the scenes when Bart runs through town at night (the Wiggum scene is a very obvious trip into bizarrity but it doesn�t bother me as it contributes to the dark atmosphere of the episode in a superb way.) The episode has a very strong atmosphere in such scenes (almost Film Noir-like) - undoubtedly a result of the unusually dark town that is mostly coloured in black and blue shades with rain and fog. Pretty symbolic-surreal and a great work of the animators and also of the writers who found such a concept.
The ending - when Bart comes home in despair - brings us back to the belief in God and transforms the abstract concept again into a more religious issue when Bart starts to pray (something we hadn�t seen since season 2) and asks God for help. Help comes soon and Bart gets back his paper/soul but help doesn�t come from God but from Lisa who has used the money from her piggy bank to help her brother. Whether the "return" of Bart�s soul is really a result of his praying and thus an act of God is unclear and there�s no further reference to God.
Moreover, Lisa even brings the question on a more philosophical and non-religious level when she finally says ""But you know, Bart, some philosophers believe that nobody is born with a soul - that you have to earn one through suffering and thought and prayer, like you did last night" and makes Bart�s loss of soul seem like a mere concept of self-finding. The solution of Bart�s problem might have been God or not - that�s not clear. The solution also might have been - as sappy as it sounds - simple love (the love between siblings) as Lisa uses her money to "save" Bart. I don�t consider that as sappy or preachy but as a superb concept of good and solid characterization. The final scene of the episode - the dream sequence - clearly shows us that the good old Bart is back. Brilliant.
The subplot with Moe and his family restaurant isn�t really connected with the main plot and remains mostly in the background. It serves as fun balance to the rather serious main plot and has some nice and funny dialogues too. It�s very good that the subplot remains in background and doesn�t disturb the main story with too loud and silly humour (in seasons 5 and 6 you had the impression that every emotional moment had to be "corrected" with a bunch of too loud slapstick jokes.) The humour in 3F02 is very season 7-like, dark and silent and the episode is funny just to the level the story allows but not further - and that�s enough in that case. Very well done.
There are certainly way more elements to interpret and to search for deeper meaning but that are IMO the most important concepts. Some 49 seconds were cut in syndication. It�s not too much but I think every scene counts in an episode like 3F02.
I�d say it�s one of the most outstanding episodes ever (and you already know - I rarely say that about episodes past season 3 ;-)) Deep story, symbolism and a good use of silent humour lift the episode above the already high niveau of season 7. Lightyears away from all stupid slapstick in BABF/CABF style. There�s IMO only one possible grade: A+
It�s once again sad to compare the achievements and the style of the past (though 1995 isn�t really very long ago) with todays empty nonsense in the awful style of "Two Springfields".
Chris
P.S. Comments are welcome. No comments make me always think nobody reads my stuff.