The Simpsons (TV Series) Marge Be Not Proud (1995) User Reviews

One of the more poignant "Simpson" episodes

[robynh-4 · 10/10 · 15 July 2008]

"Marge Be Not Proud" is one of the more bittersweet but very heartfelt episodes from "The Simpsons".

A mixture of comedy, melancholy and Christmas, this episode is about Bart wanting to play an ultra cool video game called "Bonestorm". When the Comic Book Guy runs out of copies to rent and Milhouse won't let him play his one, Bart resorts to shoplifting, but is caught red handed by the store's detective, Don Brodka. Brodka leaves a message on the Simpsons' answering machine and warns Bart that if he ever steps foot into the store again, he will spend Christmas in Juvenille Hall. Bart makes a mad dash for home and quickly changes the tape with a comedy tape. Unfortunately, the Simpson family go to the Try-N'-Save store for a Christmas family photo and Bart is caught again by Brodka. Marge and Homer don't believe Brodka at first but then he shows them a tape of Bart shoplifting. Marge is crushed when she sees Bart's actions and wonders if its because she babied him too much. She then starts to treat Bart like an adult, making Bart feel even worse than he is.

This is definitely one of the more sadder episodes of "The Simpsons", but it has a heart and has a sweet and funny uplifting ending. Out of all of the Marge & Bart episodes, "Marge Be Not Proud" is the best of the lot.

A full 10/10 from me.

This Simpsons episode changed my life!

[zombiefan89 · 10/10 · 30 December 2014]

One of the Simpson's Christmas specials. It has a very potent anti-shoplifting message. It shows heavy effect it has on the family of shoplifter. I especially loved how defensive the parents were against the security guard's accusations of Bart's theft. It was very realistic. It made me wonder why the security guard didn't catch the others boys. He was clearly watching the cameras, since he caught Bart right away. Their flaunting of their stolen goods was what prompted Bart to steal in the first place. I saw this episode when I was six years old. It's powerful message stuck with me for over twenty years. This episode is one of the reasons I have never shoplifted. That and my integrity is worth more than anything that I can fit in my pocket via stealing. I recently re-watched it, and I have to say the story and animation has held up very well.

It's a Christmas Episode!

[I_Am_The_Taylrus · 9/10 · 2 December 2006]

SPOILERS

As you know, I'm commenting on only Holiday movies until the end of the year. Yes, I commented on the Wizard of Oz, but I'm back to commenting on Holiday movies. Anyway, this is a very, very touching Simpson Christmas episode. This is the second Christmas episode. It's a great Marge and Bart episode. It's actually one of the few Marge and Bart episodes. It is a fantastic episode and very touching, and it's like that until the very end with the putting video game.

There is a new super cool video game out called Bonestorm and Bart wants it. After some bullies say that shoplifting is cool, Bart shoplifts the game. He is caught by a security guard. He leaves a message on the Simpson phone that says Bart tried to shoplift the video game. He also tells Bart that if he ever comes into his store again he will be arrested. Unluckily for Bart, the family is getting Christmas photos at the store. When he gets his photo taken, he is yanked off by the security guard. Marge doubts that Bart shoplifted, then she is heartbroken when she sees a surveillance tape. She stops trusting Bart and leaving Bart out of activities. Then Bart goes back into the store and gets his photo taken again. He gives it to Marge. She is very happy and she gives Bart a video game. It's a golf game. The episode ends with Bart playing the golf game.

Overall, this is a fantastic touching episode. It is a great and very rare Marge and Bart episode. Although, it starts out as a Bart episode, it quickly turns into a Marge and Bart episode. The only problem I have about this episode is that it's a little cheesy and corny at times. The music in this episode is fantastic and sad. Also, the very end is so very funny. This is a great Christmas episode of the Simpsons.

9/10

Milhouse

[degaswilson · 8/10 · 2 May 2021]

The only thing about this episode I didnt like was the was Milhouse treated Bart. He could of let him play his game with him, then Bart wouldnt have done what he did.

I wouldnt be his friend any more.

MOMMM! BART's .........

[snoozejonc · 8/10 · 2 December 2022]

Bart is caught shoplifting.

This is a solid episode with good character moments and an enjoyable cameo.

Marge Be Not Proud is a darkly funny episode that portrays some relatively serious moments for Bart and his relationship with Marge. I would not describe it as an overly strong warning against shoplifting, because the writers make everything work out fine for Bart after a minimum amount of effort and suffering. However, it does contain plenty of memorable moments like the spoilt brat who abuses his mother, the hilarious scenes with the Millhouses, and the brilliant sequence where the Simpson family build snowmen together.

Another highlight is Lawrence Tierney's voice performance and the store detective. This is a superbly realised character and Tierney is perfect for it.

A good Christmas episode of The Simpsons.

[opalpika1328 · 9/10 · 11 February 2023]

Bart wanted the most coolest and violent video game, Bonestorm, but Marge wouldn't get it for him because it's expensive and that it's "too violent" and that it'll make Bart skip homework apparently. So Bart tries to rent it but unfortunately it's out and all that was available was a golf game. Milhouse doesn't let Bart play it either, and he should've, he had his mom kick him out of his house. The other chance he ended up having, was a bad choice, after seeing Nelson and his group stealing at a department store, Bart sees Bonestorm and attempted to steal it, unfortunately for him, he gets caught by the store detective, and warns Bart to never go back in the store again or he will end up in Juvenile Hall.

Bad thing though with that, was that the Simpsons family went to the store for a Holiday Family Photo, the store detective caught Bart and told Marge and Homer all about his shoplifting attempt and shown them the security video. Finding this out made Marge become distant from Bart. Bart felt very bad on what he did and turned to Milhouse's mom for help. Bart then wanted to surprise Marge with a photo that he paid for, but she thought that he stole something again. She then seen that Bart took a Christmas photo for her, that he paid for, and decided to give him his present early. Lisa had no right to be jealous of Bart for that. And Bart ended up getting the golf game from Marge, which he accepted.

A good episode, a point is off because of how Milhouse acted, Marge thinking Bart stole again, and Lisa being jealous of Bart for no reason on the episode. Other than that, it still is a great Christmas episode next to the first Christmas episode, which was also the first season 1 episode, "Simpsons Roasting on a Open Fire".

Sticky Fingers

[Hitchcoc · 9/10 · 23 June 2022]

It's Christmas and Bart shoplifts a video game he lusted after and is quickly caught leaving the store. This leads to Marge backing away from him. He is left out of family things and begins some deep sadness. Finally, he gives an early Christmas present to Marge. This one was personal because I was given a disappointing present from my parents when we were extremely poor. I remember how hard it was for them to afford anything and I started to cry because I felt so bad for our family.

Tis Me Be Proud

[e_daneva · 9/10 · 26 December 2023]

Marge Be Not Proud was an amazing episode. I watched all the Simpsons Christmas episodes, and there was 3 bad, 3 okay, 3 good, and 11 really good episodes. This episode falls in the really good category. Marge Be Not Proud has a lot of emotion and heart. Some of the best Simpsons episodes ever have lots of heart, that's what really forms a great episode. This isn't the best Season 7 episode, it doesn't even come close, but this episode shouldn't just blend in with the other. This episode needs to be more recognized. This episode isn't the best, but it is something special. This is a very underrated episode and needs more recognition. This episode is also really funny. It just has some really funny lines that are complete classic Simpson. This episode has an interesting plot with a great amount of heart and top notch humor. In all, I give this episode a 8.8 out of 10.

Absolutely Pathetic!

[pitabox987 · 1/10 · 28 August 2020]

What an absolute rubbish episode!

Whether it's Marge and Homer's pathetic showboating and pretending to be "good" parents, Lisa is a joke of a sister and the entire episode focuses on Marge thinking her son isn't her son anymore, she just treats him like dirt, even being as hopeless as to accuse Bart of stealing again when he tries to make amends at the end of the episode!

Noting that it's a "Christmas" episode it stands alone being the worst one of those, for a season 7 episode, it has the quality of a season 20+ one.

Don't waste your time with this drivel...