For some reason, I had a faint memory of this particular episode occurring in the second or third season of The Simpsons, when the show had well and truly found its stride. This was also an episode referenced in South Park's "Cartoon Wars: Part 2" whereby Eric Cartman and Bart Simpson discussed their most evil deeds to which Bart references his crime in "The Telltale Head" and it, to my great amusement, was cause for Cartman reminiscing his evil deed in the episode "Scott Tenorman Must Die".
Anyways, this is a Simpsons episode not a South Park one. "The Telltale Head" is perfectly fine and the outline for the show as it is known today becomes progressively clearer with each new episode of the first season. There's some very solid stuff here where Bart hangs out with a number of Nelson's cronies as they would now be remembered for. It feels very believable, is surprisingly entertaining and feels the most well aged part of this episode. Nothing about the episode is dated necessarily, it is merely that I find the show has not arrived at the point where it is invincible to any harm whatsoever. The Simpsons will still take a little while longer to be the show I and I would assume many cherish.
Humour wise, a lot of it misses the mark for me, largely in terms of the vocal performances and the timing that does not evoke too much confidence. What works is the concept of Bart cutting the head off the statue of the town's founder and had this episode occurred in almost any of the other seasons of the show's 'Golden Age', it would yield marvellous results. Some of the Bart and Homer stuff, particularly Homer supporting Bart after his terrible misdeed are touching and classic although I cannot help but be a little underwhelmed with the in media res narrative here. The story begins with Bart and Homer chased by an angry mob out to seek justice for Bart's actions and from there on in, the story is told up to that point. It might have helped the episode's narrative feel a little tighter and more purposeful if narration was sprinkled throughout the telling of the story. Narration is something that The Simpsons used to great comedic and even dramatic effect when the show was at its absolute finest.
Criticisms aside, "The Telltale Head" is perfectly watchable if a little unspectacular as far as an episode of The Simpsons goes. In any other great season of The Simpsons, this would be an absolute classic but in the first season, it is perhaps a little clunky and that is perfectly understandable in my opinion. It is well paced, has some nice humour beats even if a lot fall flat and has a touching core. It just does not reach the same comedic and dramatic beats that have made The Simpsons something of legend.
