Gone Boy

Did You Know?

• Shaquille O'Neal appeared as himself; he was previously featured in the twenty-second season episode 'Love Is a Many Strangled Thing' in a non-speaking appearance.
• Sideshow Bob sings a musical number from Gilbert and Sullivan's The Yeomen of the Guard.

Plot

Sideshow Bob is collecting trash for community service when the Simpson family runs it over with a rental car. Later, Bart needs to pee and goes into the forest, falling down a manhole into a strange bunker with military equipment. He tries to escape but the ladder gives way; Milhouse finds the entrance but cannot help him. The family, Springfield Police, Bob, and other detainees search the forest, but Chief Wiggum and his officers fail to find Bart. News declares Bart dead, but Milhouse hides the truth to gain Lisa's affection, while Bob struggles to accept the death. Bart finds a phone and calls Marge to say he is alive. Bob forces Milhouse to lead him to Bart, then shoves Milhouse down the manhole and follows. Homer and Grampa cannot find them. Bob ties Bart and Milhouse to a Titan II missile and tries to launch it, but changes his heart after advice from an injured prison therapist, and the missile crashes. Bob begins prison therapy, vowing to do good after his life sentences. Years later, Bob has retired to a secluded lighthouse.

Reception

Gone Boy scored a 2.3 rating with an 8 share and was watched by 6.06 million people, making it Fox's highest rated show of the night. Dennis Perkins of The A.V. Club gave the episode a B+, praising a coherent narrative, carefully nurtured extended gags, and lines that made him laugh out loud, along with a lack of atonal jokes. Tony Sokol of Den of Geek gave it 3/5 stars, noting that the premise suggested by the title could have made for a more original offering, as Bart lives a duplicitous life and everyone would believe his mortal nemesis had no choice but to kill him. The episode was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program at the 70th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards.