The Many Saints of Springfield

Plot

Ned Flanders' garbage can explodes, and after several near-death experiences, Marge forces him to explain. He had been a teacher at Springfield Elementary School but was fired by Superintendent Chalmers for telling Nelson to pray and then praying for Chalmers. With his church closed, Ned went to a Catholic church and met Fat Tony, who funded the Leftorium. Lisa warned Ned that Fat Tony was a mafia head, but Ned dismissed it.

When Ned confronted Fat Tony, he admitted it and threatened Ned's life. Ned's house and church were destroyed, and he stayed in the Simpsons' attic. Ned later confronted Fat Tony again, revealing he had been working with the FBI, leading to the mafia's arrest.

Production

The episode was revealed to be in production on May 12, 2022, when showrunner Al Jean posted a picture of the script, noting it as episode 740 with Bob Anderson directing. Writer Al Jean wanted to explain why Flanders was no longer Bart's teacher, a role he had in "Left Behind." The live-action couch gag was produced by Stoopid Buddy Stoodios and featured Paul Fusco as ALF. The episode was dedicated to musician David Crosby, who appeared in "Marge in Chains" and "Homer's Barbershop Quartet."

Reception

The episode earned a 0.35 rating and was watched by 1.37 million viewers, making it the most watched show on Fox that night. It received mixed reviews from critics. John Schwarz of Bubbleblabber gave it a 6 out of 10, calling it lazy and noting better Fat Tony episodes existed, though he praised the couch gag. Tony Sokol of Den of Geek gave it a 4 out of 5 stars, highlighting the relationship between Ned and Fat Tony and the small jokes.

Did You Know?

• The episode's title references the 2021 film The Many Saints of Newark.
• The series title does not appear in the episode; instead, a cloud sequence shows "The Many Saints of Springfield."
• The episode includes the songs "Requiem" by Mozart and "It's Bad You Know" by R. L. Burnside.