Trilogy of Error
"Trilogy of Error" is the eighteenth episode of the twelfth season of the American animated television series The Simpsons, and the 266th episode overall. It originally aired on Fox in the United States on April 29, 2001. In the episode, Homer's rush to the hospital to re-attach his severed thumb, Lisa's rush to school to win the science fair, and Bart's run-in with an illegal fireworks scheme are interconnected as each act tells the events of the same day, but from a different point of view.
"Trilogy of Error"
Season 12
Episode 18
CABF14
April 29, 2001
"Fire is not the cleanser"
The family skateboards to the couch, jumping off a ramp and doing some aerial stunts before landing, except Homer, who falls off the edge of the ramp and is hit on the head with his own skateboard.
"Trilogy of Error" was directed by Mike B. Anderson and written by Matt Selman. The episode, initially titled "Go, Simpson Go", was initially pitched by Selman who figured the whole plot out before pitching it. The episode features a guest appearance from Malcolm in the Middle star Frankie Muniz as Thelonious, while Joe Mantegna reprises his role as recurring character Fat Tony.
The episode has received positive reviews since its original airing. Matt Selman named it the best episode he has ever written.
Reception[edit]
In its original broadcast, "Trilogy of Error" finished with a Nielsen rating of 8.4, equivalent to approximately 14.4 million viewing households. It was the highest-rated show on Fox that week.[9]
Since airing, "Trilogy of Error" has received positive reviews from critics.
In a 2008 Flashback Review, Robert Canning of IGN called the episode "outstanding" for its several sight gags and pop culture references.[10] He concluded it was an amazing episode and that it proved the series could still deliver "[its] share of quality episodes" despite its overall drop in quality.[10] He ultimately gave the episode a 9.0/10.[10] Several members of the IGN staff later named it the best episode of the twelfth season.[11]
AOL named "Trilogy of Error" the 20th best episode of the series.[12] Colin Jacobson of DVD Movie Guide positively compared the episode to the Treehouse of Horror episodes and called the episode a "clever program that consistently entertains".[13]
Screen Rant called it the best episode of the 12th season.[14]