Love Is a Many-Splintered Thing

"Love Is a Many-Splintered Thing"
The Simpsons episode
Episode no.	520
Directed by	Michael Polcino
Written by	Tim Long
Showrunner(s)	Al Jean
Production code	RABF07
Original air date	February 10, 2013 (2013-02-10)
Chalkboard gag	"I was not nominated for "Best Spoken Swear Word""
Couch gag	The Simpsons all look like Moe Szyslak (as seen in the couch gag for "She Used to Be My Girl") and announce that their new sitcom, The Szyslaks has been cancelled.
Guest appearance(s)
Robert Caro Benedict Cumberbatch as Prime Minister, Severus Snape Zooey Deschanel as Mary Spuckler Max Weinberg
Season 24 episodes September 30, 2012 – May 19, 2013 "Moonshine River" "Treehouse of Horror XXIII"" "Adventures in Baby-Getting" "Gone Abie Gone" "Penny-Wiseguys" "A Tree Grows in Springfield" "The Day the Earth Stood Cool" "To Cur with Love" "Homer Goes to Prep School" "A Test Before Trying" "The Changing of the Guardian" "Love Is a Many-Splintered Thing" "Hardly Kirk-ing" "Gorgeous Grampa" "Black Eyed, Please" "Dark Knight Court" "What Animated Women Want" "Pulpit Friction" "Whiskey Business" "The Fabulous Faker Boy" "The Saga of Carl" "Dangers on a Train"
Seasons
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

Robert Caro
Benedict Cumberbatch as Prime Minister, Severus Snape
Zooey Deschanel as Mary Spuckler
Max Weinberg

"Love is a Many-Splintered Thing" is the twelfth episode of the 24th season of The Simpsons. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on February 10, 2013, as a Valentine's Day themed episode, the name being a take on Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing.

Narrating the episode, Bart looks back upon his failures with girls, particularly Mary Spuckler. At Springfield Elementary School, Bart realizes that Mary has returned to Springfield and has been welcomed back to her family after the events of "Moonshine River". Though they pursue a relationship, Bart fails to pay enough attention to Mary and is instead focused on video games. Despite Lisa's warnings, Bart continues to take Mary for granted until she tells him that they should take a break. Bart recognizes the expression as a warning sign for a potential breakup. Additionally, she starts showing interest in a prosperous boy from Brazil. Eventually, it becomes clear to Bart that Mary has broken up with him, after she sings a breakup song to him over the phone.

During an argument between Homer and Marge, Bart takes Homer's side, arguing that men cannot be expected to understand women when women never come out and say what they are thinking. In response, Marge tells Homer exactly what she thinks of him, leading to both Bart and Homer being kicked out of the house. The two promptly settle into Brokewood Apartments, an apartment for failed husbands who were kicked out by their wives. Bart and Homer initially become accustomed to their new situation, but the two, along with all of the other husbands, soon realize that they have to win their loves back, which they learn to do by watching British rom-com movies. Taking this into play, Bart, Homer, and the husbands invite Mary, Marge, and the other wives over to the apartment and sing to the tune of The Ode to Joy. It wins the hearts of every women except for Mary, who has started dating the Brazilian boy. The episode ends with Lisa informing Bart that women should not be taken for granted, and afterwards, Bart visits a social media site, where he sees Mary's relationship status change to "single", and he sends a message to her reading, "I miss you." In a post-credits scene, he receives a video call from Mary (newly widowed).

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Wikipedia