Grampa Simpson recap: The Curse of the Flying Hellfish

When Mr. Burns begins making attempts on Grampa Simpson’s life, he reveals to Bart that his World War II unit took possession of priceless works of art that will go to the last member left alive.

During Grandparents’ Day at Springfield Elementary, Grampa Simpson embarrasses Bart by telling incoherent stories and picking fights with his classmates. Bart complains about the incident to the family at dinner that night, leading to a debate about putting Grampa in a home “that he can’t get out of.”

At the Retirement Castle, Grampa Simpson receives a letter informing him that someone named Asa Phelps has died. Grampa goes to Asa’s funeral, which is also attended by Mr. Burns. The two reveal to each other that they are in possession of a pair of keys, which they insert into a monument inscribed, “In honor of the Fighting Hellfish.”

Once the monument is opened, Grampa takes out a list of names that have been crossed out. He crosses out Asa’s name, leaving his own name and Mr. Burns’ name as the only two remaining on the list. Once the list is replaced, Mr. Burns tells Grampa that the two have entered into a gentleman’s agreement that they have sworn on their lives to uphold. Mr. Burns then gets back into his car and tells Mr. Smithers that he wants to have Grampa killed.

Over Smithers’ protests, Mr. Burns goes through his Rolodex and calls an assassin to kill Grampa. The pair make several attempts on Grampa’s life, including disguising themselves as the Simpson family, but continually fail.

Realizing Mr. Burns’ intentions, Grampa rushes to the Simpson house for help. At first, the family doesn’t believe Grampa, believing the story to be a product of his senility. The family agrees to let Grampa stay in Bart’s room. That night, Grampa reveals the secret of the Hellfish Bonanza to Bart.

In a flashback, it is revealed that Grampa was the commanding officer in a World War II unit known as the Flying Hellfish, which also included Asa Phelps and Mr. Burns. As the war drew to a close, the unit discovered a collection of priceless paintings and set up a tontine, an agreement in which the last man left alive would take possession of the paintings. Over the years, all of the men in the unit have died except Grampa and Mr. Burns. Thus, Burns is trying to kill Grampa in order to take the treasure for himself.

Bart refuses to believe the story until Mr. Burns crashes through the wall of the house with the intention of taking Grampa’s key, which is immediately handed over. Bart tries to get Mr. Burns to take him with him to get the treasure, but Burns refuses. Bart then reveals to Grampa that this was just a ploy and that he has stolen both of the keys back.

Bart and Grampa go to the cemetery and unlock the monument, which shines a spotlight to reveal that the paintings are hidden at the bottom of a nearby body of water. The two steal a boat from Flanders, along with some diving gear, and go out to try to find the treasure. Bart dives under the water and finds a locked box. Grampa pulls him back out of the water with the treasure, but Mr. Burns appears with a gun to claim the paintings for himself.

After taking the art, Burns kicks Bart into the box that contained the paintings and knocks it back into the water. Grampa dives into the water to rescue Bart and carries him back to the surface. The two then chase down Mr. Burns’ boat, with Grampa climbing aboard and wrestling Burns to the floor as the boat runs aground.

Grampa chastises Burns and expels him from both the unit and the tontine before claiming the paintings for himself. However, Federal agents appear and seize the paintings so that they can be returned to their rightful heir; a rich, sleazy, young German man who throws them into the trunk of his Mercedes and drives off while listening to loud techno music. Even though the paintings are lost, Bart tells Grampa Simpson that he respects and loves him. The two hug, as the young German man tells them to get a room.