The Good, the Bart, and the Loki is a 2021 animated short based on The Simpsons and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Directed by David Silverman, it is the fourth standalone Simpsons short and the second one made for Disney+. It’s also the first short to be focused on someone other than Maggie.
After once again being defeated by Thor, Loki (voiced by Tom Hiddleston) is banished to Springfield, where he befriends Bart and inserts himself into the Simpson family. Meanwhile, Lisa ends up gaining the power of Thor and assembling a team of Springfield's mightiest heroes in an attempt to stop him.
The short premiered on July 7, 2021, the same day as the penultimate episode of the first season of Loki.
Compare to Phineas and Ferb: Mission Marvel.
Tropes appearing in this short
- Arson, Murder, and Jaywalking: Among Loki's crimes are tampering with the sacred timeline, philosophically opposing predeterminism, crossing over into forbidden areas of Disney+, taking up two spots in the Goofy parking lot, being more popular than all the heroes, having a British accent when he's supposed to be from Norway, promising to be good then breaking his promise countless times, and making them sit through numerous mid-credit scenes hoping they'll advance the story.
- Big "NO!": Loki does this after hearing that he'll be banished to Springfield.
- Birds of a Feather: Other than both being mischievous, Loki and Bart start to bond when they realize that they both have abusive fathers and blonde siblings who are perfect.
- Continuity Cameo:
- Heimdall, Sif, Fandral, and Thor appear alongside Odin in Asgard.
- In Springfield, Marge appears in the episode but doesn’t say anything or add to the plot in any way, and numerous Springfielders cameo in the “Springfield Avengers” scene and/or the final scene at Moe’s.
- Crossover: Between The Simpsons and Marvel Cinematic Universe, but primarily Loki.
- Creative Closing Credits: The credits features images of Simpsons characters as Marvel characters.
- Earn Your Happy Ending: Loki is finally happy to be part of a family.
- Green Aesop: Loki impersonates Moe to give everyone free beer, then berates them for the ecological damage they're causing. Barney simply replies "Still worth it."
- Misplaced Accent: One of the TVA's charges against Loki is "having a British accent when [Loki's] actually supposed to be from Norway".
- Mythology Gag: Hans Moleman is the only character to represent a Marvel character who actually hasn't been adapted into the Cinematic Universe at the time: specifically, the Mole Man from the Fantastic Four comics (an MCU adaptation of the Fantastic Four has been confirmed to be coming, however). Rainer Wolfcastle also wears the classic comic book version of Hank Pym's Giant-Man costume rather than something MCU-inspired.
- Nice Job Fixing It, Villain: Loki banishes Lisa to Asgard. She immediately comes back with the power of Thor.
- Out of Focus: Marge has no lines in this short.
- Place Worse Than Death: Springfield gets this treatment on Asgard.
- Pop-Culture Pun Episode Title: To The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.
- Preferable Impersonator: It turns out Homer is well aware that Loki replaced Bart, but wants to keep him around for his ability to multiply pork chops.
- The Queen's Latin: Loki having a British accent when he's supposed to be a Norse god is Lampshaded by Judge Renslayer.
- Self-Deprecation: Among the Springfield Avengers is Rainier Wolfcastle as Giant-Man holding up a sign saying "This is what happens when Disney buys Marvel and Fox".
- The Stinger: In a nod to the MCU, the short features three mid-credit and post-credit scenes.
- Loki gives out free beers to everyone at Moe's.
- Ralph reenacts the famous "Hulk Smash" of Loki from The Avengers.
- Loki on trial at the TVA being read his Long List of crimes.
- What Happened to the Mouse?: What happened to Bart after being turned into Loki and thrown to the distance by the real Loki is never elaborated on.
- Worth It: Barney's response to Loki's warning of the dangers of beer.
