S5·E18 Burns' Heir

Episode recap

In the eighteenth episode of the fifth season of the long‑running animated series The Simpsons, titled “Burns’ Heir,” the storyline centers on a surprising inheritance that draws the Simpson family into an unexpected conflict. The episode opens with the wealthy industrialist Mr. Burns selecting the ten‑year‑old Bart Simpson to become his heir. As a result of this decision, Bart relocates from his familiar home in Springfield to the opulent Burns mansion, where he begins to experience life in the billionaire’s household.

The sudden change in Bart’s living situation prompts his parents, Homer and Marge Simpson, to become concerned about their son’s well‑being and the influence of the affluent environment. Determined to bring their child back to the family home, they enlist the services of a professional deprogrammer. The deprogrammer’s role is to persuade Bart to abandon his new position and return to his previous life with the Simpson family.

Throughout the episode, the narrative explores the tension between wealth and family loyalty, as well as the lengths to which Homer and Marge will go to protect their son from what they perceive as an unhealthy influence. The deprogrammer’s involvement underscores the parents’ desperation and highlights the comedic contrast between