Ep 22. Dogtown

In "Dogtown," the twenty-second episode of season 28 of The Simpsons, the Simpson family adds a new member to their household - a rescue dog named Laddie. However, Homer soon realizes that Laddie is more obedient and beloved than he is, and he becomes jealous of the dog's popularity. Meanwhile, Bart becomes obsessed with a board game called "Conflict of Enemies" and tries to recruit his classmates to play with him.

As the episode begins, the Simpson family visits an animal shelter to adopt a new pet. Homer is initially uninterested, but when he sees Laddie, a scruffy dog with a wagging tail, he falls in love. Laddie proves to be a perfect dog - he obeys commands, cuddles with the family, and even scares away intruders. Homer begins to feel neglected as the rest of the family lavishes attention on Laddie, and he becomes desperate to prove that he's still the most important member of the family.

Meanwhile, Bart becomes obsessed with a board game called "Conflict of Enemies," a complex strategy game that involves moving armies and capturing territories. He spends all his time playing with the game's creator, a reclusive genius named Garrity, and tries to recruit his classmates to play with him. However, they're all scared off by the game's complexity and the fact that they have to wear medieval costumes to play.

Back at the Simpson house, Homer becomes increasingly jealous of Laddie and starts to resent him. He tries to win back the family's love by doing dangerous stunts, cooking extravagant meals, and even dressing up as a clown. However, Laddie upstages him at every turn, and Homer finally snaps and tries to get rid of the dog.

Bart tries to distract Homer by getting him to play "Conflict of Enemies," but Homer is terrible at the game and gets frustrated. He decides to take out his frustrations on Laddie by tossing him out of the house. The family is devastated, and Marge tells Homer that he needs to learn to love the dog just as much as they do.

Homer realizes the error of his ways and goes looking for Laddie. He finds him at the animal shelter and is shocked to discover that Laddie's former owners were abusive to him. Homer brings Laddie back home, apologizes to him, and promises to be a better owner. The family is overjoyed to have Laddie back, and Homer admits that the dog is indeed a very good boy.

In the end, Bart finally manages to get his classmates to play "Conflict of Enemies" by tricking them into thinking it's a video game. He and Garrity enjoy playing the game together, and Homer even watches them play and gives them tips. The episode ends with the family happily playing with Laddie and Bart declaring that he's finally found his tribe in the world of board games.

Overall, "Dogtown" is a heartwarming episode of The Simpsons that explores themes of jealousy, love, and acceptance. It's a reminder that pets can bring immense joy and happiness to our lives, and that sometimes we just need to learn to let go of our own insecurities and embrace the love that's right in front of us.