When the Simpsons attend a shuffleboard game that the Springfield Retirement Home is playing, Marge is badmouthed in public by her former principal Ms. York, she reveals to her family that she was secretly a prankster in her middle school years.
Though Marge is amused by the pranks, she also feels remorse for committing them and is conflicted due to her newfound bond with Bart.
Feeling left out by Bart and Marge's bond, Homer seeks to find some kind of common ground with Lisa, and discovers they both share a love for food.
[2] Tony Sokol of Den of Geek gave the episode a 4.5 out of 5 stars stating, "'Marge the Meanie' is something to bring home to mother and still feel guilty about, with a wealth of one-liners to spare.
"[3] Marcus Gibson of Bubbleblabber gave the episode an 7/10 stating, "Overall, 'Marge the Meanie' has The Simpsons celebrating Mother's Day with a slew of pranks and a cup of chuckles.
The result is an enjoyably amusing mischievous act that causes more laughs than harm, with the highlights being the Mount Rushmore couch gag and a nod to James Cameron's long-awaited Avatar sequel.
While its narrative about pranking isn't entirely new, it compensates with a mildly sweet depiction of Bart's unexpected bond with Marge due to their common interest.