Harper Jambowski is a character who made her only appearance in the episode Friend with Benefit. She is the main antagonist of the episode.
Biography[]
Harper's father, Mike Jambowski, is an extremely wealthy single dad trying to do the best he can since it is unknown from her mother Sasha abandoned them or died, which means meeting all of Harper's desires and turning her into a selfish, mean, bossy and spoiled girl. Having newly moved to Springfield, Harper's talent and interest in magic tricks led her to the Magic Club booth at the Springfield Elementary Club Sign-Up day, where she met Lisa, not only because Harper liked magic but because she found all the other booths to be creepy. Harper's ability as a magician impressed Lisa and the two quickly became friends. Harper seemed really happy to have Lisa as a friend, however Harper was always in the spotlight when they hung out and dominated Lisa, causing Lisa to question whether it was worth being with Harper if it meant being cast into her shadow. For instance, Harper invited Lisa to go see David Copperfield at the Magic Palace. They both went on stage and Harper took the spotlight, literally in this case, during the Copperfield act, as he asked both of them what their favorite TV show and dessert was and Harper cut off Lisa to interject with Krusty the Clown and cotton candy, Copperfield then revealed a cotton candy-filled chamber where Krusty was suspended in a straitjacket. The trick continued with Harper being asked what her favorite starving wild animal was, to which she replied crocodile, and one was lowered into the chamber with Krusty. Lisa would go on to complain about being cut off, but, outside of actual magic, the spontaneous revelation of Harper's favorite things suggests it could have been a preplanned routine, likely a gift purchased by Harper's extremely wealthy dad for his magician daughter. After that show the Jambowskis made the Simpsons an offer they couldn't refuse - a week-long vacation to a tropical island while it was winter in Springfield - and Harper was glad Lisa would be coming and got her an expensive new bike as a "friendship present." This was the end of their friendship as Lisa rejected Harper's generosity because she thought the bike was too wonderful and in doing so offended Harper, who couldn't understand why Lisa preferred the "crappy" bike (which even Lisa admits was assembled by Homer and doesn't work right) and she accused Lisa of not appreciating what she had done for her. Lisa snapped and started yelling about Harper always interrupting her while Harper said she could easily befriend anyone to replace Lisa.
Despite Lisa's actions, the Simpsons couldn't resist the invitation to the Jambowskis' island and the trip continued as planned, with initial awkwardness between Harper and Lisa. Everyone was having fun with the island's various activities until Lisa tattled on Harper because she turned a sea turtle onto its back, which Harper tried to justify as the beach and turtle were hers, making Lisa complain how is everything hers, Homer asked why they kept arguing and Lisa angrily replied that Harper only wants things her way instead of the right way. Mike tried to tell Homer to force Lisa to let Harper have her way, only to Lisa tells Homer to choose between her happiness and his own friendship with Harper's dad and all the luxuries that came with it. Homer chose Lisa and burned his bridges with the Jambowskis by going on a tirade where he tells Harper that she was spoiled, he then stated Harper doesn't deserve Lisa, and angrily declared that they weren't going to be on an island with "people who push [Homer's] little girl around."
Appearances[]
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