Friday, May 24, 2019

Top 10 Simpsons Episodes

I've heard that The Simpsons is one of those shows that was so beloved, and has run so long, that you'd get a different answer out of most people when asked to name their favourite episode... and you'd get a different answer out of everyone when asked to name their top 10 episodes. I don't know why that piqued my interest, but I sat down and went through the list of episodes on The Simpsons Wiki, and came up with my Top 10.

10: Deep Space Homer (Episode 15 of Season 5) - where Homer goes into space.

Highlights: Inanimate carbon rod, Homer realizing the Planet of the Apes was Earth, Barney crashing into the roof of the pillow factory, and "and I, for one, welcome our new insect overlords".

9: Last Exit to Springfield (Episode 17 of Season 4) - where the power plant goes on strike after Homer becomes union president.

Highlights: "Dental plan... Lisa needs braces...", "Goons... Hired goons", "It was the best of times, it was the BLURST of times?!", and "I had an onion on my belt, which was the style of the time".

8: King-Size Homer (Episode 7 of Season 7) - Homer gains weight to be able to work from home.

Highlights: "Gas, brake, honk. Gas, brake, honk. Honk, honk, punch. Gas, gas, gas", "Where's the Anykey?", "I just tripled my productivity", and "the fingers you have used to dial are too fat...".

7: Treehouse of Horror IV (Episode 5 of Season 5) - specifically Homer sells his soul for a donut.

Highlights: Flanders is the devil "it's always the one you least suspect", "Mmmm... forbidden donut", and "I watched Matlock in a bar last night. The sound wasn't on, but I think I got the gist of it".

6: Homer at the Bat (Episode 17 of Season 3) - Mr. Burns hires professional baseball players to play on the company softball team.

Highlights: "Hey! We know how to play softball", "that's impossible. no one can give more than 100%...", "get rid of those sideburns!", "You! Strawberry! Hit a home run.", and the closing song.

5: Homer the Great (Episode 12 of Season 6) - Stonecutters episode.

Highlights: "I'm going outside to... stalk... Lenny and Carl", The Stonecutters song, the No Homers Club, and  "For the love of God, somebody get the jaws of life".

4. You Only Move Twice (Episode 2 of Season 8) - Homer changes jobs and his new boss is a super villain.

Highlights: Essentially everything that Mr. Scorpio does that's super villainy that goes completely unnoticed, and escalates as the episode goes on... and the hammock discussion.

3. Marge vs the Monorail (Episode 12 of Season 4) - the monorail episode (duh).

Highlights: The monorail song, "weren't you one of the little rascals?", "a solar eclipse... the cosmic ballet goes on", and "Batman's a scientist".

2. $pringfield (Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Legalized Gambling) (Episode 10 of Season 5) - Mr. Burns builds a casino.

Highlights: "I've discovered the perfect business. People walk in, empty their pockets, and scuttle off. Nothing can stop me now, except microscopic germs", "oh, nothing, Marge. Just a little incident involving the Boogie Man!", "You from the casino?" "I'm from a casino", and "we'll take the Spruce Moose... hop in!".

1. Cape Feare (Episode 2 of Season 5) - the Simpsons enter the witness protection program to escape Sideshow Bob.

Highlights: "Hey kids, want to drive through that cactus patch?" "yeah" "yeah" "no" "well, two against one!", Sideshow Bob stepping on the rakes, "not the elephants!", "Bart, do you want to see my new chainsaw and hockey mask?", and Sideshow Bob signing the entire score of the HMS Pinafore.

Tell me how I'm wrong.

2 comments:

  1. Let's try this again:

    I agree with your choices, but must add:

    Trilogy of Error: Episode 18 of Season 12: Homer: Liguo... dead! Linguo: Linguo Is dead.

    22 Short Films about Springfield (Episode 21 of Season 7): Steamed Hams, Nelson gets Laughed at, Lisa gets gummed, and so much more.

    But I see you generally agree that seasons 2-12 are Canon and everything else...

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  2. I would add the episode with Spinal Tap and take out none, thus making it go to 11.

    ReplyDelete