Welcome to TV Squad Lists, a feature where each blogger has a chance to list his or her own rundown of things in television that stand out from the rest, both good and bad.
Here's my list of what I believe are the top 14 Simpsons episodes in regards to heartstring tuggery. Share your own in the comments and tell me why mine are wrong.
Let's get to it:
Mother Simpson
I'm listing these episodes in no particular order, but this one gets the top spot solely for the final shot of Homer sitting on his car after helping his vigilante mother (voiced by Glen Close) escape, and remaining there even after the sun has gone down and the stars have come out. The Simpsons is praised, and rightfully so, for being a funny show, but it could also stir up some truly emotional moments that could rival many of its live-action contemporaries.
My Mother The Carjacker
Homer's mother returned several seasons later for this episode, and while it didn't quite pack the emotional wallop of her first appearance, it's still quite moving to see how much Homer loves his mother, and how her absence played a part in how utterly screwed up he is. The scene where his mother is in the back of a police car and the cops keep stopping and speeding up just to tease him is funny, sad and infuriating all at the same time.
Bart Vs. Thanksgiving
The first of many "Bart and Lisa" episodes on this list. Despite the sibling rivalry and animosity that exist between the two, Bart and Lisa always come through for one another in the end. When Bart destroys Lisa's Thanksgiving centerpiece and is accused of ruining Thanksgiving, he decides to run away. The episode isn't about Bart being a jerk, it's about the denial we all feel when we know we've done something wrong and aren't quite ready to admit it.
Lisa on Ice
I don't think there's another episode where Homer is a bigger jerk than he is in this one. This episode manages to point out everything wrong with youth sports. Well, actually it's just one thing: the parents. When Bart and Lisa end up on opposing hockey teams, Homer encourages both of them to stop acting like brother and sister and instead play to win, damn it. In the end, they decide they'd rather be brother and sister, which, of course, results in a riot.
Bart Sells his Soul
I'm not a religious person, but I was still moved by this episode where Bart sells his "soul" to Milhouse. The episode is written in such a way that you could see it as either a) Bart losing his spiritual essence, or b) Bart denying the part of himself that makes him unique. There's something intangible about each of us that makes us special, and this episode demonstrates that wonderfully without being preachy.
Alone Again, Natura-Diddily
What could make Ned Flanders turn away from God? How about the death of his wife, Maude? Of course, he only turns his back on the Lord for about .5 seconds, but still, that's a lot for someone as pious as Ned. His declaration in the final scene where he tells Kovenant singer Rachel Jordan that he's always at church, "rain or shine" is a nice summation of how a person can maintain their faith in God even in the darkest of times.
Lisa's First Word
One of many things that James L. Brooks brought to The Simpsons was an uncanny ability to condense a cluster of emotions into a single perfect moment. This episode focuses mostly on the arrival of Lisa and Bart's jealousy toward his new sister, but the best moment comes at the end when Maggie utters her first word, "daddy," just as Homer walks out of her room, and out of ear shot. It was just one word, but it expressed Maggie's feeling perfectly. I don't know it Brooks was responsible for that moment, but it felt Brooksian.
Lisa's Substitute
Even thought the actor who plays Lisa's substitute, Mr. Bergstrom in this episode is credited as "Sam Etic," it is in fact actor Dustin Hoffman. That's obvious from the voice, and from the Graduate references.
Lisa is often misunderstood by grown ups, but in Mr. Bergstrom she finds someone who both challenges her and has faith in her. As she becomes more and more drawn to Mr. Bergstrom, she also begins to lose respect for her father. In the end, however, Mr. Bergstrom leaves town and Homer wins his daughter back.
The Last Temptation of Homer
Part of being in a monogamous relationship is avoiding temptation, but what happens when someone comes into your life who's not only gorgeous, but also seems to have more in common with you than your own wife? That's the dilemma Homer faces when Mindy, a new co-worker begins work at the nuclear plant. Homer does all he can not to give in to temptation, but can't shake the feeling that fate is conspiring against him. In the end, his love for Marge triumphs, but the episode shows how maintaining a marriage is not always easy.
Life on the Fast Lane
Of course, long before Homer and Mindy there was Marge and Jacques. Feeling neglected and unappreciated by Homer, Marge ends up spending time with another man who is clearly a "playa" but who also fills an emotional need for Marge. She too comes close to having an affair, but again, love conquers all, and the episode ends with an uplifting parody of the final scene from An Officer and a Gentleman.
Moaning Lisa
In this episode, Lisa tries to express her feelings of sadness through her music, but her band director won't have it. When she meets Bleeding Gums Murphy, he shows Lisa how to channel all of her sadness and frustration through her saxophone. Like most first season episodes, this episode is pretty straightforward, and its message is clear: it's okay to be sad sometimes.
I Love Lisa
There are plenty of Simpsons episodes about unrequited love, but this one is my favorite. Ralph Wiggum falls for Lisa after Lisa gives him a Valentine's Day card out of pity. He falls in love with her, but eventually she has to tell him (loudly, and on live television) that she doesn't like him. We rarely see Ralph as anything more than a kind of human non sequitur, but this episode exposes a few other sides of his personality.
Summer of 4 Ft. 2
In this episode, Lisa tries to change her nerdy ways by taking on a whole new personality when her family goes on summer vacation. She befriends a group of cool kids, but Bart, driven by jealousy, tries to sabotage it all by showing them Lisa's geeky accomplishments at Springfield Elementary. Despite learning about the "real" Lisa, her friends still think she's cool, and Lisa learns it's okay to be yourself.
Raging Abe Simpson and His Grumbling Grandson in "The Curse of the Flying Hellfish"
This episode is more "crazy action flick" than emotional, but I list it here because it shows Grandpa Simpson as someone other than a crazy old coot. It's easy for a youngster like Bart not to realize that his grandpa was once a strapping young war hero, but by the end of their adventure, Bart has a new love and respect for the old man.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
5-17-2007 @ 10:38AM
Elliott said...
I would add "And Maggie Makes Three". Having the sign at the end that is covered with her pictures and reads, "Do it for her" serves as a reminder of how much my parents sacrificed for me.
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5-17-2007 @ 10:43AM
kaufman said...
good list, but for me, without a doubt is the flashback episode where we see Homer have to crawl back to Mr. Burns for his job after Marge becomes pregnant with Maggie. Mr. Burns hangs a sign in Homer's office - DON'T FORGET YOU'RE HERE FOREVER. At the end of the episode we see that Homer has been strategically hanging pictures of Maggie over the sign until all that it says DO IT FOR HER.
That scene perfectly sums up how I feel about my own daughter - that the worst job or situation is worth going through just so that I can go home to see her every night.
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5-17-2007 @ 10:43AM
kaufman said...
Wow, Elliott and I are in total sync!
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5-17-2007 @ 10:50AM
Richard Ott said...
I don't watch The Simpsons, but for the period which I
was a fan of N-Sync, I tuned in for just one episode to
see what my favorite boy band looked like as Simpsons,
themselves. I haven't watched the last 399 episodes,
since then.
RICK.
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5-17-2007 @ 10:51AM
Thomas said...
I was getting towards the bottom and didn't see Moaning Lisa, but I was really glad this was on the list, this was one of the most touching episodes of the series, and one of my personal favorites of all time.
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5-17-2007 @ 10:58AM
Josh said...
Elliott - I had forgotten about that scene until you mentioned it. It's one of the rare "Simpsons" epsiodes that completely floored me.
The whole time you're wondering what Homer's story has to do with not having any pictures of Maggie in the album. Then when you see where they are (and what they spell) *boom* instant lump in throat.
That's when people look at me and say, "It's just a cartoon...you're such a girl!"
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5-17-2007 @ 11:04AM
Alex said...
I'll agree that the one regarding Maggie definately should have been on the list.
However, I think a better list would have been "The 14 most touching Futurama episodes"
One of the reasons I like Futurama so much more is that not only does the irreverant jokes make more "sense" contextually, but the emotions that the show goes through is much more intense. Fry's constant devotion to Leila "behind the scenes" is one of TV's best examples of a guy who is totally in love with another person (or alien in this case).
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5-17-2007 @ 11:17AM
Scott said...
I haven't looked them all up, but I'd guess that what, 12 out of 14 of these are from the first 8 seasons? Since I recognize them, and I basically stopped watching after then, I'm probably in the ballpark. It's a shame that the show is still in production, as a shadow of its former self. I found a YouTube video the other day with the "Simpsons" "Canyonero" commercial--it was funnier, and more clever, than entire episodes of the show are now. The later years aren't as funny, aren't as clever, have run out of plots, and, as this article shows, don't have the same capacity/interest in being touching and human once in a while. Thanks for remembering back when the show could pull off these moments.
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5-17-2007 @ 11:19AM
Hank said...
Leela is a sewer mutant, NOT an alien.
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5-17-2007 @ 11:20AM
Alex said...
@ 9,
Darn! Rookie mistake on my part, thanks! I should have known >_
Reply
5-17-2007 @ 11:26AM
Jonah said...
I think an important one that was left out was the episode where Homer has to have an operation on his heart.
Right before the operation is about to begin, Homer is talking with Bart and Lisa. He doesn't quite know how to express his love his children, so Bart and Lisa take turns whispering in his ear what he should say.
It is an especially funny / emotional moment:
Homer: Kids, I wanna give you some words to remember me by, if something
happens. Let's see...er...Oh, I'm no good at this.
Lisa: [whispers into Homer's ear]
Homer: Bart, the saddest thing about this is I'm not going to see you
grow up...Lisa: [whispers into Homer's ear]
Homer: ...because I know you gonna turn out well, with or without your
old man.
Bart: Thanks, Dad.
Homer: And Lisa...
Bart: [whispers into Homer's ear]
Homer: I guess this is the time to tell you...
Bart: [whispers into Homer's ear]
Homer: ...that you're adopted and I don't like you.
[realizes] Bart!
Bart: [whispers into Homer's ear]
Homer: But don't worry, because you've got a big brother who loves you
and will always look out for you.
Lisa: Oh, Dad. [hugs him]
Reply
5-17-2007 @ 11:36AM
Adam from TV Squad said...
Thanks for all the additions, guys. This was actually a list of 30 to begin with, but I pared it down.
"Moe Baby Blues" was on the original list, I can't recall if "Maggie Makes Three" was on the original list or not, but it should have been. It should have been on this list, actually. An oversight on my part.
"Homer's Triple Bypass" is another good suggestion.
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5-17-2007 @ 11:39AM
Borat said...
The "Do it for her" moment always brings tears to my eyes, and I rarely cry when it comes to movies/TV. Such a beautiful moment.
If anything, these moments tell us that The Simpsons was perhaps the greatest show ever made.
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5-17-2007 @ 11:43AM
C.G. Blogs said...
Great list! There are so many touching moments in The Simpsons; I think its one reason so many people enjoy the show - it has comedy and family drama all wrapped together. Still, when reminded of the Summer of 4ft 2 episode, I couldn't help but remember my most favorite Homer quote/reaction to seeing his car covered with sea shells:
"Sweet merciful crap!
I burst out laughing just thinking of it.
Such good stuff...
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5-17-2007 @ 11:55AM
Sarah said...
What about the Xmas episode where Bart steals Bonestorm, the video game, for the department store? I feel that this is a great representation of a son's love for his mother and how he doesn't realize it's there until she stops paying attention to him. The most touching scene is when Marge is in the next room, singing Lisa to sleep, and she passes by Bart's room with a quick good night and a snap of the lightswitch. So sad!
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5-17-2007 @ 12:23PM
dkny said...
Elliot you are right - it's the moment I was looking for and well... wasn't there
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5-17-2007 @ 12:34PM
Erik said...
I'm surprised not to see El Viaje Misterioso de Nuestro Homer. Where Homer's chili induced hallucinations lead him to find his soulmate, Marge.
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5-17-2007 @ 12:44PM
Johari said...
How about these:
03x12 - I Married Marge
Marge & Homer are worried that she might be pregnant. While waiting for the results, they tell the children how they got married and how Bart was born. When Homer doesn't get the job at the nuclear power plant the first time and things he bought for Marge & the baby start getting repossessed (including her ring), he leaves her to find a better job and support her & the baby. Patty & Selma find him working at a taco stand and tell Marge.
05x04 - Rosebud
Mr. Burns reminisces about Bobo, the teddy bear he lost as a child. It's turned up in a bag of ice that Bart brings home and he gives it to Maggie. Mr. Burns finds out and wants it back so he tries to buy it back. Homer almost relents, but cannot do it when he sees how attached Maggie has become to it. As Mr. Burns leaves, she has a change of heart and offers it to him.
07x11 - Marge Be Not Proud
Bart's need for a violent video game prompts him to steal one from a local discount department store. He's caught and apprehended by the security guard, who warns him to never return. When the family photo is ruined after he's revealed to be a thief, Marge distances herself from him, feeling that he doesn't need her anymore. Bart's guilt, coupled with the absence of love from Marge that he feels, makes him do the right thing. Marge catches him with something and it's revealed to be a paid-in-full portrait of Bart. The nice touch is that she places it on the family picture that's hanging askew and it becomes level again.
08x09 - El Viaje Misterioso de Nuestro Jomer (The Mysterious Voyage of Homer)
Marge gets upset at Homer for breaking his promise to her to not drink and for embarrassing her in front of the town after he eats a few insanely hot chili peppers. He wakes up, finding himself on a mysterious vision quest to find his soul mate. When that proves fruitless and Marge dismisses him, he searches Springfield for that person. The two finally reunite at the lighthouse, where Marge deduced that that's where he would be, strengthening their relationship as soul mates.
09x03 - Lisa's Sax
Lisa's sax is ruined by Bart, so Homer decides to tell the story of how she first got it. Things come full circle when it's a sweltering day and he plans on purchasing a new air conditioner, but decides to get Lisa another sax with a heartfelt inscription on it.
12x09 - HOM?
Homer is revealed to have a crayon in his brain, which is causing his low intellect. He has it removed and his IQ is bumped up to 105. This enables him to be more insightful and even connect more with Lisa. But when people start getting annoyed by his newfound intelligence, he has Moe revert him back. Lisa is disappointed by this, but reads a letter Homer wrote to her before he had the process done.
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5-17-2007 @ 12:46PM
jon tucker said...
I liked the episode where Bart & Lisa get sent to boot camp. At the end of the episode, Bart breaks away from all the jerks who like him up until this point have been harassing her the only girl at boot camp, and shouts up to Lisa during her most trying obstacle that he knows she can do it and that he believes in her.
Also, The Simpsons is as good now as it ever was. Older episodes are more stuck in our head b/c we saw them when we were younger. For some reason people have a tendency to turn on things if they are around too long like people who scoffed at The move Rocky Balboa, which was great.
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5-17-2007 @ 12:54PM
Johari said...
That's supposed to say "12x09 - HOMR" with a backwards 'R'.
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