This season was very consistent in its tone. While the best episodes stand out clearly, the worst ones are not the kind that are irritating or even actively disappointing. I think this is because the characterization is much stronger in this season, so the "bad" episodes are really only bad because they are less funny than other episodes. The other problem with the bad episodes in this season is that they tend to have an inconsistent plot. Most of my bottom episodes start strong and fizzle out at the end, leading to some entertaining scenes at the beginning and a slightly underwhelming conclusion. In terms of the general flavor of the season, I would say that it was very down to earth with its storylines and humor. In some ways, moreso than Season 1. Most of these plots could happen in the real world, even if there are moments when the show continues to subvert the tropes of a standard sitcom. When the humor in this episode fails, it is usually because the depiction of the family or the real-world scenarios are so relatable that the scene moves from observation comedy to just plain observation. This season was pretty funny, but what stands out to me is how emotional it is. The characters were much more defined in this season and many of the episodes focused on their emotional connection to one another. While the fights in between Homer and Marge in Season 1 made me wonder why they cared for each other at all, their connection is so much clearer in this Season. Even in episodes like "The War of The Simpsons," you can see that they still care for each other deeply. The emotional core of this season also makes it so that it has an emotional gut punch or even just a strongly emotional center to almost every episode. If we go through the episodes in order, we see:
Bart's heartbreaking tears after he tries so hard and fails at the test anyway,
Marge comforting Homer after he loses his hair once again,
Homer reflecting on his failed career,
Bart reconciling with Lisa after breaking something she cares about,
Bart promising Homer not to do any more daredevil stunts,
Homer assuring Marge that he loves her more than ever,
Homer vowing to live life to the fullest,
Marge picking up Homer off the side of the road and telling him she should have gone to the prom with him
Homer's brother losing everything,
Bart saying goodbye to his dog,
Grandpa's girlfriend dying on her birthday while he is stuck on a family activity,
Mr. Burns saying Homer is the fattest man he had ever seen after Homer was excited about losing some weight on his diet,
Lisa receiving a touching note from her inspiring teacher,
And, Homer throwing back a record-breaking fish to show Marge how much he loves her.
Even episodes that don't have a gut punch like this still revolve heavily around interpersonal relationships like the Homer and Lisa bond in "Homer vs. Lisa and the 8th Commandment" or Patty and Selma's connection in "Principal Charming." While I think there are sweet moments in later seasons, this season is filled with the most sweet and emotional moments of any season. Now on to the ranking! I am starting with the best and I am also not including the show's first Treehouse of Horror in my consideration because I would like to rank all of the Treehouse of Horror episodes in October. As always, let's start with the best!
Top 7 Best
This episode has a bit of the opposite problem of many of the episodes on my worst list. While many of the worst episodes in this season have a strong finish and a weak ending, this episode has a bit of a fragmented start but has an absolutely hilarious third act. I like some of the scenes at the Comic-Con in the opening but I think the episode spends too much time with Bart trying to save up money for the comic. The episode is going for a bit of a subversion here by having a standard sitcom plot of a young boy trying to earn money for something he wants only to have the process be torturous and unrewarding. It just seems a bit pointless, especially since the best part is the night when the three boys fight over the shared comic. The effort it took to get the comic may add to the comedy a little, but I would have loved to the moments in the treehouse with Bart, Millhouse, and Martin to be even longer.
6. "Bart Gets Hit by a Car"
This one has some great scenes, especially when you see Bart and Mr. Burns' differing and equally false versions of the accident. It also does a good job showing Marge's growing discomfort with all the lies, so it does not come as a surprise that she ultimately cannot lie when she is on the stand. It is also has a relatable moment with Homer's anger making him fear that he no longer loves Marge. It is a crisis with high stakes that make sense in light of the tensions and money concerns throughout this episode. Of course Homer loves Marge more than ever, but sometimes our emotions and frustrations can cause us to temporarily lose sight of the love.
5. "One Fish, Two Fish, Blowfish, Blue Fish"
This one is not exactly a laugh riot, but it is a deep an sincere appeal to live your life to its fullest. Homer's efforts to make the most of his final day always made me wonder what I would do if I knew that I only had one more day left. It is sweet that Homer devotes most of the day to sweet little moments with his family and friends instead of doing something crazy or impulsive. It is also amusing that Homer asks for a ticket when he is pulled over and instead they lock him up and Barney needs to bail him out. Or the fact that he agrees to a BBQ with Flanders because he knows that he won't be alive for it. The scene he has with Lisa is especially sweet. One of Homer's dreams that remains consistent throughout the show is his love for music, so it is sweet to see how much he is moved by Lisa's playing. First she plays a sad song that makes him even more depressed, but then she decides to cheer him up by playing "When the Saints Come Marching In." It is a little bit like that scene in "Bart the Daredevil" when he starts to hum Lisa's concert music while he is driving.
4. "Homer vs. Lisa and the 8th Commandment"
Many of Lisa's most interesting episodes are the ones where she needs to take a stand or fight for her convictions and this episode is great at delivering an issue that Lisa would fight for. While it is wrong for Homer to steal the way he does in this episode and Lisa is clearly in the right, I think the episode still makes him relatable character who wants to enjoy entertainment that was outside of his budget. There are so many funny moments in this episode as well including Lovejoy's declaration that stealing bread to feed a starving family is fine, but putting butter on it would be unethical, or the way the two boxer's start fighting because they both want to dedicate the match to the recently deceased manager for one of the boxers. Lisa imagining the family in hell inviting her to join her is also both funny and ominous (Funny that this is the second time that we see hell in this season). There are also some good observations about the way that cable changes things in their house, including Bart's continued attempts to watch an inappropriate channel. This episode is great at showing an ethical disagreement between loved ones without seeming heavy-handed in the process.
3. "Lisa's Substitute"
I love how this episode shows the way that a teacher can inspire you and make every class period into the highlight of the week. We see Lisa play her saxophone at home and in a few concerts, but Mr. Bergstrom's inspiration is one of the things that gives her the confidence to play jazz solo in public. These episodes are not necessarily sequential, but I like to think that Bergstrom, along with Bleeding Gums Murphy are two of the voices of inspiration that change the who trajectory of her life. That scene at the end with the "You are Lisa Simpson" note, is such a sweet testament to self-confidence and a reminder that she can shine and has a lot to offer the world. There are teachers that do that, and I hope someday to become a teacher who can inspire others in a similar way. This episode plays up Lisa's affection for Mr. Bergstrom as a childhood crush with maybe a little bit of an effort to make him into a replacement father figure as well. The episode is good at showing the innocence of Lisa's fondness for Mr. Bergstrom while also showing that Mr. Bergstrom cares about her and wants her to get the support she needs from her father. The B Plot is not as interesting to me, but I love the part at the end when Homer is able to cheer up all three of his children in the way that they need in that moment. It is a sweet episode that is almost tied with the other two, but there are a few things that bring the other episodes up slightly more for me.
2. "Bart Gets an 'F'"
Season 2 had a lot of strong characterization and interpersonal moments, but one of the best episodes in capturing the essence of a character is the first episode of the season. The episode is great at capturing the fact that Bart genuinely wants to do well in school but that time gets away from him, especially when he tries to juggle homework with family time and fun times at the arcade. Then, he gets the miracle of an extra day to do the work he needs to do and he forces himself to study. I also just love the humor of Bart imagining the founding fathers, only for them to ditch him for a snow day as well. He keeps smacking himself so that he can stay focused and seems to have done everything in his power to pass the test and avoid repeating the 4th Grade. This then leads to the saddest moment in the show. After all the work Bart does to study on that snow day and get Martin's help, he still fails the test. Maybe it is because of my academic background, but that moment makes me cry because Bart gave his all and it still was not enough. The fact that he remembered obscure information is such a victorious moment that comes on the heels of Bart's tears and makes for the ultimate satisfying moment! It is totally fine for Bart to be mischievous, but I like the episodes that show his vulnerable and creative side as well.
1. "Itchy & Scratchy & Marge"
While "Bart Gets an 'F'" has one of my favorite moments in the entire show, this episode just slightly edges it out because I love the theme it addresses and the way it goes about doing it. Like "Bart the Daredevil," this episode looks at the effect that media has on people's thinking and actions as well as the best way to address this problem. It shows how sometimes children can imitate the things they watch on TV, but instead of suggesting that the best approach is to ban that media, it shows the complexity of the issue and the harm caused by censorship. Marge's efforts to recruit the support of the community work perfectly and she is able to remove the violence from Itchy & Scratchy, but the sanitized version of the show is bland and artistically bankrupt because the creators are not allowed to lean on the storytelling that they know best. Marge's efforts to censor things ultimately leads to people who cannot recognize the value of an artistic work like Michelangelo's David because they are too horrified by the nudity of the piece. While this episode doesn't offer any easy solutions, I think it illustrates that discernment is really the best way to address problematic media instead of banning it or cutting parts out. You can never build a home that completely shuts out all questionable media, and even if you could, children are eventually going to be exposed to some of those things and if they are not taught to think about what they are watching, it will create the same problems these parents were trying to avoid. In fact, these children will probably be worse off because they never learned to reflect on what is around them and will go from being exposed to none of it to being exposed to all of it once they are adults. This episode also shows that people who want to censor media can often lose sight of the larger beauty, merit, or insight posed by a work of art because they fixate on one or two issues that do not encompass the entirety of the artwork. I think most films and books offer a bit of trash and a bit of treasure. While there are a few things that are wholly trash (like pornography), I think as long as you are exposing yourself to material that contains more treasure than trash and you are seeking out the insights that you can find, it is better to examine media instead of silencing it. The fact that this show can raise so many complex issues about the relationship children have with media shows how thought-provoking this show can be, even while it is also being hilarious.
Top 7 Worst
7. "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?"
This one is really just more average than outright bad. I think it makes Homer into a very likable character as he works hard to locate his half brother. I also like the part when Homer is working to build a new car design. It is funny when he lets the scientists push him around and cool when he works to design a car that will address a lot of problems common to family road trips. I occasionally find Herb's voice a little irritating, but the larger issue I have with this episode is that it doesn't have that many moments between Homer and Herb. As a result, it is much easier to see the bond between Herb and Marge or the kids than it is with his reunited brother.
6. "Bart's Dog Gets an 'F'"
This episode is mostly fine and has a few fun moments. The only issue is that when Santa's Little Helper is misbehaving, it is relatable but also a bit irritating. The dog destroys valuable heirlooms and expensive items throughout the episode. While I have a dog that used to destroy films and I understand the concept of wanting to keep your dog while others are angry at her, but I think this episode depends too much on the attachment people have for this dog from the first episode. I don't really like or care about Santa's Little Helper in this episode, they are much better at getting people invested in later episodes like Season 3's "Dog of Death"
The scene at the end of this episode where Homer keeps falling off the gorge is an iconic one that the show has brought several times. I also love all the jokes that they get in with Truckasaurus and with Lisa's concert performing Schubert's Unfinished Symphony. The only issue is once the actual plot gets going. While it makes sense for Bart's character to be impressed with the daredevil and want to do the same thing, I think the larger commentary that this episode makes about media and impressible children is simplistic and a bit of an odd choice given that the show likely received similar scrutiny for being a bad influence on children. The role of media and children is analyzed with much more depth in other episodes, even other episodes in this season.
4. "Blood Feud"
This episode also starts in a compelling way as the viewers worry about Mr. Burns health and Homer forces Bart to donate his blood to save Mr. Burns. The fact that Homer is only doing this for the potential reward makes sense for his character. It is also hilarious to see him fly into a rage for only receiving a note from Burns and writing that insulting letter. I also like all the funny measures that Homer and Bart take in order to get the letter back. The problem with this episode is that the ending really loses both the humor and the cohesiveness of the early portions of the episode. Burns' rage makes sense, but his change of heart and the gift he gets for the family come a little suddenly. This episode sets up some of the similarities between Bart and Mr. Burns that will come into play in later episodes, but it could have done a little more to establish why they were both drawn to the Olmec head.
3. "Old Money"
This episode opens with a strong beginning as it features the sweetest and most believable romance for Abe Simpson. I like the way that they connect and it is such a tragic gut punch that Grandpa isn't able to be there with her when she passes away. His anger makes sense as the Simpson family keeps him from being with his love when she needed him. All of this makes for some strong dramatic tension in the first part of the episode. The first issue is that none of this is particularly funny, I feel for Grandpa and it is so sad to see his happy romance snatched away from him. The second issue with this episode is that it really loses its direction in the last portions of the episode. The plot of Grandpa trying to find a good way to use the money Bea gave him features some interesting suggestions from the people of Springfield, but it drifts far away from Abe's sense of grief. Also, Homer saving Abe's money is nice, but doesn't really provide a good setup for Abe to forgive Homer.
2. "Dancin' Homer"
I think the main issue with this episode is that it is pretty bland and forgettable. Homer's work as a mascot isn't particularly out there or memorable and even the family moving from Springfield lacks the gravitas it should have. I like the story being told in flashback because it makes you wonder how Homer is going to fail and how everything is going to go wrong. The problem is that Homer's failure isn't entirely clear beyond the general idea that what might work for a small town is not as a larger metropolis. A big fish stands out in a small pond, but it doesn't really do that in a large lake filled with other big fish. This episode suffers from the Thor: The Dark World effect of being an episode that I constantly forget immediately after watching it.
1. "Principal Charming"
This episode sets up a cute romance between Skinner and Patty, but what bothers me is that there is very little indication that Patty ever reciprocates Skinner's feelings. Because of this, the episode plays like an unrequited love story where Patty even potentially strings Skinner along. In the end, Patty says that she has to break up with Skinner because she cannot leave her sister behind, but this seems like a weird excuse given that Selma leaves Patty on several occasions to get married in later episodes. This makes Patty's break-up seem like an excuse that is just to make Skinner feel better (Which kinda makes sense given that the show later reveals Patty as a lesbian). While it is kinda interesting to have the dynamic of Patty in a romance she does not want while Selma wrestles with feeling happy for her sister but also a bit lonely and envious of the romance Patty gets to have. Both sisters have a believable experience and even Skinner has the all too real, but sad experience of liking someone who doesn't like you back, even when the person you like tries going on a few dates to see if those feelings change. I think the episode would have worked better if Patty had said that she didn't like Skinner (Although maybe this would be too similar to "I Love Lisa," which was a much better executed version of this concept). All of the feelings in this episode are relatable, but the episode isn't particularly funny. The only jokes I really liked were Homer's Terminator vision when looking for a date for Patty and Bart being surprised at getting caught for burning his own name in 50-ft Letters on the grass.
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