At long last, I am back with a ranking of Season 4! I fell into a bit of a flurry of writing as I worked to get my first dissertation chapter to my advisor. Getting those first words on paper was difficult, probably because they were the very first words and I held them up to an impossible standard. But after a few weeks where I did nothing except for writing, I finally got a draft together. I also lost my dog and got a new puppy. It is crazy how much can happen in a month's time! Now, on to Season 4! This season is one of the seasons that I have the most positive memories of. I can think of a lot of episodes that I enjoy watching and very few that I dread. The earlier seasons were consistent, but I would say that this season is both consistent and excellent. It still has a lot of sweet moments between the characters but mixes it with a lot of fun and random humor. This season is also masterful at going to different settings in different acts of the episode which makes all of the episodes very active and engaging because it doesn't stick to one location for long. I think it is also one of the best seasons. It has a freshness in its jokes that make even the weaker episodes a lot of fun. The very few weak episodes in this season often have a strong start and then fizzle out in the last portions of the episode. In contrast, the strongest episodes in this season are the ones that are most memorable for their random jokes while still including a few brief pinches of heart. It is a fun and memorable season. Let's get to the ranking!
Top 7 Best
I think this episode is much better at dealing with the subject of addiction than other episodes in this season. I do think that it would have been better if Homer was legitimately drunk when he got his DWI since the current set-up makes you angry at Barney when this really was not necessary. I suppose it does help to establish that Homer is a habitual drunkard and that he uses Beer to mediate far too much of his life. It is so relatable seeing Homer experience significant temptations to drink beer as the days go on. It reminds me of the times when I have tried dieting only to be tempted by the doughnut that someone brings in or the other lures that were not there before I started dieting. In addition to a relatable Homer plot, there is also a funny Lisa plot as she experiments on her brother's intelligence. Lisa's anger with Bart makes sense and while her experiments scarred him emotionally, I wish that she had a less random comeuppance. I don't like that Bart wins by stealing her hamster because I think it rewards him for destroying Lisa's project. I think it would have been more interesting if Lisa discovered that Bart is quite intelligent and had been manipulating her the whole time. There is this tendency to punish Lisa instead of allowing her to be happy and I think that can be quite saddening. The ending of this episode is both powerful and sweet as Homer realizes that while he desperately wants the first taste of beer he has had in a month, he would rather spend the evening biking into the sunset with Marge. It is a sweet ending to a funny and enjoyable episode.
6. "Homer the Heretic"
This episode makes a lot of jokes about religion, but I think it does so in a way that is still tasteful not at the expense of Christianity. The only problem is that it does have the tendency to make external actions like going to church seem like they are more important than internal dedication like faith and dedication to Christ. That said, I think it includes a lot of amusing jokes. I love the fact that every possible thing goes wrong when Marge goes to church with the kids, including the heater being broken, a depressing sermon on Lamentations, the doors being frozen shut, and the car not starting. Seeing every possible thing go wrong provides a funny image of the obstacles that can get in your way when trying to focus on Christ. I also like the point when Homer quotes a random verse to support his beliefs and this verse has nothing to do with his current circumstances. I also think the ending is sweet when Ned and the others rescue Homer from the fire. It makes you wonder why Ned wasn't at church though. I think this episode offers some funny moments while also pointing to the challenges that come with trying to maintain consistent devotion. I have noticed with my own efforts to read the Bible consistently, that often the most bizarre obstacles can get in the way.
5. "Marge vs. the Monorail"
This episode carries a Music Man parody and adds a bunch of random humor that makes the episode unique and fun. Burns' behavior is so cartoonishly evil that it is hilarious, and I love the fact that he and Smithers try to trick the town into giving the money back to him. I also like that there is a bit of mystery to this episode as Marge tries to figure out what happened to Ogdenville and how to make sure that Springfield doesn't fall to the same fate. It is also sweet to see how excited Homer gets about his training to become a monorail conductor. I like seeing moments when Homer is upbeat and excited about his work. Bart is also a fun companion in this episode and it makes me wonder why Lisa does not play a similar role with Marge. There are also a bunch of funny jokes on the monorail itself such as Leonard Nimoy's bizarre behavior that blurs the line between actor and Star Trek character or Homer's efforts to find an anchor. As with other Season 4 episodes, this episode thrives in its random humor, and often a description of its best moments is also a description of the many, many jokes in the episode.
4. "Selma's Choice"
The biggest selling points of this episode are the jokes about Disneyland and Homer's obsession with the giant sandwich that makes him sick, but I think there are other moments in this episode that work as well, like the funeral. As I get older, I grow more sympathetic for the existential crisis that Selma has in this episode as she realizes that she wants a baby before it is too late and is quickly running out of time to achieve these dreams. Selma's efforts to find love and kids are interesting, but I think her attempts to try and parent the kids when they go to Duff Gardens are the most interesting. She tries hard, but she makes mistakes that turn Lisa into a drugged, zany, "Lizard Queen" and Bart into a troublemaker who almost gets himself killed. Even though I don't like Selma that much, I feel bad for her failure because it comes out of her efforts to try and make the decisions that she thinks parents should make. I think this episode offers a good mixture of both funny moments and some deep reflection on what we should make of our lives while we still have the chance.
3. "Last Exit to Springfield"
This is also a comedic rollercoaster. The premise is fairly simple, with Homer trying to win back the dental plan with a strike, but there are so many funny situations in there. I love the fact that Burns thinks that Homer is a strategic union leader while Homer misreads Burns and his intentions. There is also a lot of great comedy in Lisa's new braces as she first has to wear the monstrous braces that make her an outcast. There is so much weird and bizarre imagery in the scene where she is drugged for the procedure. One of the things that has made these episodes of The Simpsons work so well is that they often stack jokes on top of each other. In this season, in particular, the writers stacked so many random jokes and references that make a simple premise so funny and engaging. I also love Lisa's song about how "They have the plant, but we have the power." I found this song and Lisa's inspiration during the strike's darkest moment to be a great example of the way that people can find the strength to push forward when they look to each other.
2. "Homer's Triple Bypass"
This is one of the funniest episodes of the show! I love the early scenes where Homer begins having heart problems and gets numerous warnings from the people around him, including Marge's warning that he should not fill half of the bed with food and then eat it. That scene when Burns both eases Homer's mind and stresses him out until he has a heart attack is also quite funny. After this, seeing Homer try to find health insurance and beg people for the money to get his surgeries is also the perfect set-up for a number of hilarious jokes. It is also sweet to see Homer attempt to share his circumstances with the kids, starting with the promise that he is not going to sugarcoat it and yet ending up telling them a story that waters down his surgery and turns it into a fairytale. While the main takeaways from this episode are the jokes, there are also some sincere moments as Homer bonds with Bart and Lisa or reflects on the possibility of his own death. I think it is sweet, and also inspiring that Lisa's reading allows her to help Dr. Nick finish Homer's surgery successfully. I remember this being a good example of how we can use our talents to help the people that we care about. This episode had some huge stakes, but it never lost sight of its comedic moments.
1. "Lisa's First Word"
I really enjoy flashback episodes of the Simpsons, and I think that this is one of the best ones! Bart is a fun focal character because you get to see his active imagination in places like his mental image of what a sibling will be like or the sheer terror of his clown bed. I also like the background we see on how the Simpsons first got their house. I don't like that the show assumes that there will always be sibling rivalry, but I think this episode is good at establishing why Bart would feel this way because other characters like Patty and Selma ignore him now that Lisa is there. It is funny to see his failed attempts to get rid of Lisa or make her less cute. There is also a lot of sweetness in the episode as Lisa's first word is Bart's name and she truly does love him. One of my favorite jokes is also in this episode: the scene where Lisa says she doesn't see Bart's name written on his spot on the floor while Bart points out that he has written his name on the carpet. I think the episode offers great balance with Bart. They have a realistic picture of him as a toddler who is going through the terrible twos and misbehaving, while also making sure that he is still a sweet and sympathetic character as well. This episode offers a great balance of both humor and sweet interconnection between the characters.
Top 7 Worst
This is an episode where the opening is the strongest part. I like seeing the house start slanting and all the jokes that the show makes about the "Slanty Shanty." Bart's efforts to sell tickets to his house as a fun home are entertaining and so are Homer's efforts to repair the foundation. I also like the retirement party that Homer and Marge attend, where the retiree loves his job and does not want to retire. I think there are even some cute moments when Marge starts working at the plant as she points to the various examples of low morale at work and tries to come up with solutions that have worked for her in the past. The one element that really does not work for me is Burns' love for Marge. They don't really establish what he likes about her beyond her looks, which makes it hard to recognize and sympathize with this love. It is nice that Burns allows Marge to be with Homer and lets her go, but the lack of knowledge for why he likes her makes it hard to see this as a sacrifice. Since looks are the main force that makes Burns attracted to Marge, it can be easy to see the bond as nothing more than attraction. This will be an issue with some of Burns' later romances as well. Burns is like Bart in that he has sweet, sympathetic moments. But if all we know about his affection is that he thinks she is pretty, it makes Burns seem extremely shallow.
6. "I Love Lisa"
I think this episode captures a feeling that is all too common--discovering that someone has a crush on you when you have no romantic interest in them whatsoever. The problem is that while I completely understand Lisa's position, I also spent a good 2 years of my life being Ralph. I had a huge crush on a boy in my Bible study and spent far too much time pouring into a one-sided relationship. It hurt to find out that he had no interest in me and that there was nothing I could do that would change that. So, since I have been both Lisa and Ralph in this episode, I find the episode awkward and maybe even a little painful. That part when Lisa tells Ralph (and an entire TV audience) that she does not like him, I relate to Ralph and feel bad that he needs to be hurt this way. Especially since he may not even fully understand his own feelings or the way that romantic relationships work. On Lisa's side, I understand the feeling of hesitation, not wanting to tell someone that you are not interested. There are some cute moments in this episode and I like the way that this episode features Valentine's Day, but I think that the second-hand awkwardness I feel for both Lisa and Ralph pushes me out of the episode.
5. "Marge in Chains"
This one has gotten a bit more attention as the episode that "predicted Covid" (Not really) and those are the best parts of the episodes. I think they have a good visualization of the plague going around and I like the part when the people attack the truck so that they can get placebos for their sickness. The problem is that once Marge accidentally shoplifts, the town is uncharacteristically mean to her. Apu has not previously been shown as a stickler for the rules (Otherwise, why would he sell Homer tainted food?), so it needs a bit more detail in order to work. I also don't understand why they make Maude so unkind and judgmental in this episode. The whole town lacks sympathy for Marge and it is sad that they don't even give her a chance. I also think it is a bit mean-spirited that Marge actually enjoys prison because she doesn't have to cook anything. I do like the fact that Homer can't do the laundry and just starts wearing random clothes like Marge's wedding dress and old Halloween costumes. I also think it is sad that Marge's cellmate who has given up on men decides to give Barney a chance but we learn that Barney is pretending to be Homer when describing himself to her. Overall, I think this episode was just a bit too mean-spirited in general.
4. "So It's Come to This: A Simpsons Clip Show"
I almost didn't want this episode to go on the bad list because the new elements are actually pretty fun, but the clips bring the episode down. Clip shows were common for shows in the 1990s because the episodes could only be seen on TV and it would give more opportunities for viewers to see some of the show's best moments. But when you are binging a show, most of these moments feel too recent and Disney+ makes it easy to just go back and watch those episodes if you really want to watch those moments again. Or even YouTube, if you just want to rewatch a funny moment. Since this concept happened in Star Trek Next Generation and Stargate SG1 as well, it is a bit hard to get angry at it. Also, this is probably the best clip show episode, other than Season 9's "All Singing, All Dancing." As I mentioned at the beginning, there is some liveliness in the new elements of the episode. I love Bart's efforts to find the ultimate prank and how watching Homer gives him the idea to shake up a beer. After this, it is funny to see Bart turn up the temperature and the explosion that happens once Homer opens the shaken beer. This is the only episode that really showcases April Fools and I think those elements are quite fun. The problem is that all of that is finished after the first 5 minutes of the episode.
3. "New Kid on the Block"
This episode has a fun premise with a new neighbor and Bart getting a crush on an older girl, but I think they should have done more to explain who Laura is as a person. She seems a bit rebellious, and the episode later establishes that she likes bad boys. But why? What does she see in a character like Jimbo? Is she friends with Bart or does she see him as a kid who is fun to babysit? The subplot with Homer and the all-you-can-eat restaurant is pretty funny. I like the part when it seems like they are going to showcase how much Homer ate when they actually are just bringing in a bunch of letters to Santa that are part of another trial. I also think it is funny when Marge explains that they went looking for another seafood place after the fact and ultimately even went fishing when they could not find a place. I think Homer is a bit inconsiderate in that he actively ignores Marge saying that she is allergic to seafood, so he brings her on a date where she cannot eat anything. It reminds me a bit of the Homer from Season 1 who would give Marge a bowling ball intended for himself for her birthday. Overall, this episode isn't terrible, but both plots have some weaknesses that make the episode a bit forgettable.
2. "Brother from the Same Planet"
This episode gives a reason for Bart to be angry at Homer--the fact that Homer forgot to pick him up for hours--but this reason does not seem like a good enough reason for Bart to be as angry as he is throughout the episode. If Homer had done something more actively bad, like missing Bart's soccer game or dismissing a great accomplishment of his, it would have made sense for Bart to seek out another father figure. Either that or the episode should have put a bit more emphasis on the abandonment that Bart felt when Homer forgot about him. Maybe he could even thank Tom for being the kind of person who "always shows up for him." This way, Homer's actions at the beginning of the episode would have a stronger connection to the way Bart views his father throughout the episode. Tom is a cool character, I like Pepi, and I also like the stories Bart tells to paint Homer in a bad light. I also think it is funny at the end that Tom and Pepi clearly need each other at the end, but it takes Bart to make the connection. The subplot of Lisa being addicted to calling the Corey Hotline is relatable when it comes to those impulsive addictions that you can develop, the ways that you find yourself renewing the habits even while you know that you shouldn't. The problem I have with this story is that it shows several examples of Lisa giving in to her addiction but it offers the easy solution that you can overcome these impulses if you can just go one day without giving in. I think this is too simplistic and there is another episode in this season that is much better at handling the topic of addiction.
1. "Krusty Gets Kancelled"
I think the problem with this episode is that many of the celebrities would have been a big deal to viewers watching in the 1990s, I don't get a lot of these actors or what makes them tick. The only one I really recognized was Hugh Hefner, and I think this is why I liked the joke about the Playboy Bunnies being scientists. So much of this episode rides on you knowing who these celebrities are, and while you could make a similar argument about the Baseball players from "Homer at the Bat," I think that episode was better at making the baseball players into likable characters in the episode, so that you don't really have to know much about Darryl Strawberry to find him entertaining in the episode. Since this is one of the biggest selling points of the episode, the fact that it falls flat does not bode well for the rest of the episode. I think the special that Krusty does isn't that interesting. I also think the show has this consistent desire to make you feel bad for Krusty. "Like Father, Like Clown" is actually pretty good at making you feel for Krusty and where he is coming from, but episodes like this one and "Bart the Fink," that focus on Krusty's money or his show generally do not work for me. Krusty often seems apathetic in his job, so why should I care if his show ends? The one part that I enjoy about this episode is the suspense about who or what Gabbo will be as the people of Springfield try to figure that out. I can't tell if the joke is that the puppet is alive or that Arthur Crandell is just an extremely good ventriloquist, but it is both odd and a bit of a relief that he is exposed as a figure who despises his fans. It was a bit of an anticlimactic end to a great season.
No comments:
Post a Comment