On to season 5! The boxset has a picture of the family at the circus, so I often associate this season with boldness and zaniness, and bombasticness. There is a fun unreality to the show at this point in its run. I think one of the things that makes this season unique was that it was extremely metatextual in its storytelling. There are so many meta moments where the characters will speak directly to the camera. Very meta, actually. Lots of discussions when things don't follow the narrative. Bart and Lisa will point out that Homer and Flanders will stop being friends at the end of the week because that is how it usually works, Lisa will comment on the fact that she doesn't have a catchphrase, or Homer will point out that the episode is resolving itself faster than usual or that the family has time to hug Apu one more time because the episode isn't over yet. This show loved to remind you of the fact that you are watching a show. This was pretty different from the grounded nature of the earlier seasons but led to lots of jokes on how the show went against your expectations. This season has some absolutely hilarious episodes and many of these episodes share a consistent random humor that makes even the lesser episodes a good laugh. On to the ranking!
Top 7 Best
I am always a fan of the flashback episodes and this one includes so many funny jokes, especially if you know about the Beatles. It builds on Homer's love of music and his dreams of being a musician. If you track the episodes throughout the show, you can see a pattern of Homer expressing his passion and creativity through music, this is why "That 90s Show" fits well with what is already established about Homer even if it changes the timeline a bit. He also makes his music with such a fun group of other singers. The more you know about the rise and fall of the Beatles, the more jokes you can get out of this episode! I love later in the episode when Barney starts dating his own Yoko. One of my favorite jokes in the show is when Barney asks for a beer and then his girlfriend asks for "a single plum floating in perfume served in a man's hat" and Moe readily provides both of these without question or hesitation. It is also funny to see Marge fail at trying to make a fake Homer for the kids while he is out of town. This is a sweet episode with some great jokes!
6. "Bart's Inner Child"
This one is a bit inconsistent, but it is also very funny. The first act with the trampoline has very little to do with the rest of the episode, but it is hilarious to see Homer get the trampoline, see all the children who get hurt, and then see Homer's efforts to get rid of it. The episode takes a bit of a weird pivot after that because it suddenly focuses on Marge's stress and the way that a self-help video can allow her to relax a bit. I think that this would have worked better if we saw more glimpses of how the trampoline was a source of stress and anxiety to Marge. After the psychological videos convince Homer and Marge, they go to a larger convention that changes the entire town. This part of the episode is a bit slow, but I do like how Homer and Marge start using this psychological nonsense in their conversations. The last portion of the episode switches to Bart as he becomes more and more depressed because the whole town is copying him and he cannot rebel anymore. I think this leads to some hilarious moments and a good discussion of how Bart is beginning to have an existential crisis. This episode also makes a great point about how we cannot just do fun things that we like all the time, each of us has responsibilities that may not be immediately entertaining but allow the world to keep on turning.
5. "Bart Gets Famous"
I love a lot of the jokes in this episode! It has some good thoughts on stardom and how short fads can be. It also shows how unfair these fads and memes can be. Bart wants to do something different, but everyone wants him to keep saying his beloved line. But when they tire of Bart's funny line, they forget about him and Bart is back where he started. It also fits with the metacommentary that the show likes so much in this season since Bart's fame is a commentary on the Bartmania that people had during the first season or two of the show. I love the opening scenes with the box factory. It is so funny that Bart cannot imagine a better field trip. I also like that it pairs Bart and Edna's boredom with Skinner and Martin's enthusiasm for the very boring box factory. There is also Homer's absurd assumption that the factory turned Bart into a box. This episode also has a good progression as it moves from the field trip to Bart's internship, to his fame, and finally his departure from TV. It makes you wonder how some celebrities can be on the air for decades while others are just a brief fad. There are probably some ways to tell which form of fame you have, but I think it raises some good questions about how we treat memes, celebrities, and shows that are no longer in the limelight.
4. "Deep Space Homer"
This one is probably one of the first examples of the show going with a concept that is not particularly realistic since it is so difficult for even the best scientists to go to space. I think that this episode makes the scenario a bit more realistic with the joke that NASA is in desperate need of higher ratings so that it can get better funding. The main reason why I rank this episode so high is that it has great jokes, especially during the part where Homer and Barney are training for the shuttle. I also think the inanimate carbon rod is a hilarious reoccurring joke. They bring it in at the beginning as it beats Homer out for the award and at the end of the episode when they credit the rod with saving the day on the shuttle. I also love seeing Kent Brockman freak out over the ants and immediately welcome them as his new leader. I think that this episode could have used more interactions between Homer and his family to give it a little more heart, but it has enough jokes to bring it over the edge and make it a fun ride!
3. "Homer and Apu"
Apu is one of the most well-developed and funny characters on The Simpsons! He is a great foil to Homer and most of their episodes together are both solid and fun! I know that the character has fallen into controversy because of Hank Azaria's voice acting, but the character has so much more to him than a one-note joke, and I hope that they find a way to bring him back soon. This episode is a good example of the humor that Apu brings to the show. I think the success of these interactions is one of the reasons why they have another Homer and Apu episode in just two seasons. It is so funny when they go to India to visit The World's First Convenience Show and then ruins Apu's opportunity to ask for his job back. It is also fun to see him cook spicy food for the Simpson family and take Marge to a Costco-ish store and show her the tricks to getting out of there quickly. Apu has such natural chemistry with the whole family and both the song and their hug at the end are so sweet. There is also a funny subplot with James Woods running the Kwik-E-Mart while Apu is fired. I also find it amazing how they are able to ensure that both Apu and Homer are likable characters even if he makes irresponsible choices by deliberately selling Homer bad food. This episode has so much adventure, but it feels grounded by a sincere friendship between Homer and Apu.
2. "The Last Temptation of Homer"
This is a hilarious episode that plays with the temptation of infidelity while also making it clear that Homer will never cheat on Marge. It is funny to see how fate is set against him as he tries to avoid Mindy but is forced to go to a conference with her and is given a free dinner. I also like how the subplot and Marge's illness make Homer's household look very unappealing during a moment when he is tempted, but also resisting this temptation. I like that he has one of those It's a Wonderful Life Moments when he sees what it would have looked like if he married Mindy instead of Marge and everything is better for both him and Marge. I think this makes for a funny twist on the concept but still shows Homer's sincere love for Marge. I think it also helps that Mindy is such a sweet character. She is attracted to Homer but is not actively trying to seduce him. She also accepts his decision without complaint. She is an interesting character because they essentially make her a female version of Homer, but they also succeed in making her feminine as well. This episode has so many funny lines that make it hilarious to watch. This episode is a great showcase for Homer's enduring love for Marge, no matter how much the world may try to get in the way.
1. "Cape Feare"
I absolutely love this episode! It is one of the funniest episodes of the entire show. I love the jokes when Bart thinks that people are trying to kill him. Marge saying "I'm going to get you….some ice cream at the store!" or Flanders telling Bart, "say your prayers, Simpson!....Because the schools can't force you like they should!" These moments are really funny. I also laugh every time when Homer runs into Bart's room with a knife asking him if he wants a brownie before bed or showing him his new chainsaw and hockey mask.
I also love the randomness of the family deciding to randomly drive through a cactus patch. These kinds of jokes are the perfect example of the show's absurd, random humor that I love so much. It is also so much fun to see the Simpsons move to a houseboat with a new opening theme. I think this is also a good use of suspense in an episode. Sideshow Bob is intelligent and legitimately threatening and you watch him stalk and threaten Bart and his family. I also love the fact that Bart is able to outwit Sideshow Bob in such a clever way. Sideshow Bob is beatable, but not dumb in this episode, which makes him the perfect villain for Bart. This one is suspenseful and hilarious!
Top 7 Worst
7. "The Boy Who Knew Too Much"
This episode has some solid humor towards the beginning of the episode. I love that Bart has to ride to school in a prison bus and then sit in one of those uncomfortable posture-fixing chairs. It really makes you connect with him and his desire to run away from school. There are also great scenes of Skinner trying to track Bart down like the Terminator. I just don't find the episode as compelling once Bart witnesses the crime. Bart's ethical crisis is a solid one and it is nice that they show how this ethical decision is still important, even if Quimby's nephew is not a nice or likable person. His guilt over not telling the truth is very relatable and I think it is also true that even the most random things you read and watch on TV can offer commentary on your current circumstances. I also think it is cool that we don't actually see what Bart saw until the end. It increases your desire for him to tell the truth and adds to the suspense. The problems I have with this episode are that Homer's jury duty is not particularly interesting and both Quimby and the waiter are unknown and generally unlikable characters. The waiter seems a bit stuck up and the fact that he accuses Quimby when he knows that Quimby didn't hurt him makes him very unlikable. At the same time, Quimby was irritating throughout the episode, so I am not particularly invested in his innocence. I think if Homer had done more interesting things on jury duty and there was more humor in the second half of the episode, I would like this one more.
6. "$pringfield"
This one is flashy and very Vegas-like! Because it has so much that it tries to do in this episode, there are a lot of jokes that work and a lot of parts that I like, but the episode as a whole has never had much of an impact on me. I also like that it is still willing to depict Lisa as a child who needs her mom. Her fear of the boogieman, and the way that Homer makes it much worse, is hilarious. I also love the fact that Homer helps to make Lisa's costume and it is so terrible that she wins an award for being one of the few kids who didn't get help from her parents. I think that Homer spends far too long thinking that Marge hates the casino when she doesn't, and this makes it harder to connect with Marge's plight and Homer's efforts to fix it. Additionally, Burns' insanity is hilarious, but it comes out of nowhere. Overall, I think this episode includes a very accurate depiction of how addiction works: How it might start with a moment of curiosity but then turn into something that takes too much of your attention and, from there, takes over your whole life. I just wish we had more interiority from Marge at this point. We know from earlier episodes that she has a habit of keeping everything inside until she explodes. Her silent, but compulsive gambling doesn't fit with that as well as some other vice, like a fight club or demolition derby might, but they could have made it more compelling with a bit more explanation.
5. "Lisa vs. Malibu Stacy"
I think that this episode raises some interesting issues but doesn't explore them enough. Lisa finds that her doll is spouting some sexist phrases that make women seem vapid and obsessed with men, but while her whole focus is on fixing this issue, the episode does not really go into depth about why this sexism exists. Why are women willing to put up with the way that men treat them in this episode? Why is it that Lisa is the only person who seems to care about this issue? How do these dolls become sexist? Is it because men are running the company and assume that this is what women are like? Where does this sexism come from in general? These are some big questions that I am wondering about. It is possible that there are no easy answers to these questions and this is why the episode steers clear of them. But I think it makes it seem like the episode is saying a lot of things without providing a deeper look at the cause. Beyond the unsatisfying answers in this episode, I also think that Malibu Stacy is not a particularly likable character. She has this dry, bland personality, a drinking problem, and disastrous love life, but we know very little about why she acts this way. It has some sweet moments and I like that it shows how good toys can make a huge difference in girls' lives, even when society tries to push a vapid alternative instead.
4. "Rosebud"
This episode is sweet on paper. It is nice to learn a bit more about Mr. Burns' past and also so adorable to see how much Homer is willing to sacrifice for Maggie. I think it provides a legitimate reason for why Burns and Maggie want the bear. I also like that Maggie eventually decides to give Bobo back to Mr. Burns. It is good that they left the decision up to her rather than Homer. The problem is that the dynamic becomes more of a Homer and Burns episode instead of a Homer and Maggie episode. There are so few of these that it is disappointing not to see this one look at their relationship a little more. It isn't as effective seeing Homer sacrifice to strengthen the relationship with his daughter when we barely even see them interact in the episode at all. I also am not a fan of Burns' birthday party. Burns is cold and a bit of a jerk, so you aren't supposed to like him. But at the same time, Homer goes too far with his jokes and that band is so mean that their actions seem mean-spirited rather than justified in this case. I generally tend to forget this one, which is a shame because there was potential for sweet moments in this episode.
3. "Homer the Vigilante"
I think that this episode addresses a topic that they cover better in Season 13. Homer trying to bring justice by joining law enforcement is a cool idea, but this episode shows more of the injustice and violence that Homer can bring through his own irresponsibility. It is fairly interesting to see the corruption of his vigilante group, but the story seems unfocused in this episode. Most of this episode focuses on Homer's group, but there is also a bit of a mystery here about who stole all the stuff, unfortunately, the solution is fairly obvious since the episode only introduces one new character and this is the character who winds up being the thief. He is charming and points out the stereotypes we held about the elderly, but the story goes completely off the rails and becomes a spoof of It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World. Another thing that makes this episode feel a bit scattered is the fact that it doesn't focus on one theme. Is the theme about corruption in vigilante groups? Or is it about how we make assumptions about what the elderly are capable of? The episode veers between both of these themes and cannot decide what the main takeaway is for the episode. This makes the episode fall flat for me since it is scattered throughout the episode and ends a bit abruptly. If this episode had more of an ending and a clear theme, it would have been much more solid as a whole.
2. "Lady Bouvier's Lover"
This episode has never been a favorite of mine and I think this is largely because this is the first time we really meet Marge's mom for an extended amount of time. We don't really know Marge's mom, so it is hard to care about her romantic exploits in this episode. Even though the romance that she has is sweet and it is adorable to see Grandpa so happy with his new love life, I mainly care about the romance because I care about Grandpa, not because I care about Jacqueline Bouvier. Like last season, Burns comes out of nowhere and it does not establish what he likes about Jacqueline other than her looks. It seems like the show is not particularly good at showing what Burns sees in the Bouvier women beyond their attractive looks. We know so little about her, but it is not clear why she likes Abe, why she is drawn to Burns, and why she ultimately decides she doesn't want to be with either of these men. I think if the episode offered more interiority for Jacqueline, it would have worked, but instead, we get an Abe-centric story that locks him out once Jacqueline starts dating Burns. It is a very shallow story about two men who are attracted to Jacqueline based on her looks try to win her over.
1. "Homer Goes to College"
I find this episode extremely annoying. It punishes Homer's nerdy friends just because they are nice to him. Why should they be expelled for something that Homer did? The Simpson family is also not very welcoming of these Nerds compared to all of the other guests that they are much more willing to welcome into their homes. The episode had a lot of potential to make fun of college lectures, but they only use it for a handful of unfunny jokes. I also wish there was more humor about college that didn't fixate on Greek life. Even Monster's University was fixated on this concept and I find it irritating that this is the primary depiction of what college looks like. This is probably a result of my own biases because sororities were not part of my own college experience. I like the joke that the Dean is so nice and chill while Homer has let the college movies he watches make him think that the Dean is a controlling jerk. While you could argue that this episode shows how much our films can impact and even warp our view of the world, this isn't enough to fix the fact that Homer is an irritating jerk throughout the episode who deliberately hurts everyone around him. This is the first of many episodes where Homer becomes an extremely irritating jerk to the people around him.
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