3. Lisa on Ice (season 6)
First of all, I'm not a Lisa fan, at least not as her character stands now. But before she was an 8 year-old Buddhist, an activist against everything and the most over-opinionated child ever, she was actually a smart, semi-regular kid and the writers treated her like that. "Lisa on Ice" is an example of the Simpson's in their absolute prime, where they take a universal issue like sibling-rivalry and produce one of the funniest, well-written television episodes of all-time. Lisa, the perfectionist when it comes to grades, shockingly finds out that she's failing gym. This leads to her pursue a sport outside of gym class in order to save her grade. This leads to Apu discovering her unlikely talent in hockey goaltending, while Bart is the star offensive player for his team. Sibling rivalry ensues, with Homer fueling the fire along the way.
The strength of the episode is the main storyline, but it's filled with hilarious moments with strong contributions from characters like Milhouse, Apu, Chief Wiggum, Moe, etc. Marge is the voice of reason with the kids, but even she has an oddly hilarious obsession over Milhouse's teeth that got knocked out. It's just classic Simpsons in every sense, with great jokes, visual gags, character interaction and a great ending that shows that the Simpsons can have heart along with humor.
Also, props to Wyldawg for calling this episode making it far.
Quotes:
Jimbo: Nice PJs, Simpson. Did your mommy buy 'em for ya?
Bart: Of course she did. Who else would have?
Jimbo: All right, Simpson, you win this round.
Skinner: [over PA] Attention, this is Principal Skinner, your principal,
with a message from the Principal's Office. All students
please proceed immediately to an assembly in the Butthead
Memorial Auditorium. [to himself] Dammit, I wish we hadn't let
the students name that one.
Ralph: Me fail English? That's unpossible!
Homer: Lisa, if the Bible has taught us nothing else -- and it hasn't --
it's that girls should stick to girls' sports, such as hot-oil
wrestling, foxy boxing, and such-and-such.
Man: In that case I sentence you to a lifetime of horror on Monster
Island. [to Lisa] Don't worry, it's just a name.
[Lisa and others are chased by fire-breathing monsters]
Lisa: He said it was just a name!
Man: What he meant is that Monster Island is actually a peninsula.
Homer: OK, little buddy: hop in!
[Bart steps forward]
Ah bah! I mean my little _girl_ buddy.
Lisa: That's very nice, Dad, but it's wrong for you to reward violent
competitive behavior. However, I _will_ sit up front with you if
it's a fatherly gesture of love.
Homer: [kindly] OK, hon. [she gets in]
Sucker! Competitive violence, that's why you're here!
Bart: Lisa, certain differences -- rivalries, if you will -- have come
up between us. At first I thought we could talk it over like
civilized people. But instead, I just ripped the head off Mr.
Honeybunny.
[holds up stuffed rabbit in one hand, head in the other]
Lisa: Bart, that was _your_ cherished childhood toy.
Bart: Aah! Mr. Honeybunny!
Wiggum: All right, I'm going to make a little deal with you mugs. I'm
going to let you all out to see my team play the hockey game
_if_ you promise to return to your cells.
Snake: Sorry, pig, we can't make that promise.
Wiggum: All right...all right, I'll sweeten the deal. You can see the
game, you don't have to come back, _but_: you have to promise
not to commit any more crimes, OK?
First of all, I'm not a Lisa fan, at least not as her character stands now. But before she was an 8 year-old Buddhist, an activist against everything and the most over-opinionated child ever, she was actually a smart, semi-regular kid and the writers treated her like that. "Lisa on Ice" is an example of the Simpson's in their absolute prime, where they take a universal issue like sibling-rivalry and produce one of the funniest, well-written television episodes of all-time. Lisa, the perfectionist when it comes to grades, shockingly finds out that she's failing gym. This leads to her pursue a sport outside of gym class in order to save her grade. This leads to Apu discovering her unlikely talent in hockey goaltending, while Bart is the star offensive player for his team. Sibling rivalry ensues, with Homer fueling the fire along the way.
The strength of the episode is the main storyline, but it's filled with hilarious moments with strong contributions from characters like Milhouse, Apu, Chief Wiggum, Moe, etc. Marge is the voice of reason with the kids, but even she has an oddly hilarious obsession over Milhouse's teeth that got knocked out. It's just classic Simpsons in every sense, with great jokes, visual gags, character interaction and a great ending that shows that the Simpsons can have heart along with humor.
Also, props to Wyldawg for calling this episode making it far.
Quotes:
Jimbo: Nice PJs, Simpson. Did your mommy buy 'em for ya?
Bart: Of course she did. Who else would have?
Jimbo: All right, Simpson, you win this round.
Skinner: [over PA] Attention, this is Principal Skinner, your principal,
with a message from the Principal's Office. All students
please proceed immediately to an assembly in the Butthead
Memorial Auditorium. [to himself] Dammit, I wish we hadn't let
the students name that one.
Ralph: Me fail English? That's unpossible!
Homer: Lisa, if the Bible has taught us nothing else -- and it hasn't --
it's that girls should stick to girls' sports, such as hot-oil
wrestling, foxy boxing, and such-and-such.
Man: In that case I sentence you to a lifetime of horror on Monster
Island. [to Lisa] Don't worry, it's just a name.
[Lisa and others are chased by fire-breathing monsters]
Lisa: He said it was just a name!
Man: What he meant is that Monster Island is actually a peninsula.
Homer: OK, little buddy: hop in!
[Bart steps forward]
Ah bah! I mean my little _girl_ buddy.
Lisa: That's very nice, Dad, but it's wrong for you to reward violent
competitive behavior. However, I _will_ sit up front with you if
it's a fatherly gesture of love.
Homer: [kindly] OK, hon. [she gets in]
Sucker! Competitive violence, that's why you're here!
Bart: Lisa, certain differences -- rivalries, if you will -- have come
up between us. At first I thought we could talk it over like
civilized people. But instead, I just ripped the head off Mr.
Honeybunny.
[holds up stuffed rabbit in one hand, head in the other]
Lisa: Bart, that was _your_ cherished childhood toy.
Bart: Aah! Mr. Honeybunny!
Wiggum: All right, I'm going to make a little deal with you mugs. I'm
going to let you all out to see my team play the hockey game
_if_ you promise to return to your cells.
Snake: Sorry, pig, we can't make that promise.
Wiggum: All right...all right, I'll sweeten the deal. You can see the
game, you don't have to come back, _but_: you have to promise
not to commit any more crimes, OK?
Snake: No. Wiggum: I'll take that as a yes.
