Top 5 - The Simpsons Season 8

9/22/2019

#05 - The Mysterious Voyage of Our Homer

S08/E09 - This one is also credited as 'El Viaje Misterioso de Nuestro Jomer', and involves one of several "trippy" scenes the show has done throughout its history. In my humble opinion, probably also the best of them - bearing in mind that anything from Season 17 on is pretty much brand new to me. Who know what I've missed?

Anyway, the show kicks off with Marge trying her hardest to divert Homer's attention away from the Springfield Annual Chili Cook-Off. It's an event Homer greatly looks forward to every year, where he's frankly become a legend of sorts.

Marge, however, is hesitant because every time they go, Homer gets drunk and embarrasses her. Homer, promising not to drink, gets to eventually go. All goes well until Chief Wiggum lays some "Guatemalan insanity peppers" on him, which he can't handle at first. But then he discovers that hardened candle wax will help him ingest these things, and in doing so, Homer enters into a vision quest.

Eventually he comes across a Coyote, voiced by Johnny Cash, who tells him that he needs to find his soulmate. While Homer considers the obvious answer to be Marge, the coyote makes him second guess himself. A fight with Marge furthers this pattern of thought, and a confused Homer leaves into the night in search of who his real soul mate might be.

I think what I really enjoy about this epiosde is that it's not only Homer-centric, but it's also very personalized for him. This episode is about Homer, his understanding of how things work, and everything else takes a back seat. We all know by now that whenever Homer and Marge get into a fight, things are made up by the end. But I have to admit that this was one of the more effective times it's happened.

I have to appreciate Homer being forced to second-guess what he thinks is incredibly obvious. It's not like it hasn't happened before, but second-guessing his spouse altogether is very non-Homer like. One thing we know about the guy is that he'd do anything for Marge, so this kinda steps outside the box a little. While we know they'll be fine, it still goes a bit deeper than their usual fights.

The song 'At Seventeen' by Janice Ian plays while Homer is out, walking around in search of his potential soul mate. There is something so sweet and charming about that song playing during this little montage, that it kinda hits you in the feels just a bit. There's a part of me that always feels for Homer through this episode, as it's easy to empathize with his overall confusion about the situation.

One particular treat for Lego fans, as a side note, is that Homer's vision in this episode is used for a specialized 'Simpsons' level in the game 'Lego Dimensions'. It does a pretty good job at making the dream sequence interactive and including everything from the tortoise to the snake. This furthers the idea that this is also one of the best-known episodes of the series, handing it out as a sort of sample for potential newcomers.

#04 - Homer's Phobia

S08/E15 - Being that this was released in February of '97, I would have been 14 when it aired. At this age, I'll confess, I was still pretty close-minded about homosexuality. I never saw it as "bad" or anything, I just didn't quite get it, and there was a bit of a discomfort about it.

I am, however, happy to say that I've grown out of that since then, and nowadays I'd sooner educate myself on the matter than distance myself from it all. I have made a few LGBTQ friends along the way, and I'm proud to call them friends. This episode of 'The Simpsons' was, pretty much the first thing I remember that opened my eyes a bit more.

Bart ends up damaging the gas line at the house by playing with the dryer, and the repair cost is $900. In order to make this kind of money, Marge tries to sell what she considers a priceless family heirloom of a Civil War soldier. The family meets a store clerk at a collectibles shop named John (John Waters) who explains that the figurine is actually a liquor bottle. Around here, the whole plot of damage repair goes out the window completely. Though that's kinda bad writing, it's replaced with something a little more important - a plot about tolerance,

The family takes a liking to John, Homer invites him over for dinner, they all have a great time, and the next morning Homer finally realizes that John's gay. This alters Homer's attitude towards him, and Homer soon becomes the "everyman" in the sense of close-minded intolerance. His biggest fear is that by spending too much time together, John will eventually make Bart gay, and the efforts taken to prevent this are kinda hilarious.

Of course, it ends on a more or less positive note, and Homer tells Bart something just about any in-the-closet kid might wanna hear from their parent. The funny part is, Bart isn't gay, and the whole time represents the open-minded, seeing John as just another guy and never giving anything a second thought.

Being that it was '97, and things are bound to change over time, it may be a bit dated or even offensive to the gay community at this point. But I really can't speak for them, either. All I know is that it effectively opened my mind to the whole thing a lot more. It's a great move on the show's part, considering how many intolerant people probably watch the show. It's a good way to say "we're okay with it, and you should be too."

The episode won a Best Directing Emmy for its efforts, and is highly ranked as one of the more important episodes of 'The Simpsons'. It's certainly one I'd recommend to the masses as well, being that it's loaded with humor from both sides. Homer's intolerance is absolutely ridiculous, and John's just kinda accepting of it the whole time, not letting it really get to him. To me, this kinda illustrates that John has faced prejudice so much day to day that he's just kinda used to it, and how silly it all really is - and that silliness is something for people to really think about. Remember that this was over 20 years ago now.

#03 - Homer vs the 18th Amendment

S08/E18 - Here we have another one that I appreciate mostly for the fun of it all, but it's also not without a few almost historical moments. High on the "recommend-to-everyone" list for me, it does a great job at establishing how crazy some laws can make people.

During a St. Patrick's Day town party, Bart manages to accidentally get intoxicated. It makes the news, and in an act of desperation, the town agrees to reinforce a ban on alcohol that has apparently been in place for centuries - old enough that punishment, if caught selling alcohol, is "death by catapult".

Moe ends up disguising his bar as a pet shop, and the alcohol manages to keep flowing. But with the cops not doing their jobs (and being actually being a part of things), Rex Banner (Dave Thomas) is called in to take place of Chief Wiggum. Banner's character is a take on Robert Stack's portrayal of Eliot Ness in 'The Untouchables', and I gotta say, I was convinced that Robert Stack did the voice here to begin with, until the credits rolled. Dave Thomas does such an amazing job here.

When Banner manages to halt the flow of alcohol into town, Homer manages to figure out a way to keep Moe's in business, and it's one of the most intelligent things you'll ever see Homer do. Soon it becomes Banner vs a mysterious town figure known only as the Beer Baron. Homer gets away with secretly being the Beer Baron for quite some time, while Banner can't seem to figure things out. His character is gunny in that he acts like a big shot, but he's not quite as smart as he lets on. He's really just a hard ass.

The whole plot of this episode is based on the US Constitution's 18th Amendment, alcohol prohibition throughout America, spanning 1919-1933. The era lends itself to the fast-talking narrator in this episode, whose based on Walter Winchell, a famous radio news commentator for around that time.

This one is also home to super-famous 'Simpsons' quote - "To alcohol! The cause of, and solution to all of life's problems." I can only speak for myself and my observations, but I would probably place that particular line as #1 on an "All-Time Best Simpsons Quotes" list considering the rounds it has made on the internet.

For my money, this one's almost a must-see if you're any sort of fan of Homer. It showcases how Homer's brain can work if alcohol is involved, as well as how he deals with prohibition altogether - a strangely untapped subject matter when it came to the show, up until this point. The closest thing would be the episode 'Duffless', where Homer has to give up beer for a month (another one that made my Season 4 list almost impossible). I appreciate that it shows Homer as an underground hero, going up against authority, and representing anyone who thinks prohibition is a silly law to begin with.

#02 - The Springfield Files

S08/E10 - Much like the issue I had between my #1 and #2 for Season 4, this one and the next are very much a flip of the coin, and I went with a bit more popularity to establish #1 over #2. But for me, show me either, and I'll be happy about it.

I appreciate that you could totally play this as a Halloween episode that isn't associated with the 'Treehouse of Horror' series. It plays on 'The X-Files', and it's complete with eerie music, and spooky moments that blend flawlessly with its comedic dialogue. It's a rare type of episode, and I'd feel hard-pressed to put any other episode I've seen in the same category.

One night, after work, Homer heads to Moe's for a few drinks to unwind. Upon Moe giving him a breathalyzer test, however, Homer is over his limit, and ends up walking home through some dark forest. Here, we get to see a few great visual gags that play with horror tropes. Eventually, Homer stumbles on a strange, creepy, green, glowing creature who speaks to him, freaks him out, and sends him running home.

Homer continues to claim that he has, indeed, seen an alien, and the people of Springfield brush him aside. Enter guest stars David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson as their respective characters from 'X-Files', agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully. They question Homer about his encounter, but don't really get anywhere, so Homer and Bart take matters into their own hands to try to prove the existence of Homer's alien.

I remember this one being very special at the time of its release, and everyone was talking about it the next day. It was a deadly combination of two of America's best shows of the time. It was the third highest ranking show that week for Fox, following behind 'The X-Files' (which the whole episode was a tribute to) and the series premier of 'King of the Hill', which eventually went on to be a hit, itself. So it did well. It even won an Emmy for Best Producing of a TV Show for that year.

I should probably also mention that Leonard Nimoy makes his second and last voice appearance here. Interestingly enough, I have chosen both of those episodes for my lists, and that might say something about the effect Nimoy has on my opinion. There's something about him that adds a hint of class to the whole thing, but it's refreshing to see how much he can laugh at himself.

Though it's perhaps a product of its time, and the big reveal has been spoiled for everyone by now (though I'm still not gonna say what happens, just in case), it still stands out as an absolute classic in my head. I'm not sure I'd say everyone feels the same, but it was a big deal at the time, and it's a lot of fun to go back and revisit for a sort of nostalgia - especially if you are, or were ever an 'X-Files' fan.

#01 - You Only Move Twice

S08/E02 - Easily one of the most memorable episodes in the show's history, 'The Simpsons' takes on James Bond in this farce from a villain's perspective - the catch? We love the villain!

The episode opens with Smithers getting harrassed about a job opportunity at the Globex Corporation in a place called Cyprus Creek. Smithers puts his foot down on declining the offer, so the representatives go to the next most promising person based on years of experience, Homer Simpson.

Homer manages to convince his family to move with him to Cyprus Creek for his new job, but upon arrival, each member of the family runs into some sort of problem with the new place. Marge can't do anything around the house, as it's completely self-reliant, Lisa ends up allergic to practically everything, and Bart is placed in a remedial classroom, where he basically can't get into any trouble. Homer, however, is sitting pretty with his new position, in charge of getting a nuclear reactor on line.

Homer's new boss, Hank Scorpio (Albert Brooks) ends up being this Bond villain who I mentioned before. We end up really liking the character, however, as a combination of seeing the other side of things, and having him as a seemingly everyday person. It's always fun to see how clueless Homer is to the whole thing, and the dialogue between the two characters is hilarious.

As the whole episode is a take on 'Bond' films, it even ends with its own Bond-like theme called 'Scorpio', written by Ken Keeler, who has done a lot of work for 'The Simpsons' in the past. The writers of the episode wanted Shirley Bassey, who sang several real 'Bond' themes in the past, to sing the song for them. However, they couldn't get her and got Sally Stevens instead, who also sang for episodes like 'The Homer They Fall' and 'Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?'.

All in all, it's just a classic, especially if you're even remotely familiar with anything 'Bond'-related. I can't help but admire that a full-fledged James Bond style adventure is happening in the background of this episode the entire time. Homer's obliviousness to it is kind of the heart of the humour in this one, and maybe it's just me, but I feel like it speaks to our own ignorance about the overall destruction of the world.

I also have to love the fact that every character of the family is included in this, and it really manages to bring the show back to its roots despite taking place outside of Springfield. Even Hank Scorpio was voiced by someone who had done several voices for the show already, as opposed to a random big named celeb guest star, which would have worked for something like this especially well. It just works on so many levels, it's fairly relatable to some, and Scorpio is easily one of the best one-off characters the show has ever hosted. Definitely check this one out!

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