Last Exit to Springfield

One of my very favorite Simpsons episodes; smart, witty and very much in the show's wheelhouse. Homer becomes the unlikely union president in a struggle to keep the company dental plan, and it's a great showcase for both his buffoonery and Mr. Burns' cackling villainy.

Really, this thing's just a one-liner factory (and oddly enough, most of them go to Dan Castellaneta rather than Hank Azaria), culminating in one of the best:

"Smithers, I'm beginning to think that Homer Simpson was not the brilliant tactician I thought he was."

And more than just outright laughs, it's also sweetly affecting. It's fantastic.

10/10

This is the seventeenth episode of the fourth season of the Simpsons. I regard this episode as one of my all-time favorites. This is just a hilarious episode, especially as we see Homer fighting for the working class. There are just too many scenes to highlight from the grotesque braces Lisa is forced to wear to the cultural references of The Beatle's Yellow Submarine film to 1989's Batman to Jimmy Hoffa.

In this episode, "Last Exit to Springfield," Mr. Burns decides to take away the dental plan which causes anger in Homer because that means he has to pay for the braces Lisa needs. Homer is voted as the union leader and now he decides to fight Burns, who promises to give Homer the fight of his life.

Overall, this is an excellent episode and is one of my personal favorites. The jokes are incredibly strong and just watching Homer and Burns is worth your time. I rate this episode 10/10.

Homer is elected union president.

This is a classic episode full of memorable moments.

The story of Homer's tenure as president has a decent arc with Mr Burns (naturally) a great antagonist, but the structure is too surreal to be taken seriously. In this aspect comes the comedy, which is both prolific and brilliant.

There are too many great jokes to pick favourites, but a few standout moments for me include (from a verbal perspective) the wordplay when Homer thinks Mr Burns is coming on to him and similarly the dialogue from Burns when Homer needs the bathroom. The visual gags I love are everything involving Lisa's braces and Lenny getting a punch to the back of the head.

All the references to literature and pop culture are superb and Lisa's protest song is fantastic.

This is the much hyped and Entertainment Weekly labeled "best Simpsons Episode Ever". Though I would not pick one Simpsons episode as "the best", this is deserves it's reputation. From the opening jokes about the union president (referencing Jimmy Hoffa) to Homer's epiphany ("Lisa needs braces"..."dental plan!"...etc.) to the large bird that looks like and laughs (?) like Mr. Burns, to Lisa playing "Classical Gas" at Lennie's request, this episode is brilliantly hilarious. Of course, nothing can top the insane dentist who accuses everyone of lying, shows Ralph the "Big Book of British Smiles" and shows Lisa the "poker" the "scraper" and "the gouger" so she won't be scared. And then...my personal favorite Simpsons line..."hold still while I gas you". The dentist was supposed to be voiced by Anthony Perkins, who unfortunately died shortly before they could get him.

It's remarkable how tightly packed this is. It's not relentless but flows and each scene seems to maximise its comedic opportunities but not exhaust them. It really is a fable of workers prosperity and how the proletariat ultimately holds the "power". Lisa's song is not only a catchy tine but basically the entire message of this 22 minute parodioc fable.

The comedy itself is very good, 90% of gags and excellent and 10% are great. Scenes are strengthened by what The Simpsons does best - dumbing down the standard of humour but slowly. The dumber jokes hit really well when paired with more thought out ones, because they're so unexpected.

That's what makes this epsidoe so strong, having jokes where no on would expect, or going to a point no one would expect. We expect Mr Burns to fall out of the helicopter, we might even expect him to pathetically ask homer to help him, but we wouldn't expect him to ask homer to rub his legs until he can feel.

This occurs a record rate, that is rarely seen in either tv or film.