Marge vs. the Monorail

This episode is really amazing, and very absurd, a quality usually reserved for the later seasons, but unlike the later seasons, this episode gets it right, being actually funny and not just desperately trying to be funny. The main villain of this episode is con man, Lyle Lanely, played expertly by the late Phil Hartman. The monorail song is so hilarious and very catchy. The humor is the episode is some of the best and most funny in any episode and there is a random guest appearance from Leonard Nimoy. Even though there is no clear reason for him to be there it is still really funny unlike some other guest stars I know of from the later seasons...

This is the twelfth episode of the fourth season of the Simpsons and it's a pretty weird, but satisfying episode. I also find it strange how it's one of the lowest rated episodes in the series so far. I found it to be funny and quite action-packed. The train sequence in the end was very good. We also are treated to a wonderful cameo by Leonard Nimoy. Let those Star Wars versus Star Trek jokes begin!

In this episode, "Marge vs. the Monorail," Mr. Burns is forced to donate three million dollars to Springfield and it was decided, thanks to a slick-speaking salesman, that the money will go toward a monorail system, despite protests from Marge. Homer decides to sign up to be the conductor. Eventually Marge learns that this monorail system is not for real and it is a faulty design only used to suck up money.

Overall, this is a really solid episode and one that involves all of Springfield in more of a joint effort. I keep forgetting that these episodes are written by the hilarious Conan O'Brien, so no wonder why we keep getting quality episode after quality episode this season. I rate this episode 9/10.

Pretty good rule of thumb: the best episodes usually show a flagrant contempt for the town's citizens (a lot like South Park). In this case, the use of a $3 million windfall a mass transit boondoggle rather than much-needed street repairs. On the other hand, don't you wish town halls can be settled so easily with Phil Hartman and a big musical number? The jokes are hopelessly cynical (read: hysterical) and even Leonard Nimoy gets in on the fun. The whole thing's a treat.

8/10

Unquestionably the best episode of the Simpsons. Wonderful cameos, the iconic monorail song and an incredible opening sequence that references the Flintstones and Beverly Hills Cop. I love South Park, early Family Guy and Rick & Morty, but this is without doubt the high watermark of 22 mins animated comedy.

The problem I see with this episode is that the platinum era of the series, which comprises the first three seasons, is already starting to fade here. The first three seasons had a therapeutic value, which declined in the fourth, and by the fifth, it had disappeared entirely.

The plot now serves solely for humor, which is why some people complain that it has a simple plot. Honestly, there are episodes of The Simpsons much more valuable than this one; the only thing is that this episode has some very good humorous moments, a well-crafted villainous secondary character and the portrayal of Leonard Nimoy's character is very amusing here. However, the direction of the episode is not as masterful as in other episodes of the series.