Best Marge Episode

[TriforceBun]

By "Marge episode," I mean any episode where Marge plays a big role, and by "best," I mean an episode that involves terrific Marge humor, characterization, satire, and/or emotion.

I'm voting Marge Be Not Proud. I just watched it for the second time (ever), and I was amazed at how well-done everything was. It's a wonderfully down-to-earth look at Bart and Marge's relationship, peppered with nonstop great gags, spot-on characterization from everyone, and some truly touching scenes. The dark, empty feel in the third act contributes greatly to Bart's character, and the ending is touching without being sappy. The Marge humor is excellent as well, with the Tuck-In Express being as funny as it was cute, and one of the best Marge lines of all, "If loving your son is lame, then I'm just a big lame."

This terrific episode is simply outstanding in every way, and there's no doubt in my mind that it's a top ten show, and one of only eight A+s for me.

Other very strong Marge episodes for me include Life on the Fast Lane, The Way We Was, I Married Marge, Itchy & Scratchy & Marge, and A Streetcar Named Marge.

[Veryjammy]

Add Scenes From The Class Struggle to that list and you'd have mine as well I think. My absolute favourite would be Itchy and Scratchy and Marge but Marge Be Not Proud has grown on me so much recently. It's so incredibly well done and has so much genuine heart and soul; the third act is quite astonishing really, I'd struggle to think of an episode that has, as you say, that sort of emptiness to it while remaining funny.

[Kefka]

Scenes from a Class Struggle for me.

[TheForbiddenDonut]

I love Scenes from The Class Struggle in Springfield, because it shows Marge's relationship with her family as a whole. I think this helps to see her character, because when she's used in relationship stories, a lot of the focus goes to the other family member.

[Thats A Paddlin]

Marge Be Not Proud is more of a Bart episode, Scenes from a Class Struggle is classic Marge.

[Nebuchanezzar]

The Twisted World of Marge Simpson - It's rather touching in some places, it's quite true to all characters, it shows Homer as a sensitive husband quite well, it's funny, it's well paced, it has clever jokes and it's a nice "satire" (I use that term lightly) on what some socialite groups are all about. IMO a much better social satire than Scenes from a Class Struggle.

[TheFlandersMan]

Scenes from the Class Struggle in Springfield is the definitive Marge episode, imo.

[garret]

A Streetcar Named Marge. I love the songs, the subplot was great, and everyone was characterized well. You could really connect with her, understand her sadness. A+

[Gay4Moleman]

I love "Streetcar". It's funnier, but I think "Scenes" is probably a more quintessential Marge episode.

[Jims]

While I do indeed love "Marge Be Not Proud," (Top 10 material, that) I don't know if it would be the best "Marge episode," since half of it is about Bart. I dunno. There's a funny line there.

I'd say that "Life in the Fast Lane" is one of the best Marge episodes. All around great story about Marge's relationship with Homer. Albert Brooks does a fantastic job as Jacques, as well. The ending sequence is probably the best moment of Season One.

[Gatorgod]

I wish this was a Poll thread. But I liked the one where she was writing a book about whaling days

[Ivan]

Gatorgod, its:
"Diatribe of a Mad Housewife"

I'll go with that one too.

[Rest your giant head]

"$pringfield" is the best for me. Almoast all of Marge's episodes were great! Except for "Fear of flying".

[Imperciph]

A Streetcar Named Marge features the best writing and characterization of Marge and and storywise & humourwise I find it the best Marge episode too.

The writing of her character in this episode is just perfect : she is just written in such great detail. Her caring yet repressed persona, her naivety, her frsutrations at life, her own dreams : all is written in a very chamring empathetic manner. It is also a great, slightly darker Homer/Marge story : exposing how unintentionally emotionally abusive Homer can be at times. But unlike Stanley, Homer realises that sometimes he can be a jerk sometimes and apologises for it. The combination of this great story together with great guest appearance of Jon Lovitz, "Streecar" musical and one of the best subplots make this episode one of OFF's best achievements till date.

[Mazzi_rules]

i say a street car named Marge

[Nameless]

Life on the Fast Lane, second Streetcar. All the ones mentioned here are excellent, though.

[Paul]

A Streetcar Named Marge, Life on the Fast Lane and Itchy & Scratchy & Marge

[Dr. Spirograph]

Although I love 'Marge Be Not Proud,' I'll have to go with 'Streetcar,' which is a classic episode all around, and a lovely ending to boot ("You know, I'm a lot like that guy." "Well...maybe just a little." [Kiss])

[Corkus]

While "Marge vs. the Monorail" is my favorite episode of all time, I find that's much more of a Homer episode, actually. So put me down for "Streetcar".

[do what donny dont does]

"Marge in Chains, Marge Gets a Job, and Springfield Connection" are my favorites. Ive always found "Scenes From the Class Struggle in Springfield" to be very boring.

[Joel Duffman]

It's a tie between Scenes From the Class Struggle in Springfield and [I]Oh Streetcar!
John Lovitz is awesome, as usual in Streetcar.
The lengths Marge goes to fit in at the country club was so out of character that is was magnetic. I couldn't stop watching the first time I saw it.

[Rory Mitch]

A Streetcar Named Marge, a classic. And from what I can remember, one of only two Marge fronted episodes that go down as a classic in my opinion, with the other being Marge Be Not Proud.

[Stampie]

I like the episode were Marge is a police officer I think that is great episode (not to sure what the episode is called)and the fear of flying(I know that episode). :D :mexican:

[garret]

I like the episode were Marge is a police officer I think that is great episode (not to sure what the episode is called)
The Springfield Connection.

[abc10ralph]

The two episodes I like we're the springfield connection and Marge gets a job they both have humor to go along with a good plot. Honourable mention to Marge vs the Monorail.

[Homer Jay]

This is a little interesting, I'm not going to count the flashbacks because they almost always focused more on Homer than Marge. Marge Be Not Proud while being a good episode just didn't do as much for me as it did for others. Marge vs. the Monorail isn't known for its characterizations, and I never really liked Life on the Fast Lane or Scenes from a class struggle.

This really comes down to either A Streetcar Named Marge or Itchy & Scratchy & Marge. Both had great Marge characterization and other aspects that worked great too. But I will go with Itchy & Scratchy & Marge mainly because Marge's character was ever so slightly off character in Steetcar. I was stretching to find a fault, but I think that does make enough of a difference

[Good Moleman To Robert]

A Streetcar Named Marge wins in my books, just because I think it characterizes Marge so well. It is also in my top 10 favourite episodes, so thats helps too. Scenes From The Class Struggle In Springfeild probably comes in second, with Marge Be Not Proud and Life In The Fast Lane second and third.

[Ivan]

I should change mine to The Way We Weren't

[TriforceBun]

The Way We Weren't is by far the best Marge episode since season nine, if you ask me. Her characterization has been really off recently, only very good in a handful of episodes (Mommie Beerest and Sleeping With the Enemy were two great ones).