R&R: "Lisa Gets An 'A'"

[Charlie]

Better than I expected; the main flaw for me was the animation (better than other Anivision episodes for the time, but there were still some really bad moments). Lisa seemed slightly out of character when she became obsessed with the game, and I felt that the ending dragged on a bit. It still earns a B- though, since everything else was actually rather strong.

B-

[tom cody]

4/5, a good main plot to this episode plus one of the best Simpsons sub-plots with "Pinchy the Lobster"

[Jens. E]

A-
Probably the best episode from season 10 (with Wild Bart's Can't be Broken). The whole main story with Lisa was good, and the subplot with Homer was great. Even though season 10 was a terrible season, this episode prove that at least one episode could be good.

[Rest your giant head]

Very overrated. I don't think this episode deserves to be called the best episode of the season, and yet it's getting a lot of votes. The plot sounded promising, but it was quite dissapointing at the end in terms of being funny.

The episode didn't make me really laugh a single time until Lisa got ill. Ralph was quite funny here, but there weren't any other remarkable moments from the first two acts in the main plot. Also, I thought it wasn't too original or realistic for Lisa to get hooked on a video game.

Third act is a bit better, since the plot becomes more complicated, and stays till the end of the episode. I thought the way plot got solved was very good and funny. Skinner and Chalmers were great as always. However, there weren't enough funny moments. There's deffinitely a lot of humor missing in this episode, although the plot was solid.

The subplot, however, was fantastic. I love the way Pinchy and Homer bonded, and Homer constantly feeding Pinchy had me laughing a lot. The last scenes are somewhere between sad and hilarious, that's why I liked it so much. Although pointless, the subplot was extremly funny and saved the episode from being a total disaster.

B

[Moe Nopoly]

a good episode for me.
Funny main story with Lisa seeing. Maybe a little bit predictable in the end, but really entertaining.
I also like the subplot with Homer and pinchy

B

[Beast]

Characterization is off, and apart from the Dash Dingo scene, it's barely funny at all. B-

[Nebuchanezzar]

Without pinchy this episode would be fairly dull, me thinks.

[Jesse Pinkman]

4/5. I liked it, it was funny. Goodbye, Mr. Pinchy!

[emanuellburnell]

I love this episode it was funny Lisa was good in character,the Homer and Pinchy moments were really heartwarming 4/5. Season 10 was not a terrible season Jens. E but was a godly classic with a few bad episodes, but there are good episodes in season 10 to balance out the bad ones, the rest of the season is pretty good.

[lionelhutz123]

I like "Lisa Gets An A" also, but I would never call season 10, a classic, let alone a "godly classic".

[emanuellburnell]

Well you are entitled to you own opinions lionelhutz123 but season 10 is a godly classic, i did like Lisa Gets An A episode.

[TheEye5]

Good episode . I liked it. 8/10

[The Governor]

This episode and THoH 9 are the only two reason I purchased the S10 DVD (used).

Even on the night this aired, this and the THoH were the only two episodes in S10 where I was 'wowed' they could make an episode this good during the Scully era.

[lovedartsandsimpsons]

A good episode with a lot of great jokes. The Homer and Mr Pinchy B story was probably the highlight of the show for me, while the A story was interesting and a bit emotional, with not too many laugh out loud jokes, as most Lisa stories are.

4/5

[ralph for president]

people here talk about his joke quality. i agree with you BUT comedy is one of the hardest things to pull off

[Nauru-1]

I really like this one. One of the best of season 10, in my mind. I really care about Lisa in this episode liked I cared about Bart in "Bart Gets An F". Plus, a lot of funny moments to boot. 5/5

[Colonel Klink]

Personally my heart sinks when I hear Ian's written an episode, he's written some of my least favourite shows ever. I've yet to see The Heartbroke Kid but I'd say his best episode was Catch Em If You Can. But I'd rate all these D or worse:

The Trouble With Trillions
Alone Again Natura-Diddly
Tennis The Menace
Dude Where's My Ranch?

Aside from the last two I wouldn't call those episodes bad, of course thats a subjective view. Then again I'm in the camp that thinks They Saved Lisa's Brain is an overrated yawn fest.

Aside from the four you mentioned above there are also some that he has wrote that I and many others have enjoyed.

Burns Baby Burns
Trash of The Titans
E-I-E-I (annoyed grunt)
The Seemingly Never Ending Story

Also keep in mind that the scripts don't end with the writer. After all John Swartzwelder has been credited with writing Kill The Alligator and Run & Simpson Safari.

[foremost gummi artisan]

season 10 is a dope season. i really don't like the lisa episodes all that much (in any season) but this is one of the better ones. also the b story is mutha fuckin gold!

[merzitar]

4/5

I love this episode, especially the B-Story with Homer and Pinchy! lol

[bartyboy]

4/5. Its has its moments

[Denis Dufek]

I like the end of this episode where they cheat lisa...
Lobster thing is also ok,and Super Nintendo Chalmers!

[SupremeBeing]

5/5 just for the Ralph quote.

[The Wiggs]

Great episode. One of the best of season 10 and very underrated. 5/5

[Praise Land]

I really like this episode, not one of the best. But still creditable. 4/5

[Little Nellie Kelly]

A great plot/subplot matching - I just love the appearance (and death/eating) of Pinchy. Hilarious ending. This episode gets an A+.

[tristar]

I actually like this one. I don't love it, but I like it enough to give it a 3/5.

[tristar]

A great plot/subplot matching - I just love the appearance (and death/eating) of Pinchy. Hilarious ending. This episode gets an A+.

Yeah, I totally forgot about Pinchy the lobster! That was hilarious!

That makes me rethink my 3/5 rating.... I wish I could change the vote to a 4/5. But oh well.

[Oh, that's raspberry!]

Season 10 continues when Lisa cheats on a test! But first the Simpsons are relieved to finally get out of church one Sunday and decide to go out for brunch. This brunch really just involves them going out to a supermarket to snack on free samples, with Homer abusing the policy. He asks Lisa to find a good ice cream brand for him, pushing her to the back of the freezer where she catches a cold. Marge insists they get Lisa home immediately, but Homer decides to buy a lobster and raise him to get more for his money. Marge makes Lisa stay home from school, much to her dismay at least initially. However Lisa soon becomes attached to her new life and is in fact begging her mom to let her stay home. Lisa is forced back to school on the day of a test based on homework she received, but chose not to do as we end act 1.

In act 2 Lisa goes for a drink of water and comes across Bart. He takes her to Nelson who happens to be running a business of sorts in the boys' bathroom. He sells her all the answers to the test she's taking. Meanwhile Homer is successfully fattening up his lobster, but grows rather attached to it even going so far as to name it Pinchy. Homer can't bring himself to cook Pinchy and the Simpsons have a new pet. Lisa manages to get an A+++ on the test, but soon feels guilt over cheating. Principal Skinner calls her into his office to commend her. Because of her high mark the school will be getting grant money. Lisa can't take the guilt anymore though and spills the beans to Skinner as we end act 2.

In act 3 Skinner and Superintendent Chalmers, knowing Lisa has not yet told anyone else, try to convince her to keep her cheating a secret as the school really could use the money. On the night the grant is to be rewarded however Lisa tells the truth. Through a Sting inspired set of circumstances though the school gets to keep the money and Lisa never finds out. That same night Homer gives Pinchy a bath in hot water which ends up cooking his friend. We end the episode with Homer emotionally destroyed at the loss of his friend, finding comfort in eating him.

As has likely been said, this is a fantastic episode and one of the best of the Scully Era. What makes this episode stand out is how very smoothly it flows. Both the A and B stories are solidly entertaining with a large number of laughs. Lisa is fun to watch here, first as the kid who doesn't want to get back to school and then the one feeling guilty over a wrongdoing. I really loved Dash Dingo, the Crash Bandicoot parody as when I was young the original Crash games were some of my favorite. Homer's entire subplot might be one of the most memorable of all time though and is what really makes this one great. Just about every scene involving him and Pinchy is gold and the ending scene is just a fantastic performance given by Dan. There are other touches I like such as the payoff of Bart's sudden ability to make lifelike dolls, and Gil trying to sell Colecos. Homer and Marge's encounter with the Sea Captain and Nelson's role are also very good moments. And of course, Super Nintendo Chalmers. 5/5

[Handsome B. Wonderful]

Probably enjoy this episode more than I should, as it's actually in my top 50. 5/5.

Oh, and

I also enjoy "Aww, way to go Ralph." much better than his lines, but Super Nintendo Chalmers is good as well.

[cloneasaurus]

Overrated. B- 3/5. It's enjoyable but fairly uninteresting. The whole "fake assembly" ending also feels like a cheat. eh.