The NHC Top 100 Episodes

[Company Picnic]

I'm pretty disappointed that Bart Sells His Soul didn't make the Top 5 (or hopefully have won), it really seemed to hold a good position on a lot of lists, but at least it shows plenty of folks appreciate the episode.

THOH V is a quality episode and in retrospect it's probably a good thing that a Treehouse of Horror is represented in the top 10. Homer vs the 18th Amendment is a bit overrated in my opinion, but I'm not too displeased, it's a very funny and well-conducted episode. I would pick Lisa's Substitute over some of the episodes that we can speculate as being in the top 5, but overrall 6th isn't too bad a position for the episode. Looking forward to tomorrow.

[HMS pinafore]

Good to see badman still in

Hope cape feare will win but I gonna guess Last Exit will win.

[Oh, that's raspberry!]

So Cape Feare and Badman are still in? GOOD

Monorail? BAD

Seriously surprised Lisa's Sub only made 6 it is better than Monorail for sure...but then I view MANY post-classics as better than Monorail which I've probably said a million times by now

[Jims]

Not to spoil anything because I think it's pretty obvious what the last 5 episodes are, but I can't believe Who Shot Mr. Burns (Part 1) made it into the Top 5. It's been interesting reading all of the comments in this thread, because it really went under the radar as a contender. We all seemed to vote for it but we all kind of ignored it afterwards.

I do like the episode quite a bit myself (I had it 32nd), but I never expected it to go Top 5. Crazy stuff.

[Bleedin' Gums Murphy]

Aslong as Last Exit to Springfield and Cape Feare, in either order, are the top 2 then I'm happy and will be satisfied.

[Handsome B. Wonderful]

Homer Badman and LETS is so overrated. If either are number one, I'm going to scream.

[Bleedin' Gums Murphy]

I agree about Homer Badman but LETS deserves all the praise.

[Company Picnic]

If we're talking last 5 already, hopefully WSMB pt 1 will win (probably won't, though). Cape Feare and LETS are very good episodes but not the very pinnacle of the show in my personal opinion.

[Bleedin' Gums Murphy]

If we're talking last 5 already, hopefully Cape Feare or LETS will win. Cape Feare and LETS are very good episodes and are the very pinnacle of the show in my personal opinion.

[Lionel Hutz]

Glad to see Lisa's Substitute and Bart Sells His Soul in there, and Treehouse Of Horror V at #10 is fine with me.
I didn't realize how loved Homer Vs. 18th Amendment was. It's a good episode but #9 seems way too high to me, however I seem to be alone in that opinion.
22 Short Films was always a tough one for me. It has some great moments (Skinner and Chalmers, Chief Wiggum, etc.) but I find that the idea wasn't fleshed out enough due to time constraints. It would have been great if they had made this one longer (44 minutes for 22 shorts) and with title songs and links for each story. It would have helped the flow of the stories and made them seem like more than than bits and pieces strung together.
The Top 5 are pretty obvious at this point, but they all made my list so I'm satisfied with it.

[Old painty-can Ned]

Lisa's Sub not in the top 5 is fucking garbage. But LETS and Cape Feare both make it. fuck. Monorail/Badman for #1 please.

[Bleedin' Gums Murphy]

Thankfully, I'm sure Homer Badman will finish as #5 and Marge vs Monorail as #4.

[HMS pinafore]

Thankfully, I'm sure Homer Badman will finish as #5 and Marge vs Monorail as #4.

And WSMB part 1 3rd Cape feare 2nd and LETS 1st.

[Bleedin' Gums Murphy]

^

I concur.

[Comicshow MolemanBob]

Really saddened that 'Grade School Confidential' (Top ten episode for sure) 'The War of the Simpsons', 'Lisa's Pony', 'Burns' Heir', 'Two Dozen and One Greyhounds', 'Much Apu About Nothing', 'Hurricane Neddy' and 'My Sister, My Sitter' didn't make the list

Add these to the countdown, move 'Mother Simpson' into the top ten and the list is pretty good...

[Old painty-can Ned]

Bart on the Road made the list.

[cloneasaurus]

10. Treehouse of Horror V
It wouldn't have made top 100 for me, but I guess it's nice to have THOH in the top 10.

9. Homer vs the Eighteenth Amendment
An episode which is good at first but wears thin. I did have this in my top 50 (I think), initially in the #20s. Then I rewatched it, and it really wasn't as good as before. Honestly, I was just bored by it. It is pretty funny but beneath that, whilst it is more unique and memorable than other 'gagfests', is not much. Disappointed by its top 10 appearance.

8. 22 Short Films About Springfield
Well I do think this episode is overrated, because, yes there are some incredible segments (sorry, but I just can't fault Skinner and the Superintendent), but there are also some pretty forgettable ones, which is the risk this episode takes. It is top 50material but not top 10 in my opinion. I could have accepted it in the #20s.

7. Bart Sells His Soul
Good episode but I've seen it to death so it didn't make my list. My fault though.

6. Lisa's Substitute
I had it at #7 so.... I'm okay with this.

If LETS wins........

[Toomanygrandmas]

Finally, we enter the top ten. Doing this post early-ish, because it won't take long to type out.

10. Treehouse of Horror V
Nope, this is just too high. I do agree that this is the best Treehouse of Horror episode - it has two of the best segments (Time and Punishment and The Shinning) ever done, in my opinion. However, is mainly excellent relative to Treehouse of Horror episodes. THOH episodes are often not the best episodes of the season, and even though this one is great, there are still many Season 6 episodes that are better. As an episode in itself, I don't think that it should be any higher than the forties. I guess it gives a varied representation in the top 10. However, this is just an excellent THOH, not quite an excellent episode, and it shouldn't be in the top 10.

9. Homer vs the Eighteenth Amendment
Wow. I knew this episode was generally liked, but I was unaware that it was this liked. I wasn't expecting it to be in the top ten, and I don't frankly think it deserves to be here. I won't deny it being a great episode - because it is. It has an interesting plot with lots of laughs and a memorable one-time character ( the last point is typical of Season 8). However, I just don't think it is fantastic enough to be all the way up here. I would say that a more suitable position for it would be in the forties, like THOH V.

8. 22 Short Films About Springfield
I love this episode, I sure do. Yet up here, it has been a little bit overrated. Not by a whole lot, but by a bit. This is a very memorable format-bender, with some really great segments (The Skinner and Chalmers one is hilarious and oh-so quotable, and I also really like the Cletus one, mainly for the song). Not all the segments are equal in quality, but generally this is of high quality. Although it would lose its uniqueness, I think the show now should do another one of these. The show clearly can't tell a story for 22 minutes any more, so why not have an excuse to tell multiple ones? Anyway, I think this is a bit too high, and should be in the early twenties.

7. Bart Sells His Soul
This is a fantastic episode. It has a really fine thought-provoking story, and the subplot with 'Uncle' Moe is great for laughs. I wouldn't put this episode up here, though - I had it at about 30th place or something. I'm not denying that this is an excellent episode, I just think that there are quite a few more excellent episodes that are better (some which have been put in reasonable positions on this top 100, some which have been put far too low). I was half expecting this episode to win actually, looking at everyone's lists. Pretty surprised it wasn't even in the top 5, but wasn't really rooting for it to be there.

6. Lisa's Substitute
A bit higher than I would have put this (by about 11 places), but not that bothered by where this is. Maybe a few months ago, before I rewatched it, I might have said that this was being overrated, but I wouldn't say that now. This is a really fantastic episode. Not high on laughs, but that doesn't matter when the rest of the episode is of this high a quality (charcterisations, story, emotional core...). I could tell that I loved this one when I last rewatched it, as I got that feeling you get when you just realise you've watched an excellent episode (same goes with Last Temptation of Homer, when I came to the conclusion that I now loved it). Having said that, this isn't a favourite favourite episode (i.e., top 20, not top 10). However, I could see that this could be a very favourite for someone, though it isn't personally for me.

None of those previous episodes I would have put in my top 10 (especially #9 and #10). However, I'm pretty sure that a couple of episodes that were in my top 10 are in the 5 that have yet to be posted. For the last 5, my order would probably be:

1. Homer Badman (this is the third best episode of all time, so I hope it wins)
2. Marge vs the Monorail (bit too high, but still top 10 material)
3. Cape Feare (ditto)
4. WSMB Part 1 (too high I feel, but oh well)
5. Last Exit to Springfield (shouldn't be here)

[Mr Black]

Out of all the season 2 episodes to pick you pick two of the worst of the season. I would be curious to know why you consider War of the Simpsons better than Lisa's sub. It attempts at "emotion shit" but fails miserably and has a decently funny secondary plot. While Sub actually carries out it's emotion/satire and humour.

let me make sure I understand. You think Dead Putting Society is a poor episode, not only that you think it is the weakest of season 2? Look at the episodes like Bart's dog gets an F and Old Money. DPS is bloody hilarious! It's practically the basis of the Homer/Flanders relationship.
And not only that, you think Lisa's Sub is funny? Please explain, as we obviously don't share the same sense of humour. I think the two strongest S2 episodes for humour are the two you quoted me on in the last post, maybe with Bart gets hit by a car and I & S and Marge not far behind them.

As for the list, I'll edit this post and say what I feel later. oh fuck it I have to say it now.

Homer Badman, as much I love it and appreciate it's long, long list of hilarious jokes strikes me as a pretty meh episode, and thats in consideration for the many, many episodes that I placed above it (or below it depending on how you would say) on the list. It's probably a A- episode, or a 9/10, but making a top 5 list is something I don't agree with. The idea that the whole town agrees the babysitter based on her word sort of upsets me, but I appreciate the media satire and the way Homer ends up believing groundskeeper willie is sick afterwards, I love that.

Lisa's Sub is one I can understand, but I guess I'm, pleased it didn't make a top 5.


Homer v the eighteenth etc is one I find to be a very balanced episode, almost perfect. It's got a very strong plot, a load of jokes, including the cider mill scene, Rex Banner (one of the best one time characters), Homer actually being smart (in cause of getting around an alcohol ban) as well as the famous "Beer, the cause of, and solution to all of life's problems") I know a lot will probably think it's too high on the list, just like I don't see the attraction of Lisa's Sub.

If Marge v the Monorail makes it (which it really should) I'll be delighted, it really is almost perfect, it has everything. A great song, some great homer quotes, a great one time character and a fantastic opening scene.

22 short films is one that is quite strange, it's not a conventional episode but the way it's put together sort of makes up for some of the more boring little stories (a tall man humiliating a bully) , it doesn't really have much of a purpose, like some episodes have an actual plot, it's difficult to say whether I think it deserves to be here. I mentioned in the movie thread I think this is the way the movie should have been made, but the actual stories inside the episode weren't really that entertaining for me, apart from Skinner's aroroborealis (SP)

As I said before THOH IV IMO is the strongest of the THOH series but I don't mind putting V up here as I really do enjoy all classic era THOHs. It's a shame everyone else was hesistant to include any of the other THOH as there were about 6 on my top 50.

LETS is a deserving winner (I think it will be runner up to Cape Feare) as Marge v the Monorail, it has everything a classic episode should, a great song, opening scene, homer quotes and one time character. I'm delighted WSMB has made it, providing that both the episode segments were include, although I still feel a bit dissapointed in the ending of WSMB part 2.

I don't understand how Bart of Darkness is so low on 33 and Lemon of Troy didn't make the top ten when Homer Badman does, but thats polls for you, theres always something to disagree with.

[Bartesque]

Lisa's Sub not in the top 5 is fucking garbage.

No, Lisa's Sub not in the top 5 is "people who have a different opinion from Darren.Erg".

[ANdre1001]

Who shot Mr Burns is Top 5??? I cant believe it! I'm gonna have to go to the voting thread, I never saw it in anyone's top 5

PLEASE Cape Feare be #1

[joe007ofrockk]

I never understood why people love Lisa's Sub so much. I guess I have a cold heart, but I think it's a bit overrated. It was #34 on my list. It'ss great and all, just too overrated. Also Who Shot Mr. Burns in top 5 is A BIG SHOCKER TO ME. It's great, but not top 5 great. I hope either LETS or Marge vs. the Monorail are #1

[The Spruce Moose]

Cape
LETS
Monorail
Badman
WSMB? Pt. 1 please

[Comicshow MolemanBob]

Hoping for these classics...

5. 'Bart Mangled Banner'
4. 'Another Simpson Clipshow'
3. 'Saddlesore Galactica'
2. 'Kill the Alligator and Run'
1. 'The Greatest Story Ever D'ohed'

[cloneasaurus]

Of the last five, it should go....

1. Who Shot Mr Burns? (Part one)
2. Homer: Badman
3. Marge vs. the Monorail
4. Cape Feare
5. LETS

Though I'm pretty sure it won't.

[Bleedin' Gums Murphy]

'5. LETS'

Well I guess you always have to have a minority, even some Americans think George W Bush was a great president.

[Gladys the Groovy Mule]

lot of people seem to be hopping on the LETS is overrated bandwagon, any reason why?

[Old painty-can Ned]

let me make sure I understand. You think Dead Putting Society is a poor episode, not only that you think it is the weakest of season 2? Look at the episodes like Bart's dog gets an F and Old Money. DPS is bloody hilarious! It's practically the basis of the Homer/Flanders relationship.
And not only that, you think Lisa's Sub is funny? Please explain, as we obviously don't share the same sense of humour. I think the two strongest S2 episodes for humour are the two you quoted me on in the last post, maybe with Bart gets hit by a car and I & S and Marge not far behind them.

I don't think Dead Putting Society is a bad episode(I give it a B+) but season 2 as a whole is much to strong. It's the best!. Old Money is on par or better than Dead Putting Society a really underrated episode. It's probably just too slow for people to appreciate but it's a great character driven realistic plot. The Homer/Flanders relationship is all the episode has though(maybe a half assed Bart/Lisa dynamic explored) while Lisa's Sub has explorations of Homer/Bart/Lisa's characters and the Homer/Lisa dynamic and the Bart/school dynamic. How can you think Lisa's Sub isn't funny? The whole Bart plot is filled to the brim with satirical humour and one liners. Even Lisa's plot has some great jokes(Homer at the museum etc.) They're both good episodes but this isn't even a contest Lisa's Sub is a masterpiece of writing.

If you're interested in discussing Lisa's Sub more I wrote a pretty in depth review in the R/R thread for said episode.

[Company Picnic]

A comparison can be made between Lisa's Substitute and Dead Putting Society. DPS explores Bart's awkward relationship with his father, who is so embroiled in an envious feud with his neighbour that his son is secondary. Lisa's Substitute has Lisa, who is a little cleverer than Bart, and shows her difficulty with a similar issue, which Homer realises to some degree, and tries to correct in his own way. They both rated well in my list.

lot of people seem to be hopping on the LETS is overrated bandwagon, any reason why?

Because although it's a very funny episode, it lacks some of the emotion and grounding that helped make the classic era unique. It's an excellent episode and it's nice to see that it still retains popularity, I'm not trying to belittle it at all, but overrall it doesn't represent the very best that the show is capable of in my personal opinion. Still, I wouldn't be too despondant about any of the remaining 5 winning, would just prefer WSMB to take it.

[Old painty-can Ned]

A comparison can be made between Lisa's Substitute and Dead Putting Society. DPS explores Bart's awkward relationship with his father, who is so embroiled in an envious feud with his neighbour that his son is secondary. Lisa's Substitute has Lisa, who is a little cleverer than Bart, and shows her difficulty with a similar issue, which Homer realises to some degree, and tries to correct in his own way. They both rated well in my list.

Like I said to you earlier I'm less inclined to believe this episode has a Bart/Homer relationship angle other than the cliched "I no my daddy wants me to be good at sports but I don't really like this sport/not that good at this sport" angle. It has some humours moments with Bart/Homer (naming the putter etc) but this episode is a Flanders/Homer episode wrapped in a Bart episode. If you had said the episode at least had an exploration between Bart and Lisa's dynamic I'd be more inclined to agree with you.

I agree with your thoughts on LETS though.