From: Secrets of a Sucessful Marriage (Season 5, Episode 22) Homer and Marge's relationship has been through its ups and downs over the past twenty-five years. Homer's been attracted to another woman, Marge has lost her memory of their entire marriage and they've fought a great number of times. However, perhaps their biggest scrap ever came in this episode. After Marge finds out Homer's been telling intimate details of their marriage to his adult education class, she kicks him out. Very soon - within a day - Homer becomes a wreck. To win her back, Lisa advises her father to show Marge what he can offer her that no one else can. When he goes crawling back to the house, in his rags, he realises what that is: 'complete and utter dependence' on her. He convinces Marge that she has his trust - by saying that he can't ever afford to lose her as he needs her to look after him - and the pair reconcile. A supremely touching moment, this scene defines the real secret at the heart of Homer and Marge's successful marriage.
8. Homer's Evolution
From: Homerazzi (Season 18, Episode 16) - First appearance Of all the hundreds of couch gags ever featured on the show, this is one of the most imaginative and audacious as well as arguably the best. Detailing the evolution of Homer, we see the Simpson go from single-celled organism to fish to rat to ape to modern-day human being (as well as meeting a devolving Moe along the way). It's a tour de force of Simpsons animation, using the usually amusing yet throwaway couch gag platform to make one of the most famous scenes of the show. In a series that's tackled and sent up just about everything about modern living, here it offers us a sprint through the entire history of life on planet Earth. It's basically confirming Homer as the Missing Link. See it for yourself below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faRlFsYmkeY
7. 'I'm On The Biggest Roll Of My Life...'
From: Lisa's Substitute (Season 2, Episode 19) Sometimes, despite often getting it so spectacularly wrong, Homer does manage to do the right thing as a father. At the end of this early episode Homer manages to be a good dad to all three of his kids - surprising himself and us! With Lisa devastated after her favourite teacher leaves, she lashes out at Homer for being a 'baboon.' He admits he is not that smart but he is good for 'monkey work', like fixing her broken doll's house. Homer does his gorilla impression and the pair make peace. Meanwhile, Bart is upset that he lost the class presidential election to Martin but Homer consoles him with the fact that Bart would have had to do more work with none of the perks of being the actual president (like throwing the first ball at the World Series). With two kids down, Homer passes Maggie's room where he finds her crying - until he gives her back her pacifier. 'Holy moly', he says to himself. 'Talk about parenting.' It's rare moments like this that remind the audience that beneath all the bluster, Homer actually is a good father and someone who is truly dedicated to his children. As the man himself would say, woohoo! Woohoo to you, Homer.
