The Simpsons: 10 Exceptional Episodes From The Last 10 Years

7. "500 Keys" - Season 22

Plot: After accidentally locking Maggie in the car, Marge finds a junk-drawer full of keys that her, Homer, Bart, and Lisa each take to discover what they unlock. Lisa uses her keys to discover a secret room in the basement of Springfield Elementary, and within a mystery unravels about the disappearance of "Bus 23." Bus 23 ends up being a bus that crashed into a lake, but - after a misappropriation of funds by Principal Skinner and Superintendent Chalmers - the kids on the bus were all mannequins. Otto has believed all these years that he was responsible for the death of the "children" on that bus, and he is relieved to discover that he isn't. The plot above makes this seem like an over-thought, jumbled story, and in some ways it is. But in other ways, it is a series of four fun, separate stories for each of the Simpsons, that all connect at the end. Bart uses his set of keys for mischief but ends up only helping people; Marge discovers a key for an old farting-train toy; Homer's key gets him into not only the Duff Brewery, but also behind the wheel of the Duff Blimp; and Lisa's keys set the tone for the episode. Ultimately, the "Pooter Toot Express" helps save Lisa, and Homer (flying through the sky) helps solve the mystery; when four storylines are all able to converge seamlessly, it makes for a satisfying ending. Funniest Moment: Nelson Muntz, who had mocked Lisa throughout the episode for being a "Little Miss Play-It-Safe," shares an educational message with the audience: "Yeah, I've been held back more times than I can count, which is probably why I got held back so many times. "