The Simpsons: 10 Exceptional Episodes From The Last 10 Years

3. "Eternal Moonshine Of The Simpson Mind" - Season 19

Plot: Homer awakens in a snow bank with no memory of the night before, his house empty, and Santa's Little Helper attacking him. Retracing his steps, he discovers that Moe had given him a "Forget-Me-Shot" at Homer's request to wipe out a recent memory. Through fuzzy memories - and Professor Frink's new memory machine - Homer believes he caught Marge in an affair with Duff Man, and punched her as retribution. Racked with guilt, he attempts suicide by jumping (or being pushed by Patty and Selma) off a bridge; he lands in a bounce house on a boat (a homage to David Fincher's The Game), which is part of a surprise party Marge was throwing - the same surprise party he discovered, and was trying to forget. Another episode discussed at one time as a potential "Series Finale," "Eternal Moonshine" incorporates laughs, romance, drama, and science fiction into a fun plot that leaves the viewer truly curious where it will end up. While we've been conditioned to understand that Homer and Marge will always end up together, episodes that shake that foundation are particularly moving, and the storyline from beginning to end makes for an emotional ride to the end. The "memory machine" of Frink's is the only part that feels tacked on, but honestly- with only 22 minutes of airtime- was needed to move the plot along. This episode won The Simpsons the 2008 Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming Less Than One Hour). Funniest Moment: The ingredients in the Forget-Me-Shot: Jägermeister, sloe gin, triple and quadruple sec, gunk from a dog's eye, Absolut Pickle, the red stripe from Aquafresh toothpaste, the venom of the Louisiana loboto-moth, all stirred with a home pregnancy test.