3. One Fish, Two Fish, Blowfish, Blue Fish (2x11) - Homer's Promise
The Simpsons has had several episodes about death, but none quite like this. When Homer ingests an improperly-prepared blowfish, he is informed that the poison is in his system and that he has 24 hours left to live. The episode chronicles Homer's last day and how he spends it with each of his loved ones. But when he accidentally sleeps in, he finds he has to use the rest of his time wisely, and though each scene has a somber feel to it, the episode is not without comedy. In the end Homer wishes he had more time to spend with everyone, and ends up crossing people off his list as he takes time rekindling his relationship with his father. When he returns home he says goodbye to his sleeping family and dozes off. The next morning Marge wakes up in a panic, but finds Homer unconscious downstairs with warm drool hanging from his mouth. They are both equally excited by the fact that Homer is still alive. That's when Homer delivers his last line, "I am alive! Woo hoo! This is great Marge! From now on, I vow to live life to the fullest." The scene immediately cuts to Homer sitting on the couch lazily, watching TV with a bag of pork rinds. There is no more dialogue or music, just the sound of Homer's TV as the episode ends. It's a moving and chilling ending that has stuck with me since my first viewing.
Sarah is a twenty-something film school graduate and mother-to-be from Arizona. She loves to write and is currently working on a novel that may be finished sometime in the next fifty years. Doctor Who, Star Trek, Final Fantasy, and Supernatural are among her various obsessions.
