2. The Boogeyman $pringfield (Or How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love Legalized Gambling)
One of the main reasons Homer and Marge have a healthy relationship is their undoubted love and affection for one another, despite their unlikely compatibility. However, when the two are apart, Homer, shorn of his source of dependency and stability, often tends to fall off the competence wagon. After Marge gains an addiction to gambling in Mr. Burns new casino, Homer is forced to care for the children on his lonesome and in turn, struggles. One night, while Marge is out, Lisa goes into her parents bedroom complaining of a nightmare, and with no Marge to reassure her, Homer takes charge of comforting his daughter. Lisa gets as far into the bad dream as mentioning the Boogeyman was after her a common child's nightmare and Homer (who is unmistakably an adult) panics, convinced what Lisa dreamt was real. He makes certain he lets Bart know in the most terrifying way possible by smashing his door down and whispering that there may be a Boogeyman, or Boogeymen in the house and then proceeds to barricade the family in a bedroom with a shotgun for protection. This episode, while showcasing Homer's vintage overreacting nature and lack of rational thinking, showed the sheer importance Marge has on holding the family together. Although it must be said it was touching and sweet to see Homer help Lisa with her science project, decorating her as the state of Florida. She even won an award for it because it looked so, er, childishly authentic.