The Simpsons: 10 Most Underrated Episodes

7. Eternal Moonshine Of The Simpson Mind (Season 19, Episode 9)

Parody episodes can be a bit of a 'hit or miss' proposition. While certain parody efforts by the Simpsons such as 'Cape Feare' have a very strong legacy amongst fans, others have been written off. 'Eternal Moonshine' seems to be one of those episodes. Rolling Stone were generous to place the film at 112, but over at IMDB it almost misses out on being in the top 200 (it€™s at 179). And while the episode received some strong reviews upon release, it's impossible to find a ranking of this episode anywhere that gives it the credit it deserves. Part of what makes this episode so good is its ambition. €˜Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind€™ is one of the most innovative films of the century, and the Simpsons crew thus gave themselves a challenge when they looked to parody it. There is a huge amount of plot that is packed into the episode, but at no stage does it feel like it is creaking under the strain. Similarly, even though the show is so busy, the gags don€™t feel laboured or meaningless, and they are really well thought out. A particularly good example of this can be seen in the moment where Homer finds Duffman in his house with Marge. Upon seeing them and subsequently suspecting an affair, he exclaims with horror 'the mother of my children with the reason for my children'! Now this is already kind of a funny line by itself, but when it's re-contextualised and delivered in a different tone a few moments later (as Homer's memory changes) the line is funny again and believable as something Homer would say. It's one of many clever gags in this episode that highlight how our memory is so incredibly fickle and open to manipulation - which is a hell of a philosophical and scientific quandry for a 22 minute cartoon to try and elaborate on. This is parody done almost perfectly. There are clear nods to the original material, but at the same time the film is really only used as a base to build an entirely original and intriguing narrative around.