The Simpsons: 15 BEST Golden Age Episodes

Hands up if you watched this when you were younger and didn't actually realise it was a crossover. Come on, don't be shy, we come in peace.

All jokes aside though, or maybe not, this episode is commendable on the fact that not only do its jokes land every single time, but the fact that The X-Files' David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson reprise their roles from their show - and in a lesser show would've been the hook, line and sinker that interests people - but the story stands on its own despite this.

After wandering home in a drunk and disorderly manner, things go awry as Homer traverses through an aesthetically eccentric - if not outright malevolent - section of the Springfield suburbs. Strolling through the woods, Homer encounters what he perceives to be an alien life-form and, as expected, runs off like a motorised Forrest Gump.

Without spoiling the revelation of just who, or what, the alien turns out to be, it's imperative to point out just how outlandishly delightful the episode is from beginning to end. If it was an episode from any other season, then not only would it have alienated the fans, but the writing would certainly not have been anywhere near as intelligent, thought-provoking or farcical.