The Simpsons: 15 BEST Golden Age Episodes

Episodes centred around the dynamic between Marge and Bart aren't exactly a dime a dozen within The Simpsons' ridiculously overblown catalogue. That's a damn shame, really, because if they were as consistent in their quality as this amicable season 7 outing, then it's arguable that this list would contain a lot of these platonic, mother and son centric entries.

Billed as something of a Christmas episode without much of a focus on the holiday itself, Marge Be Not Proud is a lesson in morality, as we see Marge's complete disconnect, disappointment and disassociation with Bart upon being proven as a shoplifter, much to her dismay. What occurs next is quite the harrowing and heartbreaking sequence of segments, as Bart struggles to come to terms with the fact that he's not his mother's "special little guy" anymore. As a matter of fact, from Bart's perspective, it doesn't even seem like he's part of the same family anymore.

Although the majority of the episode leans on the waning relationship between Marge and Bart, the resolution that comes at the culmination of it all is nothing short of tear-jerking, with it potentially being the most ubiquitous moment of endearment from the entire series.

Especially considering she buys her son the one video game every little boy wants, which is, of course, Lee Carvallo's Putting Challenge.