The Simpsons: 15 Most Underrated Golden Age Episodes

‘Round Springfield rounds off the parable of Lisa and Bleeding Gums Murphy in a sombre, yet sophisticated fashion. And no, that’s technically not a spoiler. This came out in 1995, you’ve had 27 years.

Appearing all the way back in season one, the dentist-evading Mr. Murphy was a jazz musician who served as something of an inspiring mentor figure to Lisa after befriending her in the initial season. He represented the one teacher she couldn't get at any school as he nurtured her affinity for music before subsequently vanishing until his season six appearance.

He then vanished from the face of the Earth completely.

This heartfelt episode, which in typical classic Simpsons fashion, begins with the focus on something distinctly different (Bart having an operation after ingesting a “toy”), until it turns into an interpersonal story about Lisa and her idol. Upon bumping into him in the same hospital, the plot quickly trades a lot of the trademark humour for something more resonant.

After the estranged saxophone players meet once again, their time together is just as bewitching to watch as the first time they jam out together. They don’t exactly generate much banter in any of these scenes, and when coming across the heart-breaking conclusion of the second act, it’s easy to see why.

It’s easy to see why this episode has cemented itself as a real tearjerker, just as much as it has a worthy successor to season one’s best episode.