RANKED: The 30 Best Simpsons Episodes Of All Time

1. Homer At The Bat - Season 3, Episode 17

Image source Disney PlusThis is the classic one where Burns places a very large bet on the baseball game.  All the players drop out, one by one, leaving Homer as the only one left on the bench.  He's brought in as a pinch-hitter and gets hit by the pitch, bringing in the winning run!  A totally ridiculous episode, exploiting Homer's dignity but an absolute cracker with the guest voices on the show and the 'mockumentary'!

2. Mr Plow - Season 4, Episode 9

Image source Disney PlusHomer has had so many jobs over the years that it's impossible to remember them all (and some SHOULDN'T be remembered)!  However, none had a jingle quite like Mr Plow and unbelievably, it was a job he was good at.  Shame that Barney wanted a piece of the action - and then it got warm and the snow melted!

3. Marge vs. the Monorail - Season 4, Episode 12

Image source Disney PlusCharismatic scammer in the form of Lyle Lanley comes into town, selling the residents the idea of the monorail although it's totally not needed.  Apart from Marge and Lisa, everyone gets swept up with the notion and it's hilarious.  Phil Hartman was incredible as Lyle and made that episode iconic!

4. Who Shot Mr. Burns? (Part One) - Season 6, Episode 25

Image source Disney PlusForget Dallas and the show's biggest mystery, who shot JR?  The Simpsons, not normally known for cliff hangers, went in all guns blazing with a whodunnit storyline with a twist upon a twist.  A genius episode to close Series 6 and us viewers crying out for more!

5. And Maggie Makes Three - Season 6, Episode 13

Image source Disney PlusWe all adore the flashback episodes and during this one, Homer explains why there are no baby photos in the home of Maggie. Turns out that he had to return to the power plant after he quit for his dream job, because Marge revealed she was pregnant.  To make this more bearable, he put photos of Maggie in his office, with a sign saying 'do it for her'.  Is that not just the purest sign of love?

6. Treehouse of Horror IV - Season 5, Episode 5

Image source Disney PlusThe very best of the 'Treehouse' episodes showcases Homer selling his soul to the devil for a donut but gets it back by proving he promised his soul to Marge on their wedding day.  This is just too cute.  The icing on the cake (or the donut) was the scriptwriters paying homage to 'The Twilight Zone' and seeing Burns as Dracula!

7. The Springfield Files - Season 8, Episode 10

Image source Disney PlusWhen Homer spots an alien,  Mulder and Scully from the 'X-Files' investigate but find nothing.  Hysterically, Burns' high medication and a glow which had come from working for years at the power station, was the answer to the mystery.  The crossover the show did with the 'X'Files' was a piece of genius, as was Leonard Nimoy (Dr Spock) as the host of a show within the show!

8. Lisa's Substitute - Season 2, Episode 19

Image source Disney PlusLisa was too smart for school, literally, but when Mr Bergstrom, a substitute teacher, recognises her obvious gift, she finally gets a chance to blossom.  It was sad because the teacher was only there short-term but he did leave her an encouraging note before he left - 'You are Lisa Simpson'. Ah.

9. Flaming Moe’s - Season 3, Episode 10

Image source Disney PlusSo, the three lessons of this episode were that happiness is just a Flaming Moe’s away, cough syrup is a perfect secret drink ingredient and you should never EVER reveal the secret ingredient in a room full of people.  If you did, you could sabotage a planned $1 million deal for the Flaming Moe drink recipe.

10. Cape Feare - Season 5, Episode 2

Image source Disney PlusThough Sideshow Bob has tried to kill Bart so many times, nothing topped this Season 5 episode where the family are put into witness protection following Bob's threats.  Bart manages to outsmart his enemy, using Bob's love of music as a ploy against him.  In order for Bob to be caught, Bart requests a performance of the 'HMS Pinafore' before his intended demise and the plan works.  Phew!

11. The Way We Was - Season 2, Episode 12

Image source Disney PlusThe first flashback of Marge and Homer’s love story is so cute.  The duo connect but break up when she realizes he lied to her about needing some tutoring.  Homer won't give up and they eventually get back together.  It just goes to show that love conquers all, even in an animated series!

12. Two Dozen and One Greyhounds - Season 6, Episode 20

Image source Disney PlusBurns kidnaps a whole bunch of puppies as he wants to make a tuxedo out of them. Thankfully, the Simpson kids save the day.  Such a memorable episode, both for the homage to '101 Dalmatians' and that crazy, original song 'See My Vest'!  I love that episode.

13. 22 Short Films About Springfield - Season 7, Episode 21

Image source Disney PlusA very ambitious, impressive episode that does exactly what it says on the tin (or the title).  22 stories within one episode did happen, some connected and some totally unrelated but who cares!  This was also the origin of the Skinner's 'steamed hm' - aka hamburger - meal!

14. Treehouse of Horror VI - Season 7, Episode 6

Image source Disney PlusThe 1995 Halloween episode was top level at cleverness!  It featured advertising that comes to life, a parody of 'Nightmare on Elm Street' together with an homage to 'The Twilight Zone' that featured in both 3D animation and the real human. The instalments managed to be so visually impressive as well as creepy

15. I Love Lisa - Season 4, Episode 15

Image source Disney PlusThere's nothing so difficult and heart-wrenching as young love.  When Ralph Wiggum  mistakes Lisa’s kindness as genuine affection (because she sent him a Valentines Day card out of pity), he goes out of his way to woo her.  She decided to go along with it for a while before rejecting him .... on live TV.  A lesson not to do in the art of love!

16. Homer the Great - Season 6, Episode 12

Image source Disney PlusHomer joins the Stonecutters, an ancient secret society but following an accident, they propose to banish him ....only they can't because they discover he’s the 'Chosen One.'  However, they all get fed up of him and form their own society which he's not permitted to attend.  The Stonecutters' song is epic - 'We Do', which boasts of how the Oscars are rigged, keeping aliens a secret and making Steve Guttenberg a star!

17. Two Cars in Every Garage and Three Eyes on Every Fish -Season 2, Episode 4

Image source Disney PlusThough the 3-eyed fish, Binky, is memorable, it’s Marge’s manoeuvring that absolutely steals the show. After she’s forced to host a political dinner for Mr. Burns, she serves the disfigured fish to the gubernational candidate.  She does it in front of the Press and Burns ends up choking on it, causing his political career to fall as flat as a fish!

18. Homer's Barbershop Quartet - Season 5, Episode 1

Image source IMDbThere have been many episodes looking into the untold stories of Marge and Homer's earlier days from their romance to having their kids.  'Homer's Barbershop Quartet' touches on his unexpected brush with fame with his group, The Bee Sharps!  Lots of satire and a fantastic cameo from George Harrison has made this one a firm favourite.

19. Alone Again, Natura-Diddily - Season 11, Episode 14

Image source IMDbOn paper, this sounds more than ridiculous - Maude Flanders is killed at a race by a t-shirt gun and it knocks her backwards right out of the stadium. Though death is a rare topic on the show, this decided to broach the topic.  It had a religious twist to it though and discussed how to move on after an unimaginable loss.

20. Deep Space Homer - Season 5, Episode 15

Image source Disney PlusHomer Simpson went to space and caused a temporary panic down on Earth when he mistakenly  broke the shuttle’s ant farm.  This lead to the memorable Kent Brockman meme,' I, for one, welcome our new insect overlords'.  An inanimate rod got the credit for saving the day.

21. A Fish Called Selma - Season 7, Episode 19

Image source Disney PlusAfter appearing in video clips over the years, Troy McClure got his time to shine in this episode as his agent suggested a new romance could re-start his career!  His conquest was Selma, Marge's sister and it was a PR exercise.  Selma agreed until Troy suggested bringing a baby into the situation.  The marriage didn't last.  A stupid musical number followed which was hilarious.

22. Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? - Season 2, Episode 15

Image source Disney PlusHomer reconnected with his half brother, Herb and wanted to design a car for him.  He delivered the 'monstrosity' which had cost him over $80,000 and the whole thing became a disaster!  The episode was so memorable though that a real version of the car was built!

23. Skinner's Sense of Snow - Season 12, Episode 8

Image source Disney PlusThis episode balances two extremes and does it seamlessly.  Skinner and the students are  trapped inside Springfield Elementary with Homer and Ned battling the blizzard to get to the school. There’s so much laughter in seeing the power dynamics flip between Skinner and his students as they rebel against his strict rules for survival, while also watching the arch-enemies drive each other mad to get to their kids.

24. Grade School Confidential - Season 8, Episode 19

Image source Disney PlusSkinner and Edna managed to start a relationship that actually lasted beyond that episode (which is strange in itself)!  They were caught making out by students (a very funny scene) and almost lost their jobs thanks to a NSFW rumour, but it was a sweet start to the relationship.

25. Bart After Dark - Season 8, Episode 5

Image source Disney PlusBart’s is forced to do chores at a local house owned by Belle to make up for damaging a statue.  Bart and Belle’s ridiculously catchy song, 'We Put the Spring in Springfield' makes that episode.  Marge misses it all and starts to demolish the property on her own.  Her punishment is to work at the burlesque as a ventriloquist.

26. Hurricane Neddy - Season 8, Episode 8

Image source Disney PlusA hurricane takes out Flanders’ house and his friends and neighbours help to rebuild it.  The attempt is so bad, it drives him straight to the mental institution where viewers get a back-story of his childhood.  We see he is a repeat patient, with anger issues and the house scenario had taken him over the edge again.

27. Behind the Laughter - Season 11, Episode 22

Image source Disney PlusIn the homage to 'Behind the Music,' the mockumentary episode claims to tell the proper story of the Simpsons who were a normal family and became overnight superstars due to the success of the series.  Cleverly done, it poked fun at the entertainment industry as well as itself.

28. Barthood - Season 27, Episode 9

Image source Disney PlusThough Bart is forever 10 years old, this very rare episode allows the young man to grow up. Inspired by 'Boyhood' it looks at Bart through the years, allowing the viewers to show new sides to the young man. that they never expected.  Thumbs up for this one - excellent!

29. Treehouse of Horror XXXI - Season 32, Episode 4

Image source Disney PlusThe Simpsons has churned out over 30 Halloween episodes, paying homage to pop culture titles and the spooky. The 2020 episode is the strongest in recent years as it mixed the more recent, a homage to 'Into the Spiderverse'  and a short about the election with the more evergreen, a time loop story and a tribute to 'Toy Story'.

30. The Haw-Hawed Couple - Season 18, Episode 8

Image source Disney PlusAfter Bart encourages his classmates to boycott school bully Nelson’s birthday party, he is forced to attend it himself where he accidentally becomes the young man’s best friend. This episode allows us to see a softer and kinder side to Nelson who gets a little too attached for Bart’s liking!