Disney+ has an extensive catalogue of movies and TV shows ready to stream, among those The Simpsons – and here are the best episodes for you to watch. Disney has officially joined the streaming wars with its own platform, which is mostly appealing to users’ nostalgia with the addition of movies and TV shows from Walt Disney Pictures, Lucasfilm, Pixar, and more. Disney+ also added some titles included in the Fox package, most notably The Simpsons.
Although Disney+ is focusing on family-oriented entertainment – and The Simpsons might not be considered by some as “kid-friendly” content – Matt Groening’s famous animated series is included in all the content available at launch. Disney+ users can now visit the notable citizens of Springfield anytime they want, but as it happens with all TV series (especially those that have been active for a long, long time) not all episodes are worth the time.
The quality of The Simpsons has been in decline for years, but there are many episodes from past seasons that are definitely worth revisiting. From parodies of famous horror movies to Lisa’s first love, to some Simpsons family memories, here are the best episodes of The Simpsons to watch on Disney+.
Treehouse of Horror V
The Simpsons have a yearly tradition of making a Halloween-themed special episode divided in three segments, and "Treehouse of Horror V" is regarded by many as the best of all. This episode’s segments are titled “The Shinning” (a very well done parody of Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining), “Time and Punishment” (a parody of A Sound of Thunder), and "Nightmare Cafeteria" (a parody of Soylent Green). "Treehouse of Horror V" is a good mix of parody, suspense, and The Simpsons’ unique humor.
Marge vs. the Monorail
Springfield collects a $3 million fine from Mr. Burns after being caught dumping nuclear waste in the city park. A town meeting is held to decide how that money will be spent, and a smooth-talking stranger named Lyle Lanley pops up and convinces the citizens of Springfield to buy a new monorail – but Marge and Lisa are skeptical of him, and suspect he’s a con-artist. Of course, the rest of the citizens are on board with Lanley’s plan, and is up to Marge and Lisa to find out what his true plans are all about.
Cape Feare
“Cape Feare” reunites Bart with his eternal nemesis Sideshow Bob – and sends the Simpsons out of Springfield. After receiving death threats from Sideshow Bob, the Simpsons enter the Witness Relocation Program and move to Terror Lake, and their surname is changed to Thompson after much trouble to make Homer understand his new identity (cue the new opening sequence). "Cape Feare" is ranked among the best episodes in the history of the show, and it’s easy to see why.
Rosebud
Turns out that Mr. Burns does have a heart – at least a small part. Mr. Burns grows unsatisfied with his life and starts yearning for his lost youth and innocence, manifesting through dreams of his old teddy bear, Bobo. Turns out that Bobo hasn’t disappeared, and after changing owners a few times (including Adolf Hitler), it made it to Springfield, and is now owned by Maggie Simpson. Burns being Burns tries to get the bear back by any means, but Maggie is quite stubborn herself.
And Maggie Makes Three
After Lisa and Bart find out that there are no photos of Maggie in the family album, Homer tells them the story of how he had to give up his dream job at the bowling alley when Maggie was born. It’s one of those (kinda rare) stories where the audience gets to see that Homer truly cares for his children, and that he does have a connection with Maggie, even if she has tried to kill him a few times (blame it on Itchy and Scratchy, of course).
Summer of 4 Ft. 2
Lisa doesn’t have many friends, so when the family goes on summer vacation, she decides it’s time for a full makeover and packs an empty suitcase. Once at their destination, Lisa needs to buy new clothes and sees that as an opportunity to abandon her old “nerdy” self, develop a new style, and with that make new, interesting friends. Unfortunately, Bart becomes jealous of the attention Lisa is getting from her new friends. The siblings rivalry might never be over.
Lisa’s First Word
Speaking of siblings rivalry. While trying to get Maggie to say her first words, Marge recalls what happened when Bart was little and they lived in an apartment complex, when Lisa was born and they moved into their present home, and what Lisa’s first word was. Bart and Lisa might not get along most of the time, but they do care for each other, and this episode is proof of that. And yes, it does feature Maggie’s first word (famously voiced by Elizabeth Taylor).
King-Size Homer
Homer has never been the hardest worker, and in “King-Size Homer” he went to extremes to avoid working. When Mr. Burns organizes an exercise program at the power plant, something that Homer obviously doesn’t like at all, he discovers that being on disability would allow him to work from home and therefore not take part on the exercise program. Homer learns that hyper-obesity counts as disability and puts on a big amount of weight by eating pretty much anything he can find (including, but not limited to, Play-Doh).
Lisa’s Substitute
When Lisa’s teacher, Miss Hoover, has to leave for a few days due to health issues, she’s replaced by Mr. Bergstrom. Lisa finds him incredibly inspiring and the male role model she needs in her life, but substitute teachers are not meant to last, and Mr. Bergstrom’s departure has a big impact on Lisa. The episode also explores Homer’s relationship with his children, especially Lisa. This episode was also the first full appearance of Ralph Wiggum.
I Love Lisa
Jumping now to one of Ralph’s biggest roles in the series. “I Love Lisa” is set on Valentine’s Day, with Lisa’s class exchanging cards. Unfortunately, Ralph doesn’t get any, and Lisa gives him one out of sympathy. Although this cheers him up, Ralph immediately develops a crush on Lisa and starts following her around. This is the episode with the famous “I Choo-Choo-Choose You” card.
Last Exit To Springfield
Homer becomes the leader of the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant’s union after Mr. Burns decides to revoke their dental plan – and Lisa needs braces, so the dental plant is truly a necessity for the Simpsons. But Mr. Burns is no easy opponent, and Homer isn’t the most brilliant negotiator. It’s Simpsons’ satire at its best, and it’s often considered the series’ best episode of all time.
You Only Move Twice
Homer accepts a job at Globex Corporation and the Simpsons have to move to Cypress Creek. Homer gets along with his new boss, Hank Scorpio, who gives him a do-nothing job that suits him quite well. Everything seems to be working out just fine for Homer but not so much for the rest of the family, with Marge getting bored, Bart being put in a remedial class, and Lisa being allergic to all the plants. On top of that, turns out that Hank Scorpio has a secret, and has much bigger plans than just running a high-tech company.