10 Best Marge and Homer Episodes of ‘The Simpsons,’ Ranked
Homer and Marge Simpson are one of the greatest couples in the history of television, as it is hard to think of another romantic duo that has stayed together for well over thirty years. Although The Simpsons began as a parody of the wholesome family dynamics within the sitcoms of the 1980s, it became a show that was capable of generating genuine emotional from its audience; despite the fact that the marriage between Marge and Homer is often filled with arguments and disputes, there is a genuine affection between them that is always very heartwarming.
It’s no surprise that many of the best The Simpsons seasons feature Homer and Marge together, as their dynamic still feels fresh and exciting as the show goes into its fourth decade on the air. Here are the ten best Marge and Homer episodes of The Simpsons, ranked.
10
“Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire”
Season 1, Episode 1 (1989)
The first episode of The Simpsons is also one of the most important, as it showed that the series had a genuine sense of empathy for its characters, and was not entirely focused on slapstick humor. Although the show would be criticized in subsequent seasons for turning Homer into a more selfish character who ignores his family, “Simpsons Roasting On An Open Fire” centers on his efforts to give Marge the best Christmas possible, even though he does not have the money to pay for it.
All of Homer’s actions in “Simpsons Roasting On An Open Fire” are motivated by his love of Marge, resulting in a very sweet installment that offered a perfect window into their family dynamic. It was also rare to see an episode in which both Homer and Marge seem to take genuine pleasure in getting to be parents.
9
“A Milhouse Divided”
Season 8, Episode 6 (1996)
“A Milhouse Divided” was one of the best episodes that The Simpsons ever aired about marital conflict, and managed to deal with some rather mature topics without ever sacrificing the irreverent comic sensibilities that had made fans fall in love with the show in the first place. After Milhouse’s parents begin going through a divorce, Homer begins to worry if his marriage to Marge is also in trouble, and begins to be anxious about any fights between them.
“A Milhouse Divided” reinforced the strength of Homer and Marge’s romance, as while they would occasionally get on each other’s nerves, they would always be able to come back together. Seeing the disparity between their genuine affection for one another and the animosity within Milhouse’s parents’ dynamic made for some of the most amusing, albeit darkest, episodes in the show’s entire run.
8
“Marge in Chains”
Season 4, Episode 21 (1993)
“Marge in Chains” was a hilarious spin on a Mr. Mom–style premise in which Homer is forced to take care of the entire family after Marge is arrested on criminal charges of shoplifting, and must spend time in jail apart from her family. Although initially it appears that the episode will look at a darker side to Marge, it ends up being a comedy of errors when Homer realizes that he is completely incompetent as a single parent, and could not ever hope to survive without her. At the same time, Marge realizes that she has become severely depressed without Homer’s good-natured humor.
Ironically, keeping Homer and Marge apart was a great way to show the profound effect that they have on each other, leading to one of the most genuinely emotional endings to an episode of The Simpsons ever.
7
“The War of the Simpsons”
Season 2, Episode 20 (1991)
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“The War of the Simpsons” was an early indication as to why The Simpsons would become one of the greatest shows ever made; while the series was still finding its footing in the first set of episodes, the second season began developing more complex ideas about the ways in which Homer and Marge could draw out both the best and worst within one another.
“The War of the Simpsons” involves Homer and Marge going to couples’ counseling after getting into a fight when his drinking gets out of control, which forces them to take extreme actions in order to save their marriage; although the circumstances of their retreat end up turning into a series of slapstick gags, it was one of the earliest moments in television history that seemed to advocate for therapy and taking account of the physical and mental health within a marital relationship.
6
“Colonel Homer”
Season 3, Episode 20 (1992)
“Colonel Homer” was one of the most ambitious and controversial episodes of The Simpsons at the time of its release, as it addressed more serious issues about marital infidelity. After Marge becomes mad at Homer for becoming a public nuisance, he begins interacting with the beautiful Lurleen Lumpkin, voiced in a cameo performance by Beverly D’Angelo.
“Colonel Homer” focuses on Homer resisting the temptation that he has to cheat on Marge, and shows how she reacts with horror to the possibility. Although the episode threatened to show a much darker side to their relationship, it affirms that Homer and Marge have remained loyal to one another, despite the many bumps in the road that have occurred along the way. Amusingly, Lurleen has had a few cameo appearances in subsequent episodes of The Simpsons where she is established as a criminal, proving that Homer ended up making the right choice.
5
“Simpson and Delilah”
Season 2, Episode 2 (1990)
“Simpson and Delilah” is one of the funniest episodes of The Simpsons, but also one that shows the odd ways that Homer would try to show his affection for Marge. After a new insurance plan through the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant allows Homer to buy a hair growth formula, he ends up becoming very successful and is promoted; although Marge is concerned that it is an improper use of their familial savings, Homer thinks that getting a better job will allow him to give back to his family.
“Simpson and Delilah” shows that Homer often has Marge’s best interests in mind, even if his plans usually circle out of control. The final moments of the episode, in which Marge insists to Homer that she loves him and that he is not ugly, are some of the rare scenes in The Simpsons that may leave viewers with tears in their eyes.
4
“I Married Marge”
Season 3, Episode 12 (1991)
“I Married Marge” was one of the most important flashback episodes of The Simpsons, as it examines how Bart was conceived shortly after Homer and Marge got married. Although there would be subsequent episodes about the birth of both Lisa and Maggie, “I Married Marge” helped form an important part of the show’s continuity.
“I Married Marge” does a great job at showing the anxieties of marriage; Marge is concerned that her parents will not have enough faith in her to raise their grandchildren, and Homer grows worried that he will not be able to be a good father. Nonetheless, the episode celebrates that Homer and Marge seem to actually enjoy being parents, and makes their love and affection for Bart make a lot more sense given the context. Additionally, seeing younger versions of the characters is a lot of fun.
3
“A Streetcar Named Marge”
Season 4, Episode 2 (1992)
“A Streetcar Named Marge” is one of the most ambitious episodes of The Simpsons ever; in addition to including many full musical numbers with original songs, the episode cleverly created parallels to the Old Hollywood classic film A Streetcar Named Desire, which was directed by Elia Kazan and starred Marlon Brando.
“A Streetcar Named Marge” explores the tension that emerges when Homer shows no signs of interest in Marge’s acting career, despite the fact that she landed a leading role in a significant production. Although there is actually some legitimate tension when it’s hinted that Homer may have some things in common with Brando’s anti-hero character, the episode is so hilarious in its portrayal of show business that it still manages to end on an uplifting moment in which Homer and Marge are able to reflect upon how much they mean to one another.
2
“The Way We Was”
Season 2, Episode 12 (1991)
“The Way We Was” is one of the most important episodes of The Simpsons, and also its most romantic. The episode shows a flashback to when Homer and Marge fell in love with each other while they were in high school; Homer shows a willingness to give up things in order to connect with Marge, but grows concerned when she is subjected to the romantic advances of a mean-spirited popular kid at their school. The episode serves as an origin story of sorts.
“The Way We Was” contains references to many classic works, with homages to everything from Romeo & Juliet to Back to the Future. It’s one of the most endearing and sincere episodes of the entire show, as it reveals a more dramatic context to the relationship between Homer and Marge, which was often just treated like a joke before.
1
“Marge vs. the Monorail”
Season 4, Episode 12 (1993)
“Marge vs. the Monorail” is the single funniest episode of The Simpsons, and perfectly embodies the different ways in which Homer and Marge approach different problems. After the city of Springfield votes to fund an expensive Monorail system, despite Marge’s insistence that the money would be better suited if it went into fixing public works, Homer is chosen to become the conductor, leading to a disastrous accident. The episode shows the determination of Marge’s activism and Homer’s willingness to take on strange responsibilities.
“Marge vs. the Monorail” ends up showing how both Marge and Homer are forced to become heroes, as they work together to save the city. Although it’s an episode that features hilarious cameos from Leonard Nimoy and Phil Hartman, it is the dynamic between Homer and Marge that has made it one of the most beloved episodes of The Simpsons ever.
