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Moaning Lisa
The Simpsons Season 01, Episode 06
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
Lisa wakes up depressed and no one seems to understand why. She attempts to use music/playing her saxophone to deal with it, but is shut down at school by the pedo music teacher (I don't know why, that guy always creeped me out) and at home by Homer.
Bart and Homer have their own little rivalry going over a video game, "Video Boxing", which plays quite a bit like Mike Tyson's Punch out on the NES. The Video Boxing characters are modeled after the Simpson men and Bart repeatedly beats the crap out of Homer. In order to defy his fears of being an old man, Homer humiliates himself at the arcade so the kid there will teach him to be 1337.
Meanwhile, Marge is trying to help Lisa, but isn't quite sure how. Lisa finds Bleeding Gums Murphy, one of my favorite characters. "You play pretty well for someone with no real problems." he tells her. Also, regarding the blues, "It's not about making yourself feel better, it's about making other people feel worse. And making some money."
During the climax of this episode, Homer is beating the crap out of Bart at the Video Boxing, but Marge pulls the plug on the TV before Homer can finish Bart off. Marge has realized by this point that Lisa mainly needs support and not to be stifled.
CONCLUSION
Pretty good episode over all, a little sappy in parts, but explains a lot about why Lisa is so miserable all the time, and really can you blame her? Sadly her family only seems to become less supportive as the series goes on, but they pull it together at the end of this one.
THIS EPISODE'S RATINGS
 5/5 donuts from Statler
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RATINGS LEGEND
= LAME
= BAD
= MEH
= GOOD
= CLASSIC
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PLOT SUMMARY FROM WIKIPEDIA
Lisa awakens one morning with a potent case of the blues. She attempts to exercise some of her sadness with a burst of "creativity" which is unwelcomed by her band teacher Mr. Largo. Her gym teacher, also unsympathetic, has a note sent home to Lisa's parents regarding her refusal to participate in dodgeball. Homer and Bart, meanwhile, are playing a video boxing game. Undefeated with 48 wins, Bart takes only one round to knock off the head of Homer's boxer. While Homer is down for the count, Marge gives him the note from Lisa's teacher. Lisa's existential distress puzzles Homer's simple emotions, and Marge attempts to administer the advice she was given by her mother regarding happiness, but nothing her parents say can bring Lisa out of her depression.
Hearing distant music one night, Lisa sneaks out of her room to follow it. She finds a saxophone player, "Bleeding Gums" Murphy, playing some blues. Murphy teaches Lisa how to express her sadness on the sax and plays with her until Marge finds her and exclaims, "Lisa! Get away from that Jazz Man!". The next morning, Marge drops off Lisa at school and tells her to smile no matter how she feels. She sees Lisa hiding her true feelings and classmates taking advantage of her and becomes mad. Just then, Mr. Largo comes out and denies Lisa her creativity. Realizing that this is the reason why Lisa is sad, Marge becomes furious, floors the pedal, takes Lisa back, and drives away in an instant. Marge admits she was wrong and tells Lisa that it is best to be herself and if she does feel unhappy about life, Lisa can talk to Marge about it. When Lisa hears this, she feels happy again, knowing at least her mother respects her feelings.
Meanwhile, Homer takes lessons from a local video game wizard named the Champ for a rematch with Bart. Just as he starts to win against Bart, Marge unplugs the TV to announce Lisa's recovery. Seizing the opportunity to maintain his undefeated status as boxing champ, Bart gleefully announces retirement from the ring, to Homer's disappointment. Afterwards, the Simpsons visit a jazz club to hear Bleeding Gums Murphy sing a number written by Lisa.
Accessed from Wikipedia on Feb. 20, 2010