Going by reviews, this episode is generally seen as "pretty good, but not the best of season one". However, I think it's the absolute best of season one by far, which is a season with some really fantastic episodes and moments. But Moaning Lisa just blows them all out of the water. Lisa is my favorite character by a landslide; she's charming, insightful, and witty, but still has a sense of youth and childish wonder in her. She's one of the most relatable characters I've ever had the joy of watching, up there with goddam Bojack Horseman characters for me. This episode explores a certain stage in growing up that I feel a lot of family sitcoms, in particular the 20th century, overlooked, which is just a kind of bleak depression. Not outright nihilism, but newfound skepticism, losing faith in the systems around you, and being unable to figure out "what is existence worth". I think Lisa captures this greatly; aside from Marge, Lisa is the most misunderstood figure in the Simpsons. She doesn't fit in with her peers, but she also doesn't fit in with the adults around her. It's a lonely state, one that I experienced growing up myself. Her parents don't understand her; her dad can't understand this sort of passive depression, and her mother, having grown up forcing to repress her emotions and prioritize vapid impressions, doesn't know how to break the cycle. She's caring and attentive, but having been raised at arms length herself has greatly impacted her.
The big climactic scene, with Lisa and Marge in the car, is by far one of my favorite scenes in the entire show. Marge passes on this harmful idea of "you just need to look happy, and then everyone will like you, and then you'll be happy". Marge passes on what she only knows, but, it's when she personally witnesses her daughters experience, when she involves herself into her daughters life, does she recognize what the problem actually is. And that final message, "Lisa I apologize I was wrong, forget everything I said. If you wanna be sad honey be sad, we'll ride it out with you, and when you're done being sad, we'll still be here. From now on, let me do the smiling" never fails to tear me up. And from one former young emotionally troubled girl, getting to hear these words from a mother who wants to break the cycle of emotional neglect just impacts me so much. And that's what gets Lisa to smile; not being told that "that's just what you gotta do", or some adult trying to rationalize away her sadness, no. She smiles when she feels seen, when she's given a support system that gives her the unconditional love and validation to have the space to feel her emotions. Lisa smiles not necessarily because her troubles went away, but because she feels loved and heard. She's not cured, but it's only then that she picks her head up again.
None of this is to say, of course, the whole jazz aspect of this episode is lovely. I'm a jazz player myself, and not only is Lisa's playing always enjoyable for me, we get the introduction of Bleeding Gums Murphy. He functions as an adult figure who doesn't solve any of Lisa's problems and doesn't seem to care too much about involving himself, but still bonds with her and allows her to express herself artistically. Also, a tiny detail I love, is just how in the call-and-response song in the middle, the two saxophone players sound fantastic, but give perform two distinct styles. Lisa's playing is a lot more pronounced, with a lower register, and an emphasis on thick articulation and tone. But Murphy's is extremely legato, it flows so well but has a lot of emphasis on dynamic contrast. Perhaps this is meant to represent Lisa's younger, more juvenile angst with all it's edge, and Murphy's more restrained, mature poise with it's warmer tone. Maybe this wasn't a detail that was intentional, but it nonetheless is a layer of craft and thoughtfulness that was delightful to watch.
Of course I'm biased, because I personally identify with Lisa so much, and the specific dynamic she has with her mom in this episode reflects my own mom in a way. But I think that speaks to just how real this episode is, as I'm sure I'm not the only person whose experienced a similar situation to this. This episode just BURSTS with heart and nuance. We finally get a close look at Lisa Simpson, and it's absolutely beautiful. I can't argue that it's one of the best of the entire show, but it is a damn great episode, and indicative of the emotional depth of the more introspective Simpsons' episodes.
Also, that part where Homer goes "I have feelings too, like, 'my stomach hurts :(', or 'I'm going crazy!'", pops up in my head at least once a week. Same, girl.
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